[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 184 (Thursday, September 24, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 48797]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-23110]


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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

[Docket No. SSA-2009-0061]


Modifications to the Disability Determination Procedures; 
Extension of Testing of Some Disability Redesign Features

AGENCY: Social Security Administration.

ACTION: Notice of the extension of tests involving modifications to the 
disability determination procedures.

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SUMMARY: We are announcing the extension of tests involving 
modifications to disability determination procedures authorized by 20 
CFR 404.906 and 416.1406. These rules authorize us to test several 
modifications to the disability determination procedures for 
adjudicating claims for disability insurance benefits under title II of 
the Social Security Act (Act) and for supplemental security income 
payments based on disability under title XVI of the Act.

DATES: We are extending our selection of cases to be included in these 
tests from September 30, 2009 until no later than September 28, 2012. 
If we decide to continue selection of cases for these tests beyond this 
date, we will publish another notice in the Federal Register.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michele Schaefer, Office of Disability 
Programs, Social Security Administration, 6401 Security Boulevard, 
Baltimore, MD 21235-6401, 410-594-0083, 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: Our current rules authorize us to test, 
individually or in any combination, certain modifications of the 
disability determination procedures. 20 CFR 404.906 and 416.1406. We 
have conducted several tests under the authority of these rules. In the 
``single decisionmaker,'' test, a disability examiner may make the 
initial disability determination in most cases without obtaining the 
signature of a medical or psychological consultant. We also have 
conducted a separate test, which we call the ``prototype,'' in 10 
States. 64 FR 47218. Currently, the prototype combines the single 
decisionmaker approach described above with the elimination of the 
reconsideration level of our administrative review process.
    We have extended the time period for selecting claims for these 
tests several times. Most recently, on August 10, 2006, we extended the 
time period until September 30, 2009. 71 FR 45890. We have decided to 
extend case selection for the current disability prototype process 
(single decisionmaker and elimination of the reconsideration step) and 
for the separate test of the single decisionmaker until September 28, 
2012. If we decide to end case selection for any part of the disability 
prototype in any the 10 States in which we are conducting the tests 
prior to September 28, 2012, we will publish another notice in the 
Federal Register.

    Dated: September 18, 2009.
David A. Rust,
Deputy Commissioner for Retirement and Disability Policy.
[FR Doc. E9-23110 Filed 9-23-09; 8:45 am]
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