[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3003 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

113th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 3003

To protect the Social Security Disability Insurance program and provide 
 other support for working disabled Americans, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           December 11, 2014

  Mr. Coburn introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
                  referred to the Committee on Finance

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To protect the Social Security Disability Insurance program and provide 
 other support for working disabled Americans, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Protecting Social 
Security Disability Act of 2014''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
 TITLE I--ENSURING THE LONG-TERM SOLVENCY OF THE DISABILITY INSURANCE 
                               TRUST FUND

Sec. 101. Application of actuarial reduction for disabled beneficiaries 
                            who attain early retirement age.
Sec. 102. Revising disability classifications; requiring periodic 
                            continuing disability reviews or time 
                            limiting benefits for certain 
                            beneficiaries.
Sec. 103. Adjustment of age criteria for social security disability 
                            insurance medical-vocational guidelines; 
                            consideration of work which exists in the 
                            national economy.
Sec. 104. Mandatory collection of negotiated civil monetary penalties.
Sec. 105. Required electronic filing of wage withholding returns.
  TITLE II--PROGRAM INTEGRITY: REFORMING STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES FOR 
  DISABILITY HEARINGS, MEDICAL EVIDENCE, AND CLAIMANT REPRESENTATIVES

Sec. 201. Elimination of reconsideration review level for an initial 
                            adverse determination of an application for 
                            disability insurance benefits.
Sec. 202. Deadline for submission of medical evidence; exclusion of 
                            certain medical evidence.
Sec. 203. Non-adversarial disability hearing attorneys.
Sec. 204. Procedural rules for hearings.
Sec. 205. Prohibiting attorneys who have relinquished a license to 
                            practice in the face of an ethics 
                            investigation from serving as a claimant 
                            representative.
Sec. 206. Applying judicial code of conduct to administrative law 
                            judges.
Sec. 207. Evaluating medical evidence.
Sec. 208. Reforming fees paid to attorneys and other claimant 
                            representatives.
Sec. 209. Strengthening the administrative law judge quality review 
                            process.
Sec. 210. Permitting data matching by Inspectors General.
Sec. 211. Accounting for Social Security Program Integrity Spending.
Sec. 212. Use of the National Directory of New Hires.
      TITLE III--PROVIDING SUPPORT FOR WORKING DISABLED AMERICANS

Sec. 301. Establishment of Work Incentive Benefit System.
Sec. 302. Early-intervention demonstration project; study on payroll 
                            tax reductions.

 TITLE I--ENSURING THE LONG-TERM SOLVENCY OF THE DISABILITY INSURANCE 
                               TRUST FUND

SEC. 101. APPLICATION OF ACTUARIAL REDUCTION FOR DISABLED BENEFICIARIES 
              WHO ATTAIN EARLY RETIREMENT AGE.

    (a) In General.--Section 202(k)(4) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 402(k)(4)) is amended to read as follows:
    ``(4) With the exception of individuals who are classified by the 
Commissioner of Social Security as `medical improvement not expected', 
any individual who, under this section and section 223, is entitled for 
any month to both an old-age insurance benefit and a disability 
insurance benefit under this title shall only be entitled to the old-
age insurance benefit for such month, as reduced for such month 
pursuant to subsection (q)(1).''.
    (b) Conforming Amendments.--
            (1) Period of disability.--Clause (i) of section 
        216(i)(2)(D) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
        416(i)(2)(D)) is amended by striking ``retirement age (as 
        defined in subsection (l))'' and inserting ``early retirement 
        age (as defined in subsection (l)(2)), or for individuals 
        classified by the Commissioner of Social Security as `medical 
        improvement not expected', retirement age (as defined in 
        subsection (l)(1))''.
            (2) Disability insurance benefit payments.--Section 
        223(a)(1) of the Social Security (42 U.S.C. 423(a)(1)) is 
        amended, in the flush matter at the end, by striking 
        ``retirement age (as defined in section 216(l))'' and inserting 
        ``early retirement age (as defined in section 216(l)(2)), or 
        for individuals classified by the Commissioner of Social 
        Security as `medical improvement not expected', retirement age 
        (as defined in section 216(l)(1))''.
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take 
effect on January 1, 2020, and shall apply to any individual (with the 
exception of individuals classified by the Commissioner of Social 
Security as ``medical improvement not expected'') who attains early 
retirement age (as defined in section 216(l)(2) of the Social Security 
Act) on or after such date.

SEC. 102. REVISING DISABILITY CLASSIFICATIONS; REQUIRING PERIODIC 
              CONTINUING DISABILITY REVIEWS OR TIME LIMITING BENEFITS 
              FOR CERTAIN BENEFICIARIES.

    (a) In General.--
            (1) Disability classifications.--Not later than 1 year 
        after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commissioner 
        of Social Security shall establish a system for classifying any 
        individual who is determined to be entitled to disability 
        insurance benefits under title II of the Social Security Act or 
        to monthly benefits under section 202 of such Act by reason of 
        being under a disability in the following manner:
                    (A) An individual shall be classified as ``medical 
                improvement expected'' if the impairment or combination 
                of impairments causing the individual to be disabled is 
                expected to medically improve to the point where the 
                individual will no longer be disabled in 1 to 2 years.
                    (B) An individual shall be classified as ``medical 
                improvement likely'' if the impairment or combination 
                of impairments causing the individual to be disabled is 
                expected to medically improve to the point where the 
                individual will no longer be disabled in 3 to 5 years.
                    (C) An individual shall be classified as ``medical 
                improvement possible'' if the impairment or combination 
                of impairments causing the individual to be disabled is 
                not expected to medically improve to the point where 
                the individual will no longer be disabled in 5 years, 
                but future improvement is possible.
                    (D) An individual shall be classified as ``medical 
                improvement not expected'' if the individual has an 
                impairment or combination of impairments that is 
                chronic or progressive with permanent, irreversible 
                structural or functional loss, and for which there is 
                no known effective therapy, treatment, or surgical 
                intervention that could result in medical improvement 
                to the point where the individual is no longer 
                disabled.
            (2) Consideration of age.--In classifying an individual 
        under paragraph (1), the Commissioner of Social Security shall 
        not classify an individual as ``medical improvement not 
        expected'' solely by reason of such individual's age where a 
        lesser classification is appropriate.
    (b) Continuing Disability Reviews.--
            (1) In general.--Section 221(i) of the Social Security Act 
        (42 U.S.C. 421(i)) is amended--
                    (A) by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows:
    ``(1)(A) In the case of any individual who is determined to be 
under a disability and is classified as `medical improvement likely' or 
`medical improvement possible', the applicable State agency or the 
Commissioner of Social Security (as may be appropriate) shall, for 
purposes of continuing eligibility--
                    ``(i) if the individual is classified as `medical 
                improvement likely', conduct a review to determine 
                whether the individual remains under a disability 
                during the 5\th\ year following the first month after 
                the individual's waiting period (as defined in section 
                223(c)(2)); and
                    ``(ii) if the individual is classified as `medical 
                improvement possible', conduct a review to determine 
                whether the individual remains under a disability 
                during the 7\th\ year following the first month after 
                the individual's waiting period (as so defined).
            ``(B) In addition to the continuing eligibility reviews 
        required under subparagraph (A) and notwithstanding how an 
        individual is classified under the system established by the 
        Commissioner of Social Security under section 102(a) of the 
        Protecting Social Security Disability Act of 2014, if the 
        Commissioner has reason to believe that an individual that has 
        been determined to be under a disability is not under a 
        disability, the Commissioner may review such individual's case 
        at such time and in such manner as the Commissioner determines 
        appropriate except that the Commissioner shall not initiate a 
        review on the basis of income earned by an individual who is a 
        participant in the Work Incentive Benefit System established 
        under section 223(l).
            ``(C) Reviews of cases which are required or permitted 
        under this paragraph shall be in addition to, and shall not be 
        considered as a substitute for, any other reviews which are 
        required or provided for under or in the administration of this 
        title.'';
                    (B) by striking paragraphs (2) and (5);
                    (C) by redesignating paragraphs (3) through (4) as 
                paragraphs (2) through (3), respectively; and
                    (D) in paragraph (2), as so redesignated--
                            (i) by striking ``Committee on Finance'' 
                        and inserting ``Committees on Finance and 
                        Homeland Security and Government Affairs'';
                            (ii) by striking ``Committee on Ways and 
                        Means'' and inserting ``Committees on Ways and 
                        Means and Oversight and Government Reform'';
                            (iii) by striking ``for reconsideration of 
                        such initial termination or'';
                            (iv) by striking ``or both,''; and
                            (v) by striking ``reconsideration or''.
            (2) Standard of review for continuing disability reviews.--
                    (A) In general.--Section 223(f) of the Social 
                Security Act (42 U.S.C. 423(f)) is amended--
                            (i) in paragraph (4), by striking the 
                        period at the end and inserting ``; or'';
                            (ii) by inserting after paragraph (4) the 
                        following new paragraph:
            ``(5) in the case of a continuing disability review under 
        section 221(i), evidence that would be sufficient to support a 
        finding in an initial determination that the individual is not 
        under a disability and is able to engage in substantial gainful 
        activity.''; and
                            (iii) by inserting ``, except that, in the 
                        case of a continuing disability review under 
                        section 221(i), the Commissioner shall not 
                        consider the fact that an individual is engaged 
                        in substantial gainful work as part of the Work 
                        Incentive Benefit System established under 
                        subsection (l) as evidence that the individual 
                        is able to engage in substantial gainful 
                        activity'' after ``secured by the Commissioner 
                        of Social Security''.
                    (B) Conforming amendment to definition of 
                disability.--Section 223(d)(2) of the Social Security 
                Act (42 U.S.C. 423(d)(2) is amended--
                            (i) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``An 
                        individual'' and inserting ``Subject to 
                        subparagraph (D), an individual''
                            (ii) by adding at the end the following new 
                        subparagraph:
            ``(D) In the case of a continuing disability review under 
        section 221(i), an individual may be found to be under a 
        disability even though the individual is engaged in substantial 
        gainful work as part of the Work Incentive Benefit System 
        established under subsection (l).''.
    (c) Time-Limiting Disability Benefits for MIE Individuals.--Section 
223 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 423) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(1), as amended by section 101(b)(2), 
        in the flush language after and below subparagraph (E), by 
        striking ``subsection (e)'' and inserting ``subsections (e) and 
        (k)''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:

                   ``Time-limited Disability Benefits

    ``(k)(1) In the case of an individual who files an application for 
disability insurance benefits under this section or for monthly 
benefits under section 202 by reason of being under a disability for 
any month that begins on or after the date that is 1 year after the 
date of the enactment of the Protecting Social Security Disability Act 
of 2014, is determined to be under a disability, and is classified by 
the Commissioner of Social Security as `medical improvement expected', 
the termination month applicable to the individual shall be the 35\th\ 
month following the first month after the individual's waiting period 
(as defined in subsection (c)(2)).
    ``(2)(A)(i) For purposes of this paragraph, the term `timely 
reapplication' means an application for disability insurance benefits 
under this section or for monthly benefits under section 202 by reason 
of being under a disability that is submitted--
            ``(I) by an individual who is a recipient of such benefits; 
        and
            ``(II) during the period that is 14 months before the end 
        of the termination month applicable (or most recently 
        applicable) to the individual under paragraph (1) as of the 
        date of such application and ending with the date that is 12 
        months before the end of such termination month.
    ``(ii) Notwithstanding clause (i), the Commissioner of Social 
Security may deem an application for disability insurance benefits 
under this section or for monthly benefits under section 202 by reason 
of being under a disability submitted by an individual who is a 
recipient of such benefits that is submitted after the period described 
in clause (i)(II) to be a timely reapplication if--
            ``(I) the individual can show good cause for why the 
        application was not submitted during such period; and
            ``(II) the application is submitted not later than 6 months 
        before the end of the termination month applicable (or most 
        recently applicable) to the individual under paragraph (1) as 
        of the date of such application.
    ``(B)(i) An individual who submits a timely reapplication and who 
is determined to be under a disability shall be deemed to have 
satisfied the waiting period applicable under subsection (c)(2).
    ``(ii)(I) If the Commissioner of Social Security fails to make an 
initial determination with respect to the timely reapplication of an 
individual who is a recipient of disability insurance benefits under 
this section or monthly benefits under section 202 by reason of being 
under a disability before the end of the termination month applicable 
to the individual as of the date of such reapplication, such individual 
shall continue to be entitled to such benefits until an initial 
determination with respect to such timely reapplication is made.
    ``(II) If the Commissioner of Social Security makes an initial 
adverse determination with respect to the timely reapplication of an 
individual who is a recipient of disability insurance benefits under 
this section or monthly benefits under section 202 by reason of being 
under a disability and such individual files a timely request for a 
hearing under section 221(d), such individual may elect to have the 
payment of such benefits (as well as any other benefits payable under 
this title or title XVIII on the basis of such individual's entitlement 
to such benefits) continue in the same manner and subject to the same 
conditions as an election made under subsection (g).
    ``(C) For purposes of reviewing a timely reapplication submitted by 
an individual who is a recipient of disability insurance benefits under 
this section or monthly benefits under section 202 by reason of being 
under a disability--
            ``(i) the fact that the individual was previously found to 
        be under a disability shall have no evidentiary weight; and
            ``(ii) subsection (f) shall not apply.''.
    (d) Regulations.--The Commissioner of Social Security shall 
promulgate or revise, as appropriate, regulations relating to the 
determination, classification, and review of the disability status of 
individuals who apply for or receive disability insurance benefits 
under title II of the Social Security Act and related provisions of the 
Social Security Administration Programs Operations Manual (POMS) to 
carry out subsection (a) and the amendments made by subsection (b).

SEC. 103. ADJUSTMENT OF AGE CRITERIA FOR SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY 
              INSURANCE MEDICAL-VOCATIONAL GUIDELINES; CONSIDERATION OF 
              WORK WHICH EXISTS IN THE NATIONAL ECONOMY.

    (a) In General.--
            (1) Age criteria.--Notwithstanding Appendix 2 to Subpart P 
        of Part 404 of title 20, Code of Federal Regulations, with 
        respect to disability determinations or reviews made on or 
        after the date that is 1 year after the date of the enactment 
        of this Act, age shall not be considered as a vocational factor 
        for any individual who has not attained the age that is 12 
        years less than the retirement age for such individual (as 
        defined in section 216(l)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 
        U.S.C. 416(l)).
            (2) Work which exists in the national economy.--With 
        respect to disability determinations or reviews made on or 
        after the date of the enactment of this Act, in determining 
        whether an individual is able to engage in any work which 
        exists in the national economy (as defined in section 
        223(d)(2)(A) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
        423(d)(2)(A)), the Commissioner of Social Security shall 
        consider the share and ages of individuals currently 
        participating in the labor force and the number and types of 
        jobs available in the current economy.
    (b) Updating Data on Work Which Exists in National Economy.--Not 
later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, and 
every year thereafter, the Commissioner of Social Security shall update 
the data used by the Commissioner to determine the jobs which exist in 
the national economy to ensure that such data reflects the full range 
of work which exists in the national economy, including newly-created 
jobs in emerging industries.

SEC. 104. MANDATORY COLLECTION OF NEGOTIATED CIVIL MONETARY PENALTIES.

    Section 1129(i)(2) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1320a-
8(i)(2)) is amended by inserting ``and shall delegate authority for 
collecting civil money penalties and assessments negotiated under this 
section to the Inspector General'' before the period.

SEC. 105. REQUIRED ELECTRONIC FILING OF WAGE WITHHOLDING RETURNS.

    (a) In General.--Paragraph (2) of section 6011(e) of the Internal 
Revenue Code of 1986 is amended--
            (1) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (B) as 
        subparagraphs (B) and (C), respectively,
            (2) by inserting before subparagraph (B), as so 
        redesignated, the following new subparagraph:
                    ``(A) shall--
                            ``(i) require any person that is required 
                        to file a return containing information 
                        described in section 6051(a) to file such 
                        return on magnetic media, and
                            ``(ii) provide for waiver of the 
                        requirements of clause (i) in the case of 
                        demonstrated hardship for--
                                    ``(I) for any period before January 
                                1, 2020, a person having 25 or fewer 
                                employees, and
                                    ``(II) for any period after 
                                December 31, 2019, a person having 5 or 
                                fewer employees,'', and
            (3) by inserting ``except as provided in subparagraph 
        (A),'' before ``shall not require'' in subparagraph (B), as so 
        redesignated.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--Paragraph (4) of section 6011(e) of the 
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking ``paragraph 
(2)(A)'' and inserting ``paragraph (2)(B)''.
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply to returns filed after December 31, 2016.

  TITLE II--PROGRAM INTEGRITY: REFORMING STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES FOR 
  DISABILITY HEARINGS, MEDICAL EVIDENCE, AND CLAIMANT REPRESENTATIVES

SEC. 201. ELIMINATION OF RECONSIDERATION REVIEW LEVEL FOR AN INITIAL 
              ADVERSE DETERMINATION OF AN APPLICATION FOR DISABILITY 
              INSURANCE BENEFITS.

    (a) In General.--Section 205(b) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 405(b)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (2), by striking ``In any'' and inserting 
        ``Subject to paragraph (4), in any''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(4) Any review of an initial adverse determination with respect 
to an application for disability insurance benefits under section 223 
or for monthly benefits under section 202 by reason of being under a 
disability shall only be made before an administrative law judge in a 
hearing under paragraph (1).''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall 
apply to initial adverse determinations on applications for disability 
insurance benefits under title II of the Social Security Act made after 
the date of the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 202. DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF MEDICAL EVIDENCE; EXCLUSION OF 
              CERTAIN MEDICAL EVIDENCE.

    (a) Closing of Record for Submission of Medical Evidence.--Section 
205(b)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 405(b)(1)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``The Commissioner of Social Security is 
        directed'' and inserting--
            ``(A) The Commissioner of Social Security is directed''; 
        and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
            ``(B)(i) Notwithstanding the last sentence of subparagraph 
        (A), in the case of a hearing before an administrative law 
        judge to determine if an individual is under a disability (as 
        defined in section 223(d)) or a review of such a determination 
        before the Appeals Council of the Office of Appellate 
        Operations of the Social Security Administration, medical 
        evidence (other than the evidence already in the record) shall 
        not be received if the evidence is submitted less than 5 days 
        prior to the date on which the hearing is held unless the 
        individual can show that the evidence is material and there is 
        good cause for the failure to submit it before the deadline, 
        but in no case shall medical evidence be received if it is--
                    ``(I) based on information obtained during the 
                period that begins after a determination is made by an 
                administrative law judge; or
                    ``(II) submitted more than 1 year after a 
                determination is made by an administrative law judge.
            ``(ii) At the request of an individual applying for 
        benefits under this title, such individual's representative, or 
        a disability hearing attorney (as defined in section 203(a) of 
        the Protecting Social Security Disability Act of 2014), and for 
        the purpose of completing the record, an administrative law 
        judge may postpone a hearing to determine if the individual is 
        under a disability (as so defined) to a date that is no more 
        than 30 days after the date for which the hearing was 
        originally scheduled if--
                    ``(I) the request is made no less than 7 days prior 
                to the date for which the hearing was originally 
                scheduled; and
                    ``(II) the party making the request shows good 
                cause for why the hearing should be postponed.''.
    (b) Exclusion of Medical Evidence That Is Not Submitted in Its 
Entirety or Furnished by a Licensed Practitioner.--Section 223(d)(5) of 
the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 423(d)(5)) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``In'' and inserting 
        ``Subject to subparagraphs (C) and (D), in''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new subparagraphs:
            ``(C)(i) An individual and, if applicable, such 
        individual's representative shall submit, in its entirety and 
        without redaction, all relevant medical evidence known to the 
        individual or the representative to the Commissioner of Social 
        Security.
            ``(ii) In the case of a hearing before an administrative 
        law judge to determine if an individual is under a disability 
        (as defined in paragraph (1)), the Commissioner of Social 
        Security shall not consider any piece of medical evidence 
        furnished by an individual or such individual's representative 
        unless such individual and, if applicable, such individual's 
        representative, certifies at the hearing that all relevant 
        medical evidence has been submitted in its entirety and without 
        redaction.
            ``(iii) For purposes of this subparagraph, the term 
        `relevant medical evidence' means any medical evidence relating 
        to the individual's claimed physical or mental impairments that 
        the Commissioner of Social Security should consider to 
        determine whether the individual is under a disability, 
        regardless of whether such evidence is favorable or unfavorable 
        to the individual's case, but shall not include any oral or 
        written communication or other document exchanged between the 
        individual and such individual's attorney representative that 
        are subject to attorney-client privilege or work product 
        doctrine, unless the individual voluntarily discloses such 
        communication to the Commissioner. Neither the attorney-client 
        privilege nor the work product doctrine shall prevent from 
        disclosure medical evidence, medical source opinions, or any 
        other factual matter that the Commissioner may consider in 
        determining whether or not the individual is entitled to 
        benefits.
            ``(iv) Any individual or representative who knowingly 
        violates this subparagraph shall be guilty of making a false 
        statement or representation of material fact, shall be subject 
        to civil and criminal penalties under sections 208 and 1129, 
        and, in the case of a representative, shall be suspended or 
        disqualified from appearing before the Social Security 
        Administration.
            ``(D) The Commissioner of Social Security shall not 
        consider any evidence furnished by a physician or health care 
        practitioner who is not licensed, has been sanctioned, or is 
        under investigation for ethical misconduct.''.
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take 
effect on the date of the enactment of this Act, and shall apply to 
applications for disability insurance benefits filed on or after that 
date.

SEC. 203. NON-ADVERSARIAL DISABILITY HEARING ATTORNEYS.

    (a) In General.--
            (1) Establishment.--The Commissioner of Social Security 
        shall establish disability hearing attorney positions within 
        the Office of Appellate Operations of the Social Security 
        Administration for the purpose of improving the quality, 
        timeliness, and consistency of disability determinations by 
        administrative law judges as described in this section. The 
        Commissioner shall hire and employ such attorneys and other 
        personnel as are necessary to carry out the responsibilities of 
        disability hearing attorneys, as described in subsection (b).
            (2) Definition.--For purposes of this section, the term 
        ``disability hearing attorney'' means an attorney employed 
        under this section.
    (b) Assignment of Cases; Responsibilities of Disability Hearing 
Attorneys.--
            (1) Assignment of cases.--Each case that is scheduled for a 
        hearing to determine if an individual is under a disability (as 
        defined in section 223(d) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
        423(d)) shall be assigned to a disability hearing attorney as 
        soon as practicable.
            (2) Responsibilities of disability hearing attorneys.--The 
        disability hearing attorney assigned to a case under paragraph 
        (1) shall--
                    (A) develop the evidentiary record, and, if 
                necessary, work with the officials that made the 
                initial determination that the individual was not under 
                a disability to understand why such determination was 
                made;
                    (B) in cases where the individual has 
                representation, work with the representative to ensure 
                that the record is complete prior to the hearing, and 
                examine witnesses and present evidence to the 
                administrative law judge during the hearing;
                    (C) prior to the hearing, if the attorney finds 
                that the evidence clearly establishes that the 
                individual is under a disability, recommend that the 
                administrative law judge make a determination that the 
                individual is under a disability without requiring a 
                hearing; and
                    (D) after the hearing, if the attorney finds that 
                the evidence clearly does not support the determination 
                of the administrative law judge that the individual is 
                disabled, recommend to the Appeals Council of the 
                Office of Appellate Operations of the Social Security 
                Administration that the Appeals Council review the 
                determination on its own motion.
    (c) Qualifications and Training.--The Commissioner of Social 
Security shall ensure that disability hearing attorneys employed under 
this section are appropriately qualified and trained to understand 
relevant medical, vocational, and legal issues.

SEC. 204. PROCEDURAL RULES FOR HEARINGS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Commissioner of Social Security shall 
establish and make available to the public procedural rules for 
hearings to determine whether or not an individual is entitled to 
disability insurance benefits under title II of the Social Security Act 
(42 U.S.C. 401 et seq.). These rules shall include those established in 
this Act as well as--
            (1) rules and procedures for motions and requests;
            (2) rules related to the representation of individuals in 
        such a hearing, such as the qualifications and standards of 
        conduct required of representatives;
            (3) rules and procedures for the submission of evidence;
            (4) rules related to the closure of the record; and
            (5) rules and procedures for imposing sanctions on parties 
        for failing to comply with hearing rules.
    (b) Authority of Administrative Law Judges To Sanction Claimant 
Representatives.--Section 206(a)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 406(a)(1)) is amended by inserting after the fifth sentence the 
following: ``The Commissioner of Social Security shall establish rules 
under which an administrative law judge may impose fines and other 
sanctions the Commissioner determines to be appropriate on a 
representative for failure to follow the Commissioner's rules and 
regulations.''
    (c) Effective Date.--Any rules adopted pursuant to this section or 
the amendment made thereby shall take effect on the date that is 6 
months after the date of their publication and shall apply to hearings 
held on or after that date.

SEC. 205. PROHIBITING ATTORNEYS WHO HAVE RELINQUISHED A LICENSE TO 
              PRACTICE IN THE FACE OF AN ETHICS INVESTIGATION FROM 
              SERVING AS A CLAIMANT REPRESENTATIVE.

    Section 206(a)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 406(a)(1)), 
as amended by section 204(b), is further amended--
            (1) in the first sentence, by inserting ``, and, in cases 
        where compensation is sought for services as a representative, 
        shall'' before ``prescribe'';
            (2) in the second sentence, by striking ``Federal courts,'' 
        and inserting ``Federal courts and certifies to the 
        Commissioner that such attorney has never (A) been disbarred or 
        suspended from any court or bar to which such attorney was 
        previously admitted to practice or disqualified from 
        participating in or appearing before any Federal program or 
        agency, or (B) relinquished a license to practice in, 
        participate in, or appear before any court, bar, or Federal 
        program or agency in connection with a settlement of an 
        investigation into ethical misconduct,''; and
            (3) in the third sentence--
                    (A) by striking ``may'' each place it appears and 
                inserting ``shall'';
                    (B) by striking ``or who has been disqualified from 
                participating in or appearing before any Federal 
                program or agency'' and inserting ``, who has been 
                disqualified from participating in or appearing before 
                any Federal program or agency, or who has voluntarily 
                relinquished a license to practice in, participate in, 
                or appear before any court, bar, or Federal program or 
                agency in settlement of an investigation into ethical 
                misconduct''; and
                    (C) by inserting ``or who has voluntarily 
                relinquished a license to practice in any court or bar 
                in settlement of an investigation into ethical 
                misconduct'' before the period.

SEC. 206. APPLYING JUDICIAL CODE OF CONDUCT TO ADMINISTRATIVE LAW 
              JUDGES.

    (a) In General.--Section 3105 of title 5, United States Code, is 
amended--
            (1) by striking ``Each agency'' and inserting
    ``(a) Each agency''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(b) The Code of Conduct for United States Judges adopted by the 
Judicial Conference of the United States shall apply to administrative 
law judges appointed under this section.
    ``(c) If, in applying a standard of conduct to an administrative 
law judge appointed under this section, there is a conflict between the 
Code of Conduct for United States Judges and any other law or 
regulation, the stricter standard of conduct shall apply.
    ``(d) Pursuant to section 7301, the President may issue such 
regulations as may be necessary to carry out subsections (b) and 
(c).''.
    (b) Limitation on Regulatory Authority.--Section 1305 of title 5, 
United States Code, is amended by striking ``3105'' and inserting 
``3105(a)''.

SEC. 207. EVALUATING MEDICAL EVIDENCE.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Commissioner of Social Security shall ensure 
that all administrative law judges within the Office of Disability 
Adjudication and Review of the Social Security Administration receive 
training on how to appropriately evaluate and weigh medical evidence 
provided by medical professionals.
    (b) Opinion Evidence.--Section 223(d)(5)(B) of the Social Security 
Act (42 U.S.C. 423(d)(5)(B)), as amended by section 202(b), is further 
amended by adding at the end the following new sentences: ``In weighing 
medical evidence, the Commissioner of Social Security may assign 
greater weight to certain opinion evidence supplied by an individual's 
treating physician (or other treating health care provider) than to 
opinion evidence obtained from another source, but in no circumstance 
shall opinion evidence from any source be given controlling weight.''
    (c) Health Care Providers Supplying Consultative Exams.--
            (1) In general.--Beginning 1 year after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, in determining whether an individual 
        applying for disability insurance benefits under title II of 
        the Social Security Act is disabled, the Commissioner of Social 
        Security shall not consider medical evidence resulting from a 
        consultative exam with a health care provider conducted for the 
        purpose of supporting the individual's application unless the 
        evidence is accompanied by a Medical Consultant Acknowledgment 
        Form signed by the health care provider who conducted the exam.
            (2) Medical consultant acknowledgment form.--
                    (A) Definition.--As used in this subsection, the 
                term ``Medical Consultant Acknowledgment Form'' means a 
                form published by the Commissioner of Social Security 
                that meets the requirements of subparagraph (B).
                    (B) Requirements.--The Commissioner of Social 
                Security shall develop the Medical Consultant 
                Acknowledgment Form and make it available to the public 
                not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of 
                this Act. The contents of the Medical Consultant 
                Acknowledgment Form shall include--
                            (i) information on how medical evidence is 
                        used in disability determinations;
                            (ii) instructions on completing a residual 
                        functional capacity form;
                            (iii) information on the legal and ethical 
                        obligations of a health care provider who 
                        supplies medical evidence for use in a 
                        disability determination, including any civil 
                        or criminal penalties that may be imposed on a 
                        health care provider who supplies medical 
                        evidence for use in a disability determination; 
                        and
                            (iv) a statement that the signatory has 
                        read and understands the contents of the form.
            (3) Penalties for fraud.--In addition to any other 
        penalties that may be prescribed by law, any individual who 
        forges a signature on a Medical Consultant Acknowledgment Form 
        submitted to the Commissioner of Social Security shall be 
        guilty of making a false statement or representation of 
        material fact, and upon conviction shall be subject to civil 
        and criminal penalties under sections 208 and 1129 of the 
        Social Security Act and, in the case of a representative, shall 
        be suspended or disqualified from appearing before the Social 
        Security Administration.
    (d) Symptom Validity Tests.--
            (1) In general.--For purposes of evaluating the credibility 
        of an individual's medical evidence, an administrative law 
        judge responsible for conducting a hearing to determine whether 
        an individual applying for disability insurance benefits under 
        title II of the Social Security Act or for monthly benefits 
        under section 202 of such Act by reason of a disability may 
        require the individual to undergo a symptom validity test 
        either prior to or after the hearing.
            (2) Weight given to svts.--An administrative law judge may 
        only consider the results of a symptom validity test as a part 
        of an individual's entire medical history and shall not give 
        controlling weight to such results.
    (e) Evidence Obtained From Publicly Available Social Media.--For 
purposes of evaluating the credibility of an individual's medical 
evidence, an administrative law judge responsible for conducting a 
hearing to determine whether an individual applying for disability 
insurance benefits under title II of the Social Security Act is 
disabled shall be permitted to consider information about the 
individual obtained from publicly available social media.
    (f) Regulations Related to Evaluating Medical Evidence.--Not later 
than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commissioner 
of Social Security shall promulgate rules and regulations to carry out 
the purposes of this section, including regulations relating to when it 
is appropriate for an administrative law judge to order a symptom 
validity test or to consider evidence obtained from publicly available 
social media.

SEC. 208. REFORMING FEES PAID TO ATTORNEYS AND OTHER CLAIMANT 
              REPRESENTATIVES.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Commissioner of Social Security shall establish rules 
and regulations relating to the fees payable to representatives of 
individuals claiming entitlement to disability insurance benefits under 
title II of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401 et seq.). Such rules 
and regulations shall--
            (1) require representatives to account for the work 
        performed with respect to a case, whether or not there is a 
        valid fee agreement between the representative and the 
        individual; and
            (2) prohibit a representative from being reimbursed by the 
        Social Security Administration for travel expenses related to a 
        case.
    (b) Review of Highest-Earning Claimant Representatives.--
            (1) Review.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        enactment of this Act and annually thereafter, the Inspector 
        General of the Social Security Administration shall conduct a 
        review of the practices of a sample of the highest-earning 
        claimant representatives to ensure compliance with the policies 
        of the Social Security Administration. In reviewing 
        representative practices, the Inspector General shall look for 
        suspicious practices, including--
                    (A) repetitive language in residual functional 
                capacity forms;
                    (B) irregularities in the licensing history of 
                medical professionals providing medical opinions in 
                support of a claimant's application; and
                    (C) a disproportionately high number of appearances 
                by a representative before the same administrative law 
                judge.
            (2) Report.--Not later than December 1 of each year in 
        which a review described in paragraph (1) is conducted, the 
        Inspector General of the Social Security Administration shall 
        submit a report containing the results of such review, together 
        with any recommendations for administrative action or proposed 
        legislation that the Inspector General determines appropriate, 
        to the Committees on Finance and Homeland Security and 
        Government Affairs of the Senate and the Committees on Ways and 
        Means and Oversight and Government Reform of the House of 
        Representatives.
    (c) Applicability of the Equal Access to Justice Act.--Section 205 
of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 405) is amended by adding at the 
end the following new subsection:
    ``(v) Sections 504 of title 5 and 2412 of title 28, United States 
Code (commonly known as the `Equal Access to Justice Act'), shall not 
apply to--
            ``(1) any review under this title of a determination of 
        disability made by the Commissioner of Social Security; or
            ``(2) if new evidence is submitted by an individual after a 
        hearing to determine whether or not the individual is under a 
        disability, judicial review of a final determination of 
        disability under subsection (g) of this section.''.

SEC. 209. STRENGTHENING THE ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE QUALITY REVIEW 
              PROCESS.

    (a) In General.--
            (1) Review.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        enactment of this Act and annually thereafter, the Division of 
        Quality of the Office of Appellate Operations of the Social 
        Security Administration shall conduct a review of a sample of 
        determinations that individuals are entitled to disability 
        insurance benefits by outlier administrative law judges and 
        identify any determinations that are not supported by the 
        evidence.
            (2) Report.--Not later than December 1 of each year in 
        which a review described in paragraph (1) is conducted, the 
        Division of Quality Review of the Office of Appellate 
        Operations of the Social Security Administration shall submit a 
        report containing the results of such review, including all 
        determinations that were found to be unsupported by the 
        evidence, together with any recommendations for administrative 
        action or proposed legislation that the Division determines 
        appropriate, to--
                    (A) the Inspector General of the Social Security 
                Administration;
                    (B) the Commissioner of the Social Security 
                Administration;
                    (C) the Committees on Ways and Means and Oversight 
                and Government Reform of the House of the 
                Representatives; and
                    (D) the Committees on Finance and Homeland Security 
                and Government Affairs of the Senate.
            (3) Definition of outlier administrative law judge.--For 
        purposes of this subsection, the term ``outlier administrative 
        law judge'' means an administrative law judge within the Office 
        of Disability Adjudication and Review of the Social Security 
        Administration who, in a given year--
                    (A) issues more than 700 decisions; and
                    (B) determines that the applicant is entitled to 
                disability insurance benefits in not less than 85 
                percent of cases.
    (b) Mandatory Continuing Disability Review.--
            (1) In general.--The Commissioner of Social Security shall 
        ensure that, not less than 6 months after receiving a report 
        described in subsection (a)(2), every determination of 
        entitlement found to be unsupported by the evidence is in the 
        process of being reviewed under section 221(i)(1)(B) of the 
        Social Security Act (as amended by section 102(b)(1)).
            (2) Conforming amendment.--Section 221(i)(1) of the Social 
        Security Act (42 U.S.C. 421(i)(1)), as amended by section 
        102(b)(1), is further amended in subparagraph (C) by inserting 
        ``or under section 209(b) of the Protecting Social Security 
        Disability Act of 2014'' before the period.

SEC. 210. PERMITTING DATA MATCHING BY INSPECTORS GENERAL.

    Clause (ix) of section 552a(a)(8)(B) of title 5, United States 
Code, is amended by striking ``the Secretary of Health and Human 
Services or the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human 
Services'' and inserting ``the Inspector General of an agency, or an 
agency in coordination with an Inspector General''.

SEC. 211. ACCOUNTING FOR SOCIAL SECURITY PROGRAM INTEGRITY SPENDING.

    Amounts made available for Social Security program integrity 
spending by the Social Security Administration for a fiscal year shall 
be--
            (1) included in a separate account within the Federal 
        budget; and
            (2) funded in a separate account in the appropriate annual 
        appropriations bill.

SEC. 212. USE OF THE NATIONAL DIRECTORY OF NEW HIRES.

    Beginning with the date that is 1 year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Commissioner of Social Security shall 
consult the National Directory of New Hires established under section 
453(i) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 653(i)) in determining 
whether any individual who submits an application or reapplication for 
disability insurance benefits under title II of the Social Security Act 
or for monthly benefits under section 202 of such Act by reason of a 
disability is able to engage in substantial gainful activity.

      TITLE III--PROVIDING SUPPORT FOR WORKING DISABLED AMERICANS

SEC. 301. ESTABLISHMENT OF WORK INCENTIVE BENEFIT SYSTEM.

    (a) Elimination of the Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency 
Program.--
            (1) In general.--Part A of title XI of the Social Security 
        Act (42 U.S.C. 1301 et seq.) is amended by striking section 
        1148.
            (2) Conforming amendments.--
                    (A) Section 225(b)(1) of such Act is amended by 
                striking ``consisting of the Ticket to Work and Self-
                Sufficiency Program under section 1148 or another 
                program''.
                    (B) Section 1631(a)(6)(A) of such Act is amended by 
                striking ``consisting of the Ticket to Work and Self-
                Sufficiency Program under section 1148 or another 
                program''.
                    (C) Section 1633(c) of such Act is amended by 
                striking paragraph (2).
    (b) Establishment of the Work Incentive Benefit System.--
            (1) In general.--Section 223 of the Social Security Act (42 
        U.S.C. 423), as amended by section 102(c), is further amended--
                    (A) in subsection (a)(2), by striking ``section 
                202(q) and section 215(b)(2)(A)(ii)'' and inserting 
                ``subsection (l) and sections 202(q) and 
                215(b)(2)(A)(ii)''; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following new 
                subsection:

                    ``Work Incentive Benefit System

    ``(l)(1) The Commissioner shall establish a Work Incentive Benefit 
System in accordance with the provisions of this subsection, pursuant 
to which an eligible individual entitled to a disability insurance 
benefit under this section may elect to return to employment and 
receive an adjusted disability insurance benefit amount (as determined 
pursuant to paragraph (3)).
    ``(2)(A) For purposes of this subsection, the term `eligible 
individual' means an individual who has been entitled to a disability 
insurance benefit for period of not less than 9 months preceding 
participation in the Work Incentive Benefit System.
    ``(B) Participation by an eligible individual in the Work Incentive 
Benefit System shall be suspended if such individual has no reported 
wages or self-employment income for the 4 preceding calendar quarters 
(as defined in section 213(a)(1)).
    ``(3)(A) For purposes of subsection (a)(2), the amount of the 
disability insurance benefit provided to an eligible individual who is 
participating in the Work Incentive Benefit System for any month shall 
be equal to--
            ``(i) in the case of an individual who has average monthly 
        earnings (as determined under subparagraph (B)) equal to or 
        less than $50, the amount otherwise applicable under subsection 
        (a)(2), or
            ``(ii) in the case of an individual who has average monthly 
        earnings greater than $50, an amount equal to the sum of--
                    ``(I) an amount (not less than zero) equal to--
                            ``(aa) the enhanced benefit amount (as 
                        determined under subparagraph (C)) for such 
                        individual, minus
                            ``(bb) the quotient obtained by dividing 
                        the average monthly earnings for such 
                        individual by 3, and
                    ``(II) the work incentive adjustment amount (as 
                determined under subparagraph (D)) for such individual.
    ``(B)(i) The average monthly earnings for an eligible individual 
shall be equal to the quotient of--
            ``(I) the total amount of wages and self-employment income 
        for such individual in any eligible months during the 2 
        calendar quarters (as defined in section 213(a)(1)) that 
        precede the most recently completed calendar quarter, divided 
        by
            ``(II) the total number of eligible months during such 2 
        calendar quarter period.
    ``(ii) For purposes of clause (i), the term `eligible month' means 
any month subsequent to the month in which an eligible individual 
became entitled to a disability insurance benefit.
    ``(C) The enhanced benefit amount for an eligible individual shall 
be equal to 106.7 percent of the primary insurance amount for such 
month for such individual.
    ``(D)(i) The work incentive adjustment amount for an eligible 
individual shall be equal to the product of the average monthly 
earnings for such individual multiplied by the applicable work 
incentive subsidy rate (as determined in accordance with the table 
under clause (iii), based on the applicable work incentive step for 
such individual).
    ``(ii) For purposes of the table under clause (iii), the work 
incentive step for an eligible individual shall be equal to the 
quotient obtained by dividing--
            ``(I) the average monthly earnings for such individual, by
            ``(II) an amount equal to the quotient obtained by dividing 
        the primary insurance amount for such month for such individual 
        by 5.
    ``(iii) The work incentive subsidy rate shall be determined by 
linear interpolation between the amounts established under the 
following table:

                                                         Work Incentive
``Work Incentive Step                                      Subsidy Rate
        0............................................               -1 
        1............................................             -0.8 
        2............................................             -0.6 
        3............................................             -0.4 
        4............................................             -0.2 
        5............................................                0 
        6............................................              0.2 
        7............................................             0.35 
        8............................................             0.39 
        9............................................             0.35 
        10...........................................              0.3 
        11...........................................             0.25 
        12...........................................             0.18 
        13...........................................            0.125 
        14...........................................             0.08 
        15...........................................             0.04 
        16...........................................             0.01 
        17...........................................                0.
    ``(4) For purposes of paragraph (3)(B), wages and self-employment 
income of an individual shall be determined based on relevant 
information for such individual as provided by the State agency 
responsible for the administration of State unemployment compensation 
law.
    ``(5) For purposes of an eligible individual who is participating 
in the Work Incentive Benefit System under this subsection, any 
services performed or earnings derived from services during the period 
of such participation shall not be considered for purposes of 
demonstrating an individual's ability to engage in substantial gainful 
activity under subsection (d)(4) and shall not be considered 
substantial gainful activity for purposes of subsection (e).
    ``(6) For purposes of this title, the disability insurance benefit 
received by an eligible individual under this subsection shall not be 
applied for purposes of determining any monthly benefits payable to any 
other individuals entitled to benefits for any month based on the wages 
and self-employment income of such individual.''.
    (c) Program Savings.--
            (1) In general.--For each calendar year after 2015, the 
        Commissioner of Social Security shall determine if, as a result 
        of the repeal of the Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency 
        Program under section 1148 of the Social Security Act and the 
        establishment the Work Incentive Benefit System under section 
        223(l) of such Act, the total amount of expenditures from the 
        Trust Funds (as defined under section 201(c) of such Act) for 
        payment of disability insurance benefits pursuant to section 
        223 of such Act has been reduced.
            (2) Sharing of savings.--The Commissioner of Social 
        Security shall, by regulations, establish a program to provide 
        payments to organizations providing vocational rehabilitation 
        services to eligible individuals (as defined under section 
        223(l)(2) of the Social Security Act) from any amounts 
        determined to be saved under the Work Incentive Benefit System, 
        as determined pursuant to paragraph (1). The amount of any 
        payments made to an organization providing vocational 
        rehabilitation services to an eligible individual shall be 
        adjusted based on the disability classification of such 
        individual, with increased amounts to be provided for eligible 
        individuals with a lower expectation of medical improvement.
    (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply to benefits payable for months beginning after June 30, 2016.

SEC. 302. EARLY-INTERVENTION DEMONSTRATION PROJECT; STUDY ON PAYROLL 
              TAX REDUCTIONS.

    (a) Targeted Early-Intervention Demonstration Project.--
            (1) In general.--
                    (A) Establishment.--The Commissioner shall conduct 
                a demonstration project designed to examine the 
                effectiveness of providing targeted early-intervention 
                support to eligible individuals.
                    (B) Vocational rehabilitation services.--The 
                Commissioner shall coordinate with State vocational 
                rehabilitation agencies to provide eligible individuals 
                who elect to participate in the demonstration project 
                with vocational rehabilitation services.
                    (C) Other benefits.--In addition to the vocational 
                rehabilitation services described in subparagraph (B), 
                the Commissioner shall provide eligible individuals who 
                elect to participate in the demonstration project with 
                a package of benefits that may include--
                            (i) health care subsidies;
                            (ii) wage subsidies; and
                            (iii) cash stipends.
                    (D) Suspension of eligibility for disability 
                assistance.--An eligible individual who elects to 
                participate in the demonstration project shall not be 
                eligible for disability assistance for as long as the 
                individual receives assistance through the 
                demonstration project, and in no case shall an eligible 
                individual who elects to participate in the 
                demonstration project be eligible for disability 
                assistance during the 1 year period that begins on the 
                date that the individual first receives assistance 
                through the demonstration project.
                    (E) Participation voluntary.--The option to 
                participate in the demonstration project conducted 
                under this subsection shall be voluntary, and the 
                designation of an applicant for disability assistance 
                as an eligible individual shall not preclude such 
                applicant from electing to receive disability insurance 
                rather than participate in the demonstration project.
            (2) Identifying eligible individuals.--
                    (A) In general.--The Commissioner shall identify 
                eligible individuals from among applicants for 
                disability assistance whose applications have not been 
                processed yet.
                    (B) Eligibility standards.--The Commissioner shall 
                only identify an applicant for disability assistance as 
                an eligible individual if the Commissioner finds that--
                            (i) it is highly probable that the 
                        applicant will be determined to be eligible 
                        disability assistance; and
                            (ii) the applicant could, with the help of 
                        assistance provided under the demonstration 
                        project, engage in substantial gainful 
                        activity.
            (3) Scope.--
                    (A) In general.--The demonstration project shall be 
                of sufficient scope and shall be carried out on a wide 
                enough scale to permit a thorough evaluation of the 
                provision of targeted early-intervention support under 
                consideration while giving assurance that the results 
                derived from the demonstration project will obtain 
                generally in the operation of the disability insurance 
                program under title II of the Social Security Act (42 
                U.S.C. 401 et seq.) without committing such program to 
                the adoption of any particular system either locally or 
                nationally.
                    (B) Authority to expand scope.--The Commissioner 
                may expand the scope of the demonstration project to 
                include any group of applicants for disability 
                assistance with impairments that reasonably may be 
                presumed to be disabling for purposes of the 
                demonstration project, and may limit any such 
                demonstration project to any such group of applicants, 
                subject to the terms of such demonstration project 
                which shall define the extent of any such presumption.
                    (C) Duration.--The demonstration project shall be 
                implemented not later than January 1, 2016, and shall 
                be conducted for a period of 5 years.
            (4) Reports.--
                    (A) Interim reports.--On or before June 1 of each 
                year that begins after 2016, the Commissioner shall 
                submit to the Committee on Ways and Means of the House 
                of Representatives and to the Committee on Finance of 
                the Senate an annual interim report on the progress of 
                the demonstration project together with any related 
                data and materials that the Commissioner may consider 
                appropriate.
                    (B) Final report.--Not later than 90 days after the 
                termination of the demonstration project, the 
                Commissioner shall submit to the Committee on Ways and 
                Means of the House of Representatives and to the 
                Committee on Finance of the Senate a final report with 
                respect to the demonstration project.
                    (C) GAO evaluation and report.--The Comptroller 
                General of the United States shall--
                            (i) perform an evaluation of the 
                        implementation of and results achieved by the 
                        demonstration project; and
                            (ii) not later than January 1, 2020, submit 
                        to Congress a report on the evaluation 
                        described in clause (i), including a 
                        recommendation as to whether the Commissioner's 
                        authority to conduct the demonstration project 
                        should be made permanent.
            (5) Definitions.--In this subsection:
                    (A) Commissioner.--The term ``Commissioner'' means 
                the Commissioner of Social Security.
                    (B) Demonstration project.--The term 
                ``demonstration project'' means the demonstration 
                project conducted under this subsection.
                    (C) Disability assistance.--The term ``disability 
                assistance'' means disability insurance benefits or 
                monthly benefits under section 202 of the Social 
                Security Act for which eligibility is based on a 
                disability.
                    (D) Eligible individual.--The term ``eligible 
                individual'' means an applicant for disability 
                assistance who has been identified by the Commissioner 
                under paragraph (2).
    (b) Study on Payroll Tax Reductions for Businesses That Provide 
Disability Support.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Commissioner of Social Security 
        shall complete a study to determine whether reducing the rate 
        at which an employer is taxed under subsection (a) of section 
        3111 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 in exchange for such 
        employer offering its employees private disability insurance 
        and other disability supports would be an effective means of 
        reducing the rate at which such employees enter the disability 
        insurance program established under title II of the Social 
        Security Act.
            (2) Report.--Not later than 90 days after the completion of 
        the study described in paragraph (1), the Commissioner of 
        Social security shall submit to the Committee on Ways and Means 
        of the House of Representatives and to the Committee on Finance 
        of the Senate a report on the study that includes detailed 
        analysis of the Commissioner's findings and recommendations for 
        further legislative or administrative action.
                                 <all>