[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 218 (Monday, November 14, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-28017]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: November 14, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
 

Statement of Organization, Functions and Delegations of Authority

    Part S of the Statement of Organization, Functions and Delegations 
of Authority for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) 
covers the Social Security Administration (SSA). Notice is given that 
Chapter S5, the Office of the Deputy Commissioner for Policy and 
External Affairs is being further amended to reflect organizational 
changes within subordinate offices. These offices are the Office of 
Legislation and Congressional Affairs (S5B), the Office of Public 
Affairs (S5E), the Office of International Policy (S5G), the Office of 
Research and Statistics (S5H) and the Office of Policy Communications 
(S5R). The changes are as follows:
    Section S5B.10 The Office of Legislation and Congressional 
Affairs--(Organization):
    Delete:
    D. The Legislative Reference Staff (S5BA).
    F. The Division of Disability and Supplemental Security Income 
(S5BC).
    G. The Division of Retirement and Survivors Benefits (S5BE).
    Establish:
    D. The Disability Insurance Program Staff (S5BH).
    F. The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Program Staff (S5BJ).
    G. The Old Age and Survivors Insurance (OASI) Benefits Staff 
(S5BK).
    H. The Program Administration and Financing Staff (S5BL).
    Section S5B.20 The Office of Legislation and Congressional Affairs 
(OLCA)--(Functions):
    Delete in their entirety:
    D. The Legislative Reference Staff (S5BA).
    F. The Division of Disability and Supplemental Security Income 
(S5BC).
    G. The Division of Retirement and Survivors Benefits (S5BE). Amend:
    C. The Immediate Office of the Associate Commissioner for 
Legislation and Congressional Affairs to read as follows: The Immediate 
Office of the Associate Commissioner for Legislation and Congressional 
Affairs provides the Associate Commissioner and Deputy Associate 
Commissioner with staff assistance on the full range of their 
responsibilities, including the legislative reference function. The 
legislative reference function:
    1. Tracks legislative bills, highlights items of interest from the 
Congressional Record and other publications for Office of Legislation 
and Congressional Affairs and SSA's Executive Staff and provides 
support for other OLCA and SSA components at congressional hearings.
    2. Assists individual Members of Congress and their staffs and 
congressional committee staffs by responding to requests for 
information on pending and proposed Social Security legislation, 
related legislative proposals and the legislative history of the Social 
Security program.
    3. Reviews legislative proposals for consistency with existing 
program goals, philosophy and program requirements.
    Establish:
    D. The Disability Insurance Program Staff (S5BH).
    1. Develops and explains disability insurance (DI) program 
principles and philosophy.
    2. Reviews proposed regulations dealing with the DI program to 
assure consistency with policy requirements and decisions.
    3. Develops and evaluates legislative proposals for changes in the 
DI program, the SSA hearings and appeals process and the process for 
approving attorney fees under the program.
    4. Provides technical and advisory services to other agencies 
within the Executive Branch, congressional committees, State officials 
and private organizations having an interest in the DI program, the SSA 
hearings and appeals process and the process for approving attorney 
fees under the program.
    F. The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Program Staff (S5BJ).
    1. Develops and explains SSI program principles and philosophy.
    2. Studies the SSI program interrelationships with Social Security 
income maintenance, child support enforcement, food stamps, employment 
and other Federal, State and local programs and recommends methods for 
coordinating these programs.
    3. Reviews regulations dealing with the SSI program for the aged, 
blind and disabled to ensure consistency with policy requirements and 
decisions.
    4. Develops and evaluates legislative proposals for changes in the 
SSI program.
    5. Provides technical and advisory services to other agencies 
within the Executive Branch, congressional committees and individual 
Members of Congress, State officials and private organizations having 
an interest in the SSI program.
    G. The Old Age and Survivors Insurance (OASI) Benefits Staff 
(S5BK).
    1. Develops and explains retirement and survivors insurance (RSI) 
program principles and philosophy.
    2. Develops and evaluates legislative proposals for changes in the 
areas of retirement and survivors benefits and coverage.
    3. Conducts studies on broad programmatic issue, including 
eligibility requirements for dependents' and survivors' benefits, the 
level of Social Security benefits, value of benefits in relation to 
contributions, benefit computation methods, which dependents should 
receive benefits and the establishment of priority among these 
dependents.
    4. Reviews proposed regulations dealing with RSI issues, such as 
Social Security coverage, the retirement earnings test, insured status 
and the definition of employment and wages to assure cross-program 
consistency with policy requirements and decisions.
    5. Provides technical and advisory services to other agencies 
within the Executive Branch, congressional committees and individual 
Members of Congress, State officials and private organizations having 
an interest in RSI and Social Security coverage issues.
    H. The Program Administration and Financing Staff (S5BL).
    1. Develops and explains Social Security program principles and 
philosophy.
    2. Conducts studies of broad programmatic issues, including tax 
rates, alternative methods of financing trust fund operations, service 
to the public, Social Security numbers, taxation of benefits, alien 
suspension, and debt management.
    3. Identifies and analyzes far-reaching economic, political and 
societal issues that impact/influence the development and modification 
of Social Security program policies and procedures.
    4. Recommends methods for coordinating the protection afforded 
under Social Security with that afforded under other public and private 
benefit programs.
    5. Reviews proposed regulations dealing with interprogram 
relationships to assure cross-program consistency with policy 
requirements and decisions.
    6. Provides technical and advisory services to other agencies 
within the Executive Branch, congressional committees and individual 
Members of Congress, State officials and private organizations having 
an interest in interprogram relationships.
    Section S5E.10  The Office of Public Affairs--(Organization):
    D. The Office of Communications Technology (S5EB) Retitle:
    2. ``The Media Operations Staff (S5EB6)'' to ``The Audiovisual 
Media Operations Staff (S5EB6).''
    Retitle:
    E. ``The Office of Information (S5EH)'' to ``The Office of 
Editorial Policy and Communications (S5EH).''
    1. ``The Editorial Planning and Evaluation Staff (S5EH2)'' to ``The 
Editorial Policy and Communications Staff (S5EH2).''
    2. ``The Internal Communications Staff (S5EH3)'' to ``The Special 
Communications Staff (S5EH3).''
    Retitle:
    G. ``The Office of External Affairs (S5EK)'' to ``The Office of 
National Affairs (S5EK).''
    Abolish:
    1. The External Liaison Staff (S5EK4).
    2. The Intergovernmental Affairs Staff (S5EK7).
    Reletter:
    ``G'' to ``F''.
    Retitle:
    H. ``The Regional Affairs Staff (S5EM)'' to ``The Office of 
Regional Affairs and Special Projects (S5EM).''
    Reletter:
    ``H'' to ``G''.
    Section S5E.20  The Office of Public Affairs--(Functions):
    D. The Office of Communications Technology (S5EB)
    Retitle:
    2. ``The Media Operations Staff (S5EB6)'' to ``The Audiovisual 
Media Operations Staff (S5EB6).''
    Retitle:
    E. ``The Office of Information (S5EH)'' to ``The Office of 
Editorial Policy and Communications (S5EH).''
    1. ``The Editorial Planning and Evaluation Staff (S5EH2)'' to ``The 
Editorial Policy and Communications Staff (S5EH2).''
    2. ``The Internal Communications Staff (S5EH3)'' to ``The Special 
Communications Staff (S5EH3).''
    Retitle:
    G. ``The Office of External Affairs (S5EK)'' to ``The Office of 
National Affairs (S5EK).''
    Abolish:
    1. The External Liaison Staff (S5EK4) in its entirety.
    2. The Intergovernmental Affairs Staff (S5EK7) in its entirety.
    Reletter:
    ``G'' to ``F''.
    Retitle:
    H. ``The Regional Affairs Staff (S5EM)'' to ``The Office of 
Regional Affairs and Special Projects (S5EM).''
    Reletter:
    ``H'' to ``G''.
    Section S5G.10  The Office of International Policy--(Organization):
    Delete:
    B. The Deputy Director for International Policy (S5G).
    Reletter:
    ``C'' to ``B'', ``D'' to ``C'' and ``E'' to ``D''.
    Section S5G.20  The Office of International Policy--(Functions):
    Delete:
    B. The Deputy Director for International Policy (S5G) in its 
entirety.
    Amend to read as follows:
    C. The Immediate Office of the Director for International Policy 
(S5G) provides the Director with staff assistance on the full range of 
his/her responsibilities, helps coordinate the activities of the Office 
of International Policy's components, and acts as the SSA or United 
States Government representative to international organizations and 
world bodies involved with international social security matters.
    D. The Division of International Program Policy and Agreements 
(S5GA)
    Delete ``1-8'' in their entirety.
    Add:
    1. Plans, develops and evaluates program policies and procedures 
relating to foreign claims administration, foreign evidence and 
beneficiaries and modifies policies and procedures to meet program 
requirements in foreign countries.
    2. Negotiates international Social Security (totalization) 
agreements with foreign governments and takes the actions necessary to 
secure their approval, develops policies and procedures to implement 
agreements and administers the coverage provisions of the agreements.
    3. Issues certificates of coverage to United States-based workers 
who are self-employed or are sent on temporary assignments of countries 
with which the United States has international totalization agreements 
to exempt them (and their employers) from foreign social security 
taxes.
    4. Analyzes foreign social security programs and evaluates their 
relationships to and effects on the United States' Social Security 
programs and benefit payments.
    5. Conducts legislative and regulatory reviews, studies and 
analysis of all matters relating to international policy and 
international Social Security agreements and takes necessary 
legislative or regulatory action on foreign program and agreement 
problems requiring such remedy.
    E. The International Activities Staff (S5GC)
    Delete ``1-4'' in their entirety.
    Add:
    1. Develops and coordinates individualized training/orientation 
programs for foreign officials on the United States' Social Security 
system.
    2. Coordinates SSA's technical assistance to developing countries 
in designing and/or modernizing existing social security systems.
    3. Serves as SSA's focal point in providing information about 
United States' Social Security programs to foreign organizations.
    4. Plans and coordinates SSA's international travel plan, including 
providing logistical support and administering all activities relating 
to control of official passports for SSA staff travelling abroad.
    5. Plans and manages SSA-hosted international conferences, meetings 
and seminars.
    Reletter:
    ``C'' to ``B'', ``D'' to ``C'' and ``E'' to ``D''.
    Section S5H.10  The Office of Research and Statistics--
(Organization): Retitle:
    E. ``The Program Analysis Staff (S5HB)'' to ``The Division of 
Program Analysis (S5HB)''.
    Delete:
    G. The Division of Statistical Operations and Services (S5HE)
    H. The Division of Statistics Analysis (S5HG).
    Establish:
    G. The Division of Earnings Statistics and Analysis (S5HH).
    H. The Division of Retirement, Survivors, Disability Insurance 
(RSDI) Research Statistics (S5HJ).
    I. The Division of SSI Analysis/Management Statistical Support 
(S5HK).
    J. The Disability Research Staff (S5HL).
    Section S5H.20  The Office of Research and Statistics--(Functions):
    Retitle:
    E. ``The Program Analysis Staff (S5HB)'' to ``The Division of 
Program Analysis (S5HB)''.
    Add:
    3. Plans, conducts and publishes the results of cross-national 
research on social security programs worldwide.
    Delete in their entirety:
    G. The Division of Statistical Operations and Services (S5HE).
    H. The Division of Statistics Analysis (S5HG).
    Establish:
    G. The Division of Earnings Statistics and Analysis (S5HH).
    1. Plans, coordinates and directs the preparation of statistical 
and analytical data pertaining to earnings, employment and employer 
classification. Analyzes these data with emphasis on demographic, 
economic, social and program characteristics. These data are used to 
support program and legislative planning and serve as important sources 
for program evaluation, research and administrative information within 
SSA, and for research by other Federal and State and local government 
agencies, universities, and private research organizations.
    2. Provides the Office of Research and Statistics and other SSA 
researchers with support in the development of social science survey 
data linked with SSA administrative record data.
    H. The Division of Retirement, Survivors and Disability Insurance 
(RSDI) Research Statistics (S5HJ).
    1. Plans, coordinates and directs the preparation of statistical 
and analytical data pertaining to Old Age, Survivors and Disability 
Insurance (OASDI) claims and benefits provisions of Title II of the 
Social Security Act. Analyzes these data with emphasis on demographic, 
economic, social and program characteristics. These data are used to 
support program and legislative planning and serve as important sources 
for program evaluation, research and administrative information within 
SSA, and for research by other Federal and State and local government 
agencies, universities and private research organizations.
    I. The Division of SSI Analysis/Management Statistical Support 
(S5HK).
    1. Plans, coordinates and directs the preparation of statistical 
and analytical data pertaining to the Supplemental Security Income 
provisions of Title XVI of the Social Security Act. Analyzes these data 
with emphasis on demographic, economic, social and program 
characteristics. These data are used to support program and legislative 
planning and serve as important sources for program evaluation, 
research and administrative information within SSA and for research by 
other Federal and State and local government agencies, universities and 
private research organizations.
    2. Provides management statistical services to SSA operating and 
policy components, including such activities as the development of 
general purpose and customized field office samples, development of 
work sampling systems and quality assurance systems, and the design and 
analysis of operational pilot studies. Provides support for the 
development and use of mathematical models and statistical methods.
    J. The Disability Research Staff (S5HL).
    1. Plans, directs and implements a wide range of studies and 
analyses, utilizing data from surveys and administrative records, on 
the national disabled population, disability applicants and disability 
beneficiaries.
    2. Develops research in response to DI program issues.
    3. Maintains and develops research surveys and administrative data 
files used in the analysis of disability data.
    Section S5R.10  The Office of Policy Communications--
(Organization):
    Delete:
    D. The Policy Analysis and Integration Staff (S5RA).
    E. The Office of Regulations (S5RB).
    F. The Office of Directives Management (S5RG).
    Establish:
    D. The Notice Policy Staff (S5RK).
    E. The Division of Regulations and Rulings (S5RL).
    F. The Division of Directives Management (S5RM).
    Section S5R.20  The Office of Policy Communications--(Functions):
    Delete in their entirety:
    D. The Policy Analysis and Integration Staff (S5RA).
    E. The Office of Regulations (S5RB).
    F. The Office of Directives Management (S5RG).
    Establish:
    D. The Notice Policy Staff (S5RK) serves as the focal point for 
SSA's effort to improve service to the public through issuing clear 
notices. Coordinates, plans, establishes priorities and schedules all 
notice improvement activities for the Agency. Develops Agency-level 
strategies for notice improvements. Establishes the Agency's notice 
policy and develops and publishes the Agency's Notice Standards. 
Designs and writes notices and selected forms. Provides direction for 
notice content and design throughout SSA. Acts as a clearinghouse 
through which program offices submit proposed new or revised notices 
and selected forms. Assesses the impact of new notices on public 
service. Develops, plans and implements Agency efforts to get public 
feedback about notices. Maintains the language database for the Field 
Office Notice Software, both in English and Spanish. Oversees training 
for operations and program components to improve the quality of 
notices.
    E. The Division of Regulations and Rulings (S5RL) plans, develops 
and writes SSA regulations and provides for the publication of 
regulations. Performs an ongoing assessment of the regulations process 
in SSA. Coordinates, within SSA, the review and clearance of 
regulations for the claims and payment processes developed for the RSDI 
programs, the SSI program and the Black Lung Benefits programs and 
assures the Office of Policy Communications has input into the 
regulations development process. Coordinates activities with HHS' 
Office of the General Counsel on the issuance of regulations. 
Negotiates with HHS, Office of Management and Budget and the Office of 
the Federal Register on regulations matters. Plans and develops Social 
Security Rulings to provide interpretations and applications of the 
Social Security Act. Coordinates the review and clearance of Social 
Security Rulings with the Office of the General Counsel, the Office of 
the Commissioner and the Office of the Deputy Commissioner for 
Programs. Coordinates publication, distribution and warehousing of all 
Social Security Rulings.
    F. The Division of Directives Management (S5RM) directs the review, 
coordination, publication and distribution of program instructions and 
other materials in paper and electronic form to insure uniformity, lack 
of duplication and compatibility of all SSA operations, instructional 
and informational material. Participates in determining the 
instructional needs of SSA operating personnel. Directs technical 
review of program operating instructions to insure proper integration, 
organization, clearance and audience for materials prepared by various 
SSA components for the Program Operations Manual System and related 
program guides. Coordinates publication, distribution and warehousing 
of all program instructional and related materials and directs a 
quality review of new issuances to insure proper reproduction of 
printed materials. Indexes all program instructional materials and 
determines user needs in this area. Develops and publishes general and 
special compilations of Social Security laws, various technical 
issuances and program handbooks. Participates with SSA's Systems 
organization in the design, development and ongoing administration of a 
computerized system for storing, updating, publishing and distributing 
operational instructions and materials. Coordinates with SSA's Office 
of Human Resources as appropriate. Establishes policies and guidelines 
for the distribution of SSA's program publications to the public as 
required by the Freedom of Information Act.
    Dated: October 3, 1994.

Ruth A. Pierce,
Deputy Commissioner for Human Resources.
[FR Doc. 94-28017 Filed 11-10-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4190-29-P