We realize it may be a stretch for ordinary people to want to keep up with the comings and goings of the Social Security Administration, but sometimes circumstances permit where someone does want to follow the latest news regarding the agency due to a possible retirement or disability interest. This blog is an ongoing piecemeal of recent stories that have involved Social Security. Some are tidbits and some are important things that should be known in the world of retirement or disability and others are just interesting stories and nothing more.
SSA Seeks Comment On Proposed Rules on Pain And Representative Payees
The Social Security Administration is seeking comment on a rule regarding how it considers pain for disability purposes and its procedure on choosing representative payees, who are chosen to manage benefits for disabled beneficiaries, who have been determined to be unable to manage their own finances. First, the proposed rulemaking regarding the consideration of pain from Social Security is below.
We are soliciting public input to ensure that the manner in which we consider pain in adult and child disability claims under titles II and XVI of the Social Security Act (Act) remains aligned with contemporary medicine and health care delivery practices. Specifically, w e are requesting public comment s and supporting data related to the consideration of pain and documentation of pain in the medical evidence we use in connection with claims for benefits . We will use the responses to the questions below and any relevant research and data we obtain or receive to determine whether and how we should propose revisions to our current policy regarding the evaluation of pain.
These changes in how Social Security considers pain for disability purposes could be considered more difficult to prove to become eligible for benefits. Considering the U.S. House of Representatives will be under Democratic Party control by January 20 it seems unlikely this rule will become adopted for at least the next two years.
The procedure Social Security has listed for consideration of representative payees mainly deals with when the agency decides to change a payee and seems less controversial. The proposal from Social Security is below.
We are requesting information on the appropriateness of our order of preference lists for selecting representative payees (payees) and the effectiveness of our policy and operational procedures in determining when to change a payee. We are seeking this information to determine whether and how we should make any changes to our representative payee program to help ensure that we select suitable payees for our beneficiaries.
No More Single Decision Maker On Disability Claims
The Social Security Administration has officially ended the “single decision maker” test that allowed a disability examiner to make determinations on most cases at the initial application level without obtaining the signature of a medical professional. Under legislation that was passed in 2015, Social Security was required to end the “sing decision maker” test. Officially, Social Security will end the “single decision maker” test all together by December 28, 2018, although the agency has already eliminated the measure in 19 states.
