A CE is a physical or mental examination performed by a treating source or other medical source when additional information (e.g., clinical findings, laboratory tests, diagnosis, and prognosis) is needed to make a disability determination. The CE Baseline Study analyzed and documented the quality of CEs used in the initial level of disability determination; assessed if CEs were requested in compliance with SSA regulations; and established a baseline for CE quality.

This study found that a majority of the CE reports reviewed contained sufficient clinical detail to enable the DDS to make an informed claim decision. CE providers who were identified as being Board Certified or Board Eligible provided higher rated CEs than providers without such documentation. There were variations in the rated quality of CEs by State. Also the vast majority of the CEs requested were considered to be appropriate.

There were important limitations to this study. The study used the electronic folder for review. At the time of the study, an electronic folder for the initial claim record was not available in sufficient numbers in all States. Comparisons could only be made between States with electronic folders, and the cases were selected in a non-scientific manner, thus limiting the ability to generalize the study findings. The study also did not include CEs obtained at the hearings level. At the time of the study electronic folders were not available at that level.

The final report was received in 2008. A follow-up study on the topic is planned.

A copy of the 2008 final report is available here:

Section 1 - Executive Summary

Section 2 - Project Overview

Section 3A - Results

Section 3B - Responses

Section 6 - Recommendations

State Partnership Initiative Evaluation

SSA partnered with the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) to fund eighteen State demonstrations to develop innovative projects to assist individuals with disabilities in their efforts to reenter the workforce. These awards helped States develop State-wide programs of services and support for their residents with disabilities that increased job opportunities for them and decreased the dependence on benefits, including SSDI and SSI. The projects began in May of 2001 and ended in September of 2004.

For more information, continue to the SPI Evaluation page.

The National Survey of SSI Children and Families (NSCF)

The NSCF collected data on the health status and functional limitations, health care utilization, health insurance coverage, receipt of services, SSI experience, the socioeconomic status of children’s households and housing characteristics f over 3000 children who were receiving, had received or were applying for, SSI. The study was limited to the non-institutionalized population in the continental United States (residents of Alaska, Hawaii and the territories were not included in the survey). Data collection began July 2001 and concluded July 2002.

For more information, continue to the NSCF page.

Ticket to Work Evaluation

The Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Act of 1999, P.L. 106-170, requires the Commissioner of Social Security to provide for independent evaluations to assess the effectiveness of the Ticket to Work program, and to submit reports to Congress with findings and recommendations to improve the program.

For more information, continue to the Ticket to Work Evaluation page.

Vocational Expert Study Panel

On January 11, 2006, SSA awarded a contract to SSDC Corporation to convene an expert panel of vocational and occupational medical experts and disability policy and program experts to study SSA’s use of vocational and occupational medical expertise throughout the disability determination process, what changes can be made to improve case adjudication, and what qualifications we should require.

SSA selected 21 vocational and occupational medical experts to serve on this panel including individuals with expertise in occupational medicine, psychiatry, psychology, social work, rehabilitation, occupational and physical therapy, nursing, case management, individuals with disabilities, and the disability community. In addition, SSA included disability determination services administrators and administrative law judges. After several discussions and the reviews of distributed background materials, this expert panel met in July 2006 to prepare a report including recommendations for the Commissioner.

We received the Final Core Report from SSDC, "Use of Functional/Vocational Expertise", on March 27, 2007.


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