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.
Sep 24, 2009
Tests To Continue
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4 comments:
I guess this is good news, at least for those of us in the prototype states. Recon is such a joke anyway, it's just more wasted time that's better spent waiting for a hearing.
Well, it would be good news if the DDS SDM were subject to reasonable and balanced reviews of both allowances AND denials by SSA instead of the PER on most proposed allowances. As it is, it is just more of the same old process and won't make much difference in the ODAR backlog.
The PER process has been in effect for many years and has had the effect of depressing allowances throughout. No reason to keep it.
My experience was that for older claimants, decisions are frequently wrong. Not enough weight given to the fact that older people don't get hired, younger ones do. No point in going to the hearing if the DIB examiner could just allow 'em up front.
Rather makes you long for the days when class action suits challenging SSA were common. This is ridiculous, continuing two disparate systems for no good reason. If recon is a waste, do away with it, once and for all. Have some ... guts, SSA.
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