[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 211 (Wednesday, November 1, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55642-55643]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-27041]



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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION


Prehearings Conducted by Adjudication Officers; Testing of New 
Procedures

AGENCY: Social Security Administration.

ACTION: Notice of the test sites and the duration of tests involving 
prehearing procedures and decisions by Adjudication Officers.

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SUMMARY: The Social Security Administration is announcing the locations 
and the duration of tests it will conduct under the final rules 
published in the Federal Register on September 13, 1995 (60 FR 47469). 
These final rules authorize the testing of procedures to be conducted 
by an adjudication officer, who, under the Plan for a New Disability 
Claim Process published in the Federal Register on September 19, 1994 
(59 FR 47887), would be the focal point for all prehearing activities. 
Under the final rules, when a request for a hearing before an 
administrative law judge is requested, the adjudication officer will 
conduct prehearing procedures and, if appropriate, issue a decision 
wholly favorable to the claimant.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard Fussell, Appeals Team Leader, 

[[Page 55643]]
Disability Process Redesign Team, Social Security Administration, 6401 
Security Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21235, 410-965-9230.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The tests we will conduct using an 
adjudication officer will begin on or about November 1, 1995 and last 
for approximately twelve months. We will publish another notice in the 
Federal Register if we extend the duration of the tests or expand the 
number of test sites. The tests discussed in this notice will be 
conducted at the following nine State Agencies:

Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission, 103 South Main St., Boston, 
MA 02111
Department of Social Services, Office of Disability Determinations, 
1 Commerce Plaza, Albany, NY 12260
Department of Human Resources, Disability Adjudication Section, 330 
Ponce de Leon Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30001
Social Security Disability Determination Services, Seventh and 
Roberts Sts., St. Paul, MN 55101
Department of Social Services Disability Determination Services, 608 
W. Allegen St., Detroit, MI 48933
Department of Health and Social Services, Division of Vocational 
Rehabilitation Disability Determination Bureau, 722 Williamson St., 
Madison, WI 53703
Disability Determination Service, 2530-I S. Campbell St., 
Springfield, MO 65807
Disability Determinations, 721 Government St., New Orleans, LA 70802
Disability Determination Services, PO Box 9303 Airdustrial Way SW, 
Tumwater, Wa. 98501

    The sites selected present a mix of geographic areas and case 
loads. We expect that the tests will provide us with sufficient 
information to determine the effect of the Adjudication Officer 
position on the administrative review process.
    Not all hearing requests received in the test sites listed above 
will be handled under the test procedures. However, if a request for a 
hearing is selected to be handled by an adjudication officer as part of 
the test, the claim will be processed under the procedures established 
under the final regulations cited above. These tests will be conducted 
alone; they will not be conducted in combination with one or more of 
the tests we plan to conduct pursuant to the final rules ``Testing 
Modifications to the Disability Determination Procedures'' published in 
the Federal Register on April 24, 1995 (60 FR 20023). Howevever, when 
SSA tests the Adjudication Officer in combination with other provisions 
of the ``Testing Modifications to the Disability Determination 
Procedures,'' we will publish the locations and dates in the Federal 
Register.

    Dated: October 26, 1995.
Charles A. Jones,
Director, Disability Process Redesign Team.
[FR Doc. 95-27041 Filed 10-31-95; 8:45 am]
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