Summary

GAO reviewed the Social Security Administration's (SSA) new rule on new claims to the Federal Reviewing Official review level. GAO found that (1) the final rule suspends the transfer of new disability claims to the Office of the Federal Reviewing Official (OFedRO), claims transferred to OFedRO before the effective date of the final rule will be processed by OFedRO and a related component, the Office of Medical and Vocational Expertise (OMVE), and SSA will evaluate the OFedRO and OMVE through processing the claims already received; and (2) with the exception of the delay in the rule's effective date, SSA complied with the applicable requirements in promulgating the rule.