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The Social Security Administration's Disability Decision Process A Framework for Research, Second Interim Report (1998) / Chapter Skim
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2 Background
Pages 3-10

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From page 3...
... The Social Security Act defines disability (for adults)
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From page 4...
... Over time the process has become lengthy, fragmented, confusing, and burdened by complex policies applied at different adjudicatory levels. It is hardly surprising that many have complained that the Social Security claims process takes too long, is confusing, complicated, and fragmented, resulting in inconsistent decisions often based on subjective criteria (GAO, 1995, 997a; SSA, ~ 994a)
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From page 5...
... disability determinations are made in state DDS agencies using federal regulations and SSA guidelines and procedures; (3) claimants whose applications are denied can have their claims reconsidered at the DDS level; and (4)
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From page 6...
... ~1~1 FIGURE 2-! The Social Security Administration's current and proposed disability claims process.
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From page 7...
... The Current Decision Process for Initial Claims The disability decision process for Initial claims involves five sequential decision steps (SSA, 1994a)
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From page 8...
... 4. If the cIaimant's medical impairments is not in the index, the fourth and final decision step will evaluate if the individual has the functional ability to perform any substantial gainful activity.
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From page 9...
... In response to the commissioner's directive, however, SSA has not yet implemented the disability decision process element of their total reengineering proposal. The agency is now engaged in a multiyear research effort to develop and test the feasibility, validity, reliability, and practicality of the redesigned disability determination process prior to any decision on its national Implementation.
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Key Terms

  • claims process
  • disability decision
  • disability claims
  • substantial gainful
  • disability determination

  • functional ability
  • decision step
  • gainful activity
  • redesigned disability
  • state disability

  • sequential decision
  • current decision
  • determination service
  • work experience
  • final decision

  • initial claims
  • proposed redesigned
  • reengineered claims
  • proposed decision
  • process prior

  • decision notice
  • medically determinable
  • security act
  • previous work
  • evaluating disability

  • defines disability
  • changes proposed
  • national economy
  • claimant meets
  • disability claim


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