PRESENTATION MATERIALS
Forum held Friday, January 18, 2008 Sponsored by the Social Security Advisory Board and the University of Illinois Center for Business and Public Policy.
The Administrative Procedure Act (APA) in 1946 established the position of administrative law judge (ALJ). It included provisions designed to ensure the ALJs? impartiality by insulating them from improper pressure.
In its October 2003 report, The Social Security Definition of Disability, the Social Security Advisory Board observed that, "The original Social Security disability programs were designed to serve those who had no realistic expectation of a return to the workforce because of a combination of severity of disability and attainment of near retirement age."
Over the past two years, the Social Security Advisory Board has been examining the SSA hearing process, focusing attention on issues of consistency, productivity, long processing times and large backlogs, hearing office management, and the relationship between the agency and its corps of administrative law judges.
The Social Security Advisory Board assembled this compendium of data and materials relating to the Social Security disability programs for its own use and for the benefit of policymakers and others interested in the programs.
The Social Security Advisory Board issued this report to point out the many reasons why it is important for policymakers to act sooner rather than later to make the changes that are needed to restore to a state of solvency the Social Security program that plays a foundational role in assuring retirement security to the working men and women of America and to their families.
Board Meeting
Board Meeting
Board Meeting
The Social Security Advisory Board (SSAB)is an independent, bipartisan board created by Congress and appointed by the President and the Congress to advise the President, the Congress, and the Commissioner of Social Security on matters related to the Social Security and Supplemental Security Income programs. As an advisory body, we have no authority to take any administrative actions and cannot resolve questions regarding individual claims.