Finally

Tomorrow's Federal Register will contain a notice that the Social Security Administration is officially withdrawing the proposal to increase by two years each of the age categories in its regulations on disability. This was proposed while Jo Anne Barnhart was Commissioner of Social Security and drew widespread opposition. It would have had a dramatic effect upon Social Security disability claimants. The rumor was that Barnhart was forced into the proposal by the Office of Management and Budget and did not support it. While it made no progress towards becoming a final rule, it was not withdrawn and could have been adopted at any point. After the election, I had a small concern that it would be adopted as a spiteful act in the final days of the Bush Administration. Similar things happened at other agencies. I am relieved to see this finally and officially killed off.

Update: Here is the link to the notice as published in the Federal Register.