[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 247 (Thursday, December 24, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71326-71327]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-34138]


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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION


Testing Modifications to the Disability Determination Procedures; 
Federal Processing Center Testing

AGENCY: Social Security Administration.

ACTION: Notice of the continuation of testing involving modifications 
to the disability determination procedures.

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SUMMARY: The Social Security Administration (SSA) is announcing the 
continuation of testing that it has been conducting under the current 
rules at 20 CFR 404.906, 404.943, 404.966, 416.1406, 416.1443, and 
416.1466. Those rules authorize the testing of

[[Page 71327]]

several modifications to the disability determination procedures that 
we normally follow in adjudicating claims for disability insurance 
benefits under title II of the Social Security Act (the Act) and claims 
for supplemental security income (SSI) payments based on disability 
under title XVI of the Act. This notice announces the continuation and 
duration of the testing in a federal processing center. This notice 
also announces that the selection of cases for this testing will be 
from a different state.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Harry Pippin, Disability Models Team 
Leader, Office of Disability, Disability Process Redesign Staff, Social 
Security Administration, 6401 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 
21235, 410-965-9203.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Current regulations at 20 CFR 404.906, 
404.943, 404.966, 416.1406, 416.1443, and 416.1466 authorize us to test 
different modifications to the disability determination procedures. On 
August 1, 1997, we published in the Federal Register (62 FR 41457) a 
notice that described the use of four features of the testing 
modifications to the disability determination procedures, plus two 
features designed to maximize the resources of a federal processing 
center. That notice announced that testing of this model would take 
place at the Social Security Administration's Office of Disability and 
International Operations in Baltimore, Maryland. Testing was to begin 
on or about August 11, 1997, and selection of approximately 1,000 
claims filed by telephone by residents of Kentucky was to continue for 
approximately one year with cases processed for an additional six 
months. We stated that we might choose to extend the duration of the 
test to obtain additional data, and that we would publish another 
notice in the Federal Register if we decided to extend the duration. We 
incorporated a fifth modification to the integrated model to the 
disability determination procedures on September 23, 1997 (62 FR 
49598).
    We are now announcing that testing in the Office of Disability and 
International Operations (now called the Office of Central Operations), 
at 1500 Woodlawn Drive, Baltimore, MD 21241, will be extended for a 
period of up to one additional year to obtain further data. This test 
will combine the five process modifications plus the two features 
designed to maximize the resources of a federal processing center. 
While selection of Kentucky cases has stopped, the Office of Central 
Operations continues to adjudicate cases that have been selected 
already. The Office of Central Operations now will select approximately 
400 claims filed by residents of Nevada. Adjudication of the Nevada 
cases will begin on or about December, 1998. We will continue to select 
the Nevada cases for at least four months, and may continue to have 
cases processed for an additional six months after case selection ends. 
We will publish another notice in the Federal Register if we extend the 
duration of the test or if we select cases from a different state.

    Dated: December 15, 1998.
Susan M. Daniels,
Deputy Commissioner for Disability and Income Security Programs.
[FR Doc. 98-34138 Filed 12-23-98; 8:45 am]
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