[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 10 (Tuesday, January 15, 2008)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 2411-2416]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-148]



 ========================================================================
 Rules and Regulations
                                                 Federal Register
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains regulatory documents 
 having general applicability and legal effect, most of which are keyed 
 to and codified in the Code of Federal Regulations, which is published 
 under 50 titles pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 1510.
 
 The Code of Federal Regulations is sold by the Superintendent of Documents. 
 Prices of new books are listed in the first FEDERAL REGISTER issue of each 
 week.
 
 ========================================================================
 

  Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 10 / Tuesday, January 15, 2008 / 
Rules and Regulations  

[[Page 2411]]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

20 CFR Parts 404, 405 and 416

[Docket No. SSA-2007-0045]
RIN 0960-AG53


Suspension of New Claims to the Federal Reviewing Official Review 
Level

AGENCY: Social Security Administration.

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: We are modifying our disability administrative adjudication 
processes to suspend new claims to the Federal reviewing official 
(FedRO) level, now operating in the Boston region. Claims already 
transferred to the Office of the Federal Reviewing Official (OFedRO) 
for FedRO review will continue to be processed by the OFedRO and a 
related component of the disability determination process, the Medical 
and Vocational Expert System (MVES), commonly known as the Office of 
Medical and Vocational Expertise (OMVE). We are making these changes to 
ensure that we continually improve our disability adjudication process.

DATES: This final rule is effective on March 15, 2008.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dean S. Landis, Social Security 
Administration, 6401 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21235-6401, 
(410) 965-0520 for information about this notice. For information on 
eligibility or filing for benefits, call our national toll-free number, 
1-800-772-1213 or TTY 1-800-325-0778, or visit our Internet site, 
Social Security Online, at http://www.socialsecurity.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Electronic Version

    The electronic file of this document is available on the date of 
publication in the Federal Register at http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/index.html.

Introduction

    We are dedicated to providing high-quality service to the American 
public. In March 2006, we announced changes to our administrative 
review process for initial disability claims. We explained that the 
changes were expected to improve disability service. Our commitment to 
continuous improvement in the way we process disability claims did not 
end with the publication of those rules as we continually explore ways 
to improve service to some of the most vulnerable in our society. We 
face, now and in the foreseeable future, significant challenges to our 
ability to provide the level of service that disability benefit 
claimants deserve because of the increased complexity of and growth in 
claims for those benefits. Consequently, we are making modifications to 
our administrative review process that will further help us evaluate 
changes put in place in March 2006 and help us provide accurate and 
timely service to claimants for Social Security disability benefits and 
supplemental security income payments based on disability or blindness.
    The importance of these disability benefits to the lives and 
subsistence of many Americans cannot be underestimated. Nearly 15 
million disabled Social Security beneficiaries and supplemental 
security income recipients receive over $10 billion in Federal monthly 
payments. The adjudication of disability claims requires evaluating 
complex medical and vocational evidence.
    The number of claims and requests for hearings that we receive has 
continued to expand. In 2004-2006, we received an annual average of 2.6 
million disability claims that required decisions based on medical 
evidence, the most time- and labor-intensive basis for deciding such 
claims. Along with the large number of claims, there has been a 
concomitant increase in the number of hearing requests. Our hearing 
offices have received an average of over 564,000 titles II and XVI 
disability hearing requests each year from 2002 through 2006, a 
significant increase from the annual average of almost 472,000 hearing 
requests in 1997-2001. As these figures show, over the 5-year period 
from 2002 through 2006, we received each year over 90,000 more requests 
for titles II and XVI hearings than we annually received during the 
period from 1997 through 2001. The vast number of disability claims now 
filed each year, as well as other factors such as the expected increase 
in disability claims as the baby boomers move into their disability-
prone years, probable limitations on our resources to process these 
claims, and the projected impending increase in filings for retirement 
and survivor benefits as baby boomers retire, will continue to place an 
even greater strain on our adjudicatory system.
    We expected that the spring 2006 changes to the administrative 
review process for initial disability claims would ``improve the 
accuracy, consistency, and timeliness of decision-making throughout the 
disability determination process.'' 71 FR 16424 (March 31, 2006). We 
planned a gradual roll-out of the changes so that we could determine 
their effect on the disability process overall. As we explained then, 
``[g]radual implementation will allow us to monitor the effects that 
our changes are having on the entire disability determination process. 
. . . We will carefully monitor the implementation process in the 
Boston region and quickly address any problems that may arise.'' 71 FR 
at 16440-41. Based on initial reviews of the quick disability 
determination (QDD) and FedRO elements of that process, and mindful of 
the workload challenges that we now face, especially at the hearing 
level, we need to modify some of the changes made last spring.
    As we explain in our recently published final rule on the QDD 
process, 72 FR 51173 (September 6, 2007), we are extending the QDD 
process to all of the State disability determination services. In the 
current rule, we are suspending new claims going through the OFedRO and 
the MVES, organizationally known as the OMVE. However, claims already 
transferred to the OFedRO for FedRO review will continue through the 
OFedRO and MVES so we can continue to evaluate their effectiveness. 
These changes are based on our commitment to outstanding service and to 
continuously improving our service as we realign our resources to 
ensure that we are capable of processing the current and anticipated 
number of disability claims and reducing the number of pending 
hearings.

[[Page 2412]]

Suspending the OFedRO and MVES/OMVE Allows Reallocation of Resources to 
the Backlog at the Hearings Level

    In the March 2006 final rule, we replaced the State agency 
reconsideration level with a Federal adjudicative level, called the 
FedRO. Attorneys staff the FedRO positions, and they, along with the 
managerial, support, and administrative staff, make up the OFedRO. The 
OFedRO uses the MVES/OMVE to develop the medical and vocational 
evidence in the claims. The goal of the OFedRO and OMVE is to ensure 
more accurate and consistent decision-making earlier in the process. We 
are continuing to evaluate the effect of these new components on our 
program and administrative functions. Our experience over the last year 
in the Boston region demonstrates that the administrative costs 
associated with the OFedRO and its use of the MVES/OMVE to develop 
medical and vocational evidence is greater over the foreseeable future 
than originally anticipated. We do not yet have sufficient results to 
fully evaluate the potential improvements in program efficacy that are 
the goals of the OFedRO and OMVE. Therefore, we are suspending new 
claims going through the OFedRO and OMVE, so that we can reallocate 
resources to reduce the backlog at the hearing level, while we evaluate 
the OFedRO and OMVE through the processing of claims already received. 
As part of this review, we will evaluate the merits of the FedRO 
process separately from the OMVE process and consider whether 
alternative approaches to the OMVE are warranted or should be tested. 
Once this evaluation is completed and alternative approaches analyzed, 
we will make a decision whether to reinstate the processing of new 
claims at the OFedRO or to pursue an alternative approach to improving 
the disability determination process.
    We are amending part 405 with provisions that will suspend new 
claims to the OFedRO and MVES/OMVE. This change will allow us to 
continue to evaluate the OFedRO and OMVE through the processing of 
claims already received. We expect to have approximately 20,000 cases 
pending FedRO review when this rule becomes effective. We will complete 
the processing of those pending cases, but will not transfer to the 
OFedRO any more cases originally filed under the new process in the 
Boston region that otherwise would have been slated for FedRO review. 
Instead, if cases are at the initial level in the Boston region or not 
transferred to the OFedRO on the effective date of this rule, those 
cases will be assigned to State agencies for reconsidered 
determinations or to administrative law judges for hearing, whichever 
is applicable in that particular New England State. In other words, 
States in the Boston region, where the OFedRO and MVES/OMVE are 
currently functioning, will return to the same process they were 
following before August 2006, whether that process was reconsideration 
under 20 CFR 404.907 and 416.1407 or the testing procedures under 20 
CFR 404.906 and 416.1406.

Public Comments

    In the notice of proposed rulemaking we published at 72 FR 45701 
(August 15, 2007), we provided the public with a 30-day period in which 
to comment on the proposed suspension of new claims to the OFedRO and 
MVES/OMVE. That comment period ended on September 14, 2007. We received 
timely comments from 10 individuals and organizations. We carefully 
considered all the comments. Because some of the comments were lengthy, 
we have summarized their content. Other comments were received that did 
not relate to the suspension of new claims to the OFedRO and MVES/OMVE. 
We have provided responses to each significant issue raised by 
commenters that was within the scope of this rule.
    In the notice of proposed rulemaking published on August 15, 2007, 
we also provided the public with a 90-day period in which to comment on 
using the MVES/OMVE in a more limited role to develop and manage a 
national registry of medical, psychological, and vocational experts to 
assist disability adjudicators in developing and/or clarifying 
information within the record. That comment period remains open through 
November 13, 2007. We will not respond to comments on this more limited 
role for the MVES/OMVE until such time as we may publish a notice of 
proposed rulemaking setting out more detailed plans for such a 
registry.
    Comment: All but one of the commenters specifically expressed 
support for the suspension of new claims to the FedRO and MVES/OMVE. 
Several of these commenters discussed concerns over the processing time 
for claims and the claimant's or the representative's ability to 
contact the FedRO. One commenter also discussed concerns over FedRO 
case development and the quality of FedRO decisions.
    Response: The primary reason for the processing time and service 
issues raised in the comments is the staffing levels of the OFedRO and 
MVES/OMVE. The staffing levels for these organizations have been 
approximately 50% of the levels we believed would be needed to handle 
the Boston region workload. With the reduced staffing at the MVES/OMVE, 
OFedRO has experienced delays in getting required medical evidence, 
consultative exams, and medical expert input. Budget constraints 
precluded us from hiring a full staff. When we published the March 2006 
final rule, we expected the changes it implemented to be budget 
neutral. However, as we implemented the changes, we found that the cost 
to the agency was much greater than expected. The agency does not have 
the resources to both fully staff the new OFedRO and MVES/OMVE and also 
resolve the growing disability hearing backlog. Accordingly, we staffed 
the OFedRO and MVES/OMVE to the greatest extent possible while also 
focusing our scarce resources on the backlog of disability hearings.
    With respect to case development and quality of decisions, our 
Office of Quality Performance (OQP) evaluated 100% of all FedRO 
decisions through about April 2007, and it continues to evaluate a 
statistically valid sample of FedRO decisions after that date. This 
evaluation reviews both the manner in which the case was developed and 
the decision itself. OQP's cumulative agreement rate with OFedRO has 
been 97%, which is significantly better than its overall agreement rate 
with State agency reconsidered determinations in the Boston region.
    We will consider these factors as we evaluate the OFedRO and MVES/
OMVE through the processing of claims already transferred to the 
OFedRO.
    Comment: Several commenters expressed concern over the continued 
use of the FedRO and MVES/OMVE for claims already assigned to FedRO on 
the effective date of this rule. Their concern also related to the 
processing time for claims, the claimant's or representative's ability 
to contact individual FedROs, and case development. One commenter 
suggested placing a 90-day time limit for FedRO review once this final 
rule becomes effective. This commenter suggested that any cases still 
pending FedRO review after 90 days be redirected to the State agency 
for reconsideration. Another commenter indicated support for the 
outright elimination of the FedRO and return of pending cases to the 
State agencies.
    Response: We are not adopting the suggestions for returning cases 
now pending at OFedRO to the State agencies. We believe continued FedRO 
review for pending cases is appropriate. As we explained in the notice 
of

[[Page 2413]]

proposed rulemaking, we do not yet have sufficient results to fully 
evaluate the potential improvements in program efficacy that are the 
goals of the OFedRO and MVES/OMVE. By including the roughly 20,000 
cases we expect to have pending FedRO review when this final rule 
becomes effective, we significantly increase the pool of cases 
available to assist in such evaluation.
    Additionally, it will be more efficient to keep the pending cases 
with OFedRO than to transfer them to the State agencies. It would take 
considerable time for the State agency examiners to familiarize 
themselves with the cases, and the actual transfer would present 
significant challenges because the OFedRO processing system would have 
to communicate with six different State agency processing systems.
    With respect to the processing time, we expect that once requests 
for FedRO review are suspended, OFedRO will be able to process the 
pending workload relatively quickly. Once the flow of cases is 
suspended, OFedRO will no longer need to review, develop, and monitor 
new cases. Accordingly, FedROs will have more time to devote to 
finalizing and writing decisions for the pending cases. Additionally, 
the FedROs are increasingly attaining the experience needed to process 
cases more quickly.
    With respect to contacting individual FedROs, we have recently 
taken steps to address this issue. We now have additional staff 
assisting in handling telephone calls to OFedRO. In the event that a 
call goes to voice mail, updated voice mail messages ask callers to 
leave specific information that will facilitate the FedRO's ability to 
contact the caller. We also recently began sending compact disks (CDs) 
of the electronic folder with the copy of the acknowledgement letter to 
representatives in the Boston region who handle large numbers of 
claimants. This improvement eliminates the need for the representative 
to call to request the CD of the electronic folder. Once the flow of 
cases is suspended, support staff will no longer need to send 
acknowledgement letters and initial requests for evidence from the 
MVES/OMVE. Accordingly, we expect support staff to be able to devote 
more time to handling telephone calls.
    In light of the comments, we are making one substantive change to 
proposed Sec.  405.240 that will reduce slightly the number of cases 
that will continue to be processed through the OFedRO and MVES/OMVE. 
Proposed Sec.  405.240 used the date an individual files a request for 
FedRO review to determine whether the claim would receive FedRO review. 
We are amending Sec.  405.240 to use instead the date that we transfer 
such a request to the OFedRO. Some requests for FedRO review are 
transferred to the OFedRO on the same day that the request is filed, 
but others are not. Currently, the average time to transfer claims to 
OFedRO after a request is filed is over 14 days. Using the date we 
transfer a request to OFedRO will reduce somewhat the number of pending 
cases that will receive FedRO review but still provide us a significant 
pool of cases to help us evaluate the OFedRO and MVES/OMVE.
    Comment: Several commenters supported careful evaluation of the 
FedRO and MVES/OMVE through the claims already received in conjunction 
with considering alternatives. Two commenters emphasized the importance 
of evaluating the ability of the OFedRO or its alternatives to achieve 
the underlying goal of getting the right decision earlier in the 
disability process.
    Response: We are dedicated to providing high-quality service to the 
American public, and we are committed to continuously improving the way 
we process disability claims. Our goal is to improve the accuracy, 
consistency, and timeliness of decision-making throughout the 
disability determination process. We will keep this goal at the 
forefront of our efforts as we evaluate the OFedRO and MVES/OMVE and 
consider any possible alternatives. We plan to continue evaluating case 
development, the effect of the MVES/OMVE involvement on the FedRO 
decision, and the FedRO decision itself.
    Comment: One commenter addressed the clarity of the proposed rule 
by suggesting that we include a Definitions section in this rule.
    Response: We have not adopted this suggestion because part 405 of 
our rules, which this final rule amends, already contains a Definitions 
section.
    In addition to the changes discussed above, we are making the 
following clarifying changes. We are making changes to Sec. Sec.  
405.10(d) and 405.240(d) to clarify what types of notices we intend to 
publish if we take further action pursuant to those provisions. We are 
also making changes to the appendix to subpart A of part 405. We are 
revising the language to clarify that if a claimant files a disability 
claim in one State but then moves to another State, adjudicators at 
subsequent levels of review will apply the regulations applicable at 
the time of such subsequent review in the State where the claimant 
filed the disability claim. We have removed the examples because we 
believe they could result in misunderstanding. We are making a change 
to Sec.  405.240(a) to specify the date on which this final rule is 
effective and a change to Sec.  405.240(b) to correct a typographical 
error. Finally, we are making a change to Sec.  405.240(b), and 
conforming changes to subpart J of part 404, subpart D of part 405, and 
subpart N of part 416 of our rules, to clarify that we will follow the 
procedures in part 405 of our rules to process hearings before an 
administrative law judge and any subsequent administrative review in 
claims affected by suspension of the FedRO level.

Regulatory Procedures

Executive Order 12866, as Amended, and the Congressional Review Act

    We have consulted with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
and determined that this final rule meets the criteria for an 
economically significant regulatory action under Executive Order 12866, 
as amended, and thus meets the criteria for a major rule under the 
Congressional Review Act. Accordingly, this final rule was reviewed by 
OMB, and it will be effective 60 days after publication. We have also 
determined that these final rules meet the plain language requirement 
of Executive Order 12866, as amended.
    The Office of the Chief Actuary (OCACT) estimates that this rule 
will result in program savings of roughly $1.0 billion in OASDI benefit 
payments and cost of $0.1 billion in Federal SSI payments over the next 
10 years, as shown below (in millions of dollars):

  Table 1.--Estimated Effect on OASDI and Federal SSI Benefit Payments of a Regulation Suspending New Claims to
 the Federal Reviewing Official and Modifying the Role of the Medical and Vocational Expert System, Fiscal Years
                                                     2008-17
                                                  [In millions]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                           Fiscal year                                 OASDI            SSI            Total
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2008............................................................            -$14             -$3            -$18

[[Page 2414]]

 
2009............................................................             -42              -9             -51
2010............................................................             -51              -8             -60
2011............................................................             -57             -15             -72
2012............................................................             -45              -6             -51
2013............................................................             -53               9             -44
2014............................................................            -122              22            -100
2015............................................................            -192              29            -163
2016............................................................            -248              40            -208
2017............................................................            -219              82            -137
Totals:
    2008-12.....................................................            -209             -41            -251
    2008-17.....................................................          -1,042             140           -902
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notes:
1. The estimates are based on the assumptions underlying the President's FY 2008 Budget.
2. Federal SSI payments due on October 1st in fiscal years 2012, 2017 and 2018 are included with payments for
  the prior fiscal year.
3. Totals may not equal sum of components due to rounding.

    Table 1 above presents the estimated short-range effects on OASDI 
benefit payments and Federal SSI payments that will result from 
implementation of this final rule, measured relative to the baseline 
used for the President's Fiscal Year 2008 Budget and assuming that the 
final rule will become effective for initial determinations made on or 
after April 1, 2008. The FY 2008 Budget assumed that DSI would be 
gradually implemented at the pace of one region per year and be fully 
implemented for new claims in all regions by the beginning of FY 2016. 
For the 10 States where the Prototype determination process has been or 
is being tested, the effect of this final rule will be to retain or 
restore the Prototype process so that the first level of appeal of an 
initial disability decision will be to an administrative law judge.
    As required by OMB Circular A-4 (available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/circulars/a004/a0-4.pdf), in Table 2, we have 
prepared an accounting statement showing the annualized economic impact 
of suspending new claims to the FedRO level. All estimated impacts are 
classified as transfers.

 Table 2.--Accounting Statement: Estimated Economic Impact of Suspending
      New Claims to the FedRO Level From 2008-2017 in 2007 Dollars
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Category                            Transfers
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Annualized Monetized Transfers.........  $70.4 million (7% discount
                                          rate).
                                         $74.3 million (3% discount
                                          rate).
From Whom To Whom?.....................  From SSA beneficiaries to the
                                          Social Security trust fund and
                                          the general fund.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Suspending new claims going through the FedRO and OMVE will allow 
us to reallocate resources to reduce the backlog at the hearing level 
by holding more hearings and making system improvements to increase the 
efficiency of our hearings process.
    We will also continue to evaluate the FedRO and OMVE through the 
processing of claims already received. This evaluation will include an 
assessment of DSI, as the pilot is currently implemented in the Boston 
region, with existing claims. In the analysis we will analyze DSI's 
impact on the timeliness of disability determinations, on overall 
program costs, as well as its impact on the administrative costs 
required to implement this new process. Once this evaluation is 
complete and alternative approaches analyzed, we will make a decision 
whether to reinstate the processing of new claims into the FedRO or 
pursue an alternative approach to improving the disability 
determination process.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    We certify that this rule will not have a significant economic 
impact on a substantial number of small entities as it affects only 
States and individuals. Therefore, a regulatory flexibility analysis as 
provided in the Regulatory Flexibility Act, as amended, is not 
required.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    These rules impose no new reporting or recordkeeping requirements 
requiring OMB clearance.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Nos. 96.001, Social 
Security--Disability Insurance; 96.002, Social Security--Retirement 
Insurance; 96.004, Social Security--Survivors Insurance; 96.006, 
Supplemental Security Income.)

List of Subjects

20 CFR Part 404

    Administrative practice and procedure; Blind; Disability benefits; 
Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance; Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements; Social Security.

20 CFR Part 405

    Administrative practice and procedure; Blind, Disability benefits; 
Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance; Public assistance 
programs, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements; Social Security; 
Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

[[Page 2415]]

20 CFR Part 416

    Administrative practice and procedure; Aged, Blind, Disability 
benefits, Public Assistance programs; Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements; Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

    Dated: October 31, 2007.
Michael J. Astrue,
Commissioner of Social Security.

0
For the reasons set out in the preamble, we are amending subpart J of 
part 404, subparts A, C and D of part 405, and subpart N of part 416 as 
set forth below:

PART 404--FEDERAL OLD-AGE, SURVIVORS AND DISABILITY INSURANCE 
(1950- )

Subpart J--[Amended]

0
1. The authority citation for subpart J of part 404 continues to read 
as follows:

    Authority: Secs. 201(j), 204(f), 205(a), (b), (d)-(h), and (j), 
221, 223(i), 225, and 702(a)(5) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 401(j), 404(f), 405(a), (b), (d)-(h), and (j), 421, 423(i), 
425, and 902(a)(5)); sec. 5, Pub. L. 97-455, 96 Stat. 2500 (42 
U.S.C. 405 note); secs. 5, 6(c)-(e), and 15, Pub. L. 98-460, 98 
Stat. 1802 (42 U.S.C. 421 note); sec. 202, Pub. L. 108-203, 118 
Stat. 509 (42 U.S.C. 902 note).


0
2. Amend Sec.  404.906 by adding a fourth sentence to paragraph (b)(4) 
to read as follows:


Sec.  404.906  Testing modifications to the disability determination 
procedures.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (4) * * * If you requested review by a Federal reviewing official 
under part 405 of this chapter and we considered that request a request 
for review by an administrative law judge as a result of Sec.  
405.240(b) of this chapter, we will apply the procedures contained in 
subpart D of part 405 of this chapter.

0
3. Amend Sec.  404.930 by adding paragraph (c) to read as follows:


Sec.  404.930  Availability of a hearing before an administrative law 
judge.

* * * * *
    (c) If you received a reconsidered determination instead of a 
decision by a Federal reviewing official as a result of Sec.  405.240 
of this chapter, we will apply the procedures contained in subpart D of 
part 405 of this chapter to your request for a hearing before an 
administrative law judge.

PART 405--ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW PROCESS FOR ADJUDICATING INITIAL 
DISABILITY CLAIMS

0
4. The authority citation for part 405 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: Secs. 201(j), 205(a)-(b), (d)-(h), and (s), 221, 
223(a)-(b), 702(a)(5), 1601, 1602, 1631, and 1633 of the Social 
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401(j), 405(a)-(b), (d)-(h), and (s), 421, 
423(a)-(b), 902(a)(5), 1381, 1381a, 1383, and 1383b).

Subpart A--[Amended]

0
5. Amend Sec.  405.10 by adding paragraph (d) to read as follows:


Sec.  405.10  Medical and Vocational Expert System.

* * * * *
    (d) This section will no longer be effective on the same date as 
described in Sec.  405.240(c) of this part unless the Commissioner 
decides that the Medical and Vocational Expert System should be 
continued and extends the sunset date as described in Sec.  405.240(d) 
of this part by publishing a notice of proposed rulemaking and a final 
rule in the Federal Register before that date.

0
6. Revise the appendix to subpart A of part 405 to read as follows:

Appendix to Subpart A of Part 405--Claims That Will Be Handled Under 
the Procedures in This Part

    (a) We will apply the procedures in this part to disability 
claims (as defined in Sec.  405.5) filed in Maine, New Hampshire, 
Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, or Connecticut.
    (b) If you move from one State to another after your disability 
claim has been filed, adjudicators at subsequent levels of review 
will apply the regulations applicable at the time of such subsequent 
review in the State where you filed the disability claim.

Subpart C--[Amended]

0
7. Add Sec.  405.240 to read as follows:


Sec.  405.240  Sunset of this Subpart.

    (a) If you filed a request for review by a Federal reviewing 
official and we transferred your claim to the Office of the Federal 
Reviewing Official on or before March 17, 2008, the Federal reviewing 
official will review and issue a decision on your claim.
    (b) If you have received an initial determination under subpart B 
of this part, we will process any request for additional administrative 
review not described in paragraph (a) of this section as either a 
request for reconsideration by the State agency or a request for 
hearing before an administrative law judge if your State uses the 
testing procedures under Sec. Sec.  404.906 and 416.1406 of this 
chapter. In any hearing before an administrative law judge on your 
claim, and in any further review of your claim, we will follow the 
procedures in this part.
    (c) This subpart will no longer be effective the day after a 
Federal reviewing official issues a decision on the last of the claims 
accepted for review under paragraph (a) of this section.
    (d) If compelling evidence shows that the Federal reviewing 
official process is efficient, effective, and sustainable given 
available Agency resources, the Commissioner may reinstate the Federal 
reviewing official process by publishing a notice of proposed 
rulemaking and final rule in the Federal Register.

Subpart D--[Amended]

0
8. Amend Sec.  405.301 by revising the first sentence of paragraph (a) 
and the first sentence of paragraph (c) to read as follows:


Sec.  405.301  Hearing before an administrative law judge--general.

    (a) This subpart explains what to do if you are dissatisfied with a 
decision by a Federal reviewing official, a reconsidered determination 
you received as a result of Sec.  405.240 of this part, or an initial 
determination subject to a hearing by an administrative law judge under 
the procedures in this part as a result of Sec.  404.906(b)(4) or Sec.  
416.1406(b)(4) of this chapter. * * *
    (b) * * *
    (c) You may examine the evidence used in making the decision or 
determination under review, submit evidence, appear at the hearing, and 
present and question witnesses. * * *

0
9. Revise Sec.  405.305 to read as follows:


Sec.  405.305  Availability of a hearing before an administrative law 
judge.

    You may request a hearing before an administrative law judge if you 
are dissatisfied with the Federal reviewing official's decision on your 
disability claim, the reconsidered determination you received as a 
result of Sec.  405.240 of this part, or an initial determination 
subject to a hearing by an administrative law judge under the 
procedures in this part as a result of Sec.  404.906(b)(4) or Sec.  
416.1406(b)(4) of this chapter.

0
10. Amend Sec.  405.310 by revising the first sentence of paragraph (b) 
to read as follows:


Sec.  405.310  How to request a hearing before an administrative law 
judge.

* * * * *
    (b) * * * An administrative law judge will conduct a hearing if you 
request one in writing no later than 60 days

[[Page 2416]]

after the date you receive notice of the Federal reviewing official's 
decision, the reconsidered determination you received as a result of 
Sec.  405.240 of this part, or the initial determination subject to a 
hearing by an administrative law judge under the procedures in this 
part as a result of Sec.  404.906(b)(4) or Sec.  416.1406(b)(4) of this 
chapter (or within the extended time period if we extend the time as 
provided in paragraph (d) of this section). * * *
* * * * *

PART 416--SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME FOR THE AGED, BLIND, AND 
DISABLED

Subpart N--[Amended]

0
11. The authority citation for subpart N of part 416 continues to read 
as follows:

    Authority: Secs. 702(a)(5), 1631, and 1633 of the Social 
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 902(a)(5), 1383, and 1383b); sec. 202, Pub. 
L. 108-203, 118 Stat. 509 (42 U.S.C. 902 note).


0
12. Amend Sec.  416.1406 by adding a fourth sentence to paragraph 
(b)(4) to read as follows:


Sec.  416.1406  Testing modifications to the disability determination 
procedures.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (4) * * * If you requested review by a Federal reviewing official 
under part 405 of this chapter and we considered that request a request 
for review by an administrative law judge as a result of Sec.  
405.240(b) of this chapter, we will apply the procedures contained in 
subpart D of part 405 of this chapter.

0
13. Amend Sec.  416.1430 by adding paragraph (c) to read as follows:


Sec.  416.1430  Availability of a hearing before an administrative law 
judge.

* * * * *
    (c) If you received a reconsidered determination instead of a 
decision by a Federal reviewing official as a result of Sec.  405.240 
of this chapter, we will apply the procedures contained in subpart D of 
part 405 of this chapter to your request for a hearing before an 
administrative law judge.
 [FR Doc. E8-148 Filed 1-14-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4191-02-P