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<div id="hLogo"><a class="navLogo" href="/policy/index.html">Social Security</a><a class="navSearch" href="https://search.ssa.gov/search?affiliate=ssa">SEARCH</a></div>
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<h1 itemprop="headline">Identifying <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr>'s Sequential Disability Determination Steps Using Administrative Data</h1>
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<div id="hByline">by <span itemprop="author">Bernard Wixon and Alexander Strand</span><br>Research and Statistics Note <abbr title="Number">No.</abbr> 2013-01 (released June 2013)</div>
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<div id="breadcrumbs" itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/BreadcrumbList">You are here: <span itemprop="itemListElement" itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/ListItem"><a href="/" itemprop="item"><span itemprop="name">Social Security Administration</span></a><meta itemprop="position" content="1" /></span> > <span itemprop="itemListElement" itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/ListItem"><a href="/policy/index.html" itemprop="item"><span itemprop="name">Research, Statistics & Policy Analysis</span></a><meta itemprop="position" content="2" /></span> > <span itemprop="itemListElement" itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/ListItem"><a href="/policy/research.html?type=Research%20and%20Statistics%20Note" itemprop="item"><span itemprop="name">Research and Statistics Notes</span></a><meta itemprop="position" content="3" /></span></div>
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<div id="relatedInline">
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<h4>Related Content</h4>
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<div class="rcItems">
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<p>Latest information on <a href="/benefits/disability/qualify.html">how SSA decides if you are disabled</a></p>
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<div class="eightypercent">
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<p>Bernard Wixon is with the Office of Policy Evaluation and Modeling, Office of Research, Evaluation, and Statistics (<abbr class="spell">ORES</abbr>), Office of Retirement and Disability Policy (<abbr class="spell">ORDP</abbr>), Social Security Administration (<abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr>). Alexander Strand is with the Office of Economic Analysis and Comparative Studies, <abbr class="spell">ORES</abbr>, <abbr class="spell">ORDP</abbr>, <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr>.</p>
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<p><i>Acknowledgments:</i> For helpful information or comments, we thank the following: Bob Appleton, Clark Burdick, Joan Burke, Sherry Dodson, Eli Donkar, Steve Duffy, Jim Fahlfedder, Terrance Flannery, Susan Grad, Nitin Jagdish, Sharon R. Johnson, Kathy Mahan, David Pattison, Clark Pickett, Mary Quatroche, Joshua Silverman, Jim Twist, and Tim Zayatz. </p>
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<p>The findings and conclusions presented in this note are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Social Security Administration.</p>
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</div>
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</div>
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<h2>Introduction</h2>
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<div class="abbrtable">
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<table role="presentation">
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<caption>Selected Abbreviations</caption>
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<colgroup span="1" style="width:25%"></colgroup>
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<colgroup span="1"></colgroup>
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<tbody>
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<tr>
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<td><abbr class="spell">DDS</abbr></td>
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<td>Disability Determination Service</td>
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</tr>
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<tr>
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<td><abbr class="spell">DI</abbr></td>
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<td>Disability Insurance</td>
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</tr>
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<tr>
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<td><abbr class="spell">NDDSS</abbr></td>
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<td>National Disability Determination Services System</td>
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</tr>
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<tr>
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<td><abbr class="spell">RBC</abbr></td>
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<td>Regulation Basis Code</td>
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</tr>
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<tr>
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<td><abbr class="spell">SGA</abbr></td>
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<td>substantial gainful activity</td>
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</tr>
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<tr>
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<td><abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr></td>
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<td>Social Security Administration</td>
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</tr>
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<tr>
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<td><abbr class="spell">SSI</abbr></td>
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<td>Supplemental Security Income</td>
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</tr>
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</tbody>
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</table>
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</div>
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<p itemprop="description">Under the disability determination process used by the Social Security Administration (<abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr>), each determination that an applicant is either eligible (allowed) or ineligible (denied)—under Disability Insurance (<abbr class="spell">DI</abbr>) and/or Supplemental Security Income (<abbr class="spell">SSI</abbr>)—has a specific regulatory basis that is cited by program administrators. Decomposing broad disability trends requires identification of those bases and the steps of the determination process at which they are cited. For example, the recent increase in the number of allowances has been accompanied by a change in the composition of allowances. For <abbr class="spell">DI</abbr>, the percentage of allowances based on vocational, educational, and age-specific factors increased from 28 percent to 47 percent in the 10 years prior to 2009 (<abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> 2011a). In this case, decomposing recent program growth permits researchers to identify subcategories driving the growth. To give another example, decomposing trends in denials at various steps of the determination process may permit researchers to consider to what extent the process counterbalances increases in applications during recessions, keeping program costs in check.</p>
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||
<p>The purpose of this note is to facilitate research on trends in allowances and denials by documenting how the steps of the determination process and the bases for medical eligibility decisions can be identified in administrative data. Specifically, the steps in the initial determination process can be identified using the Regulation Basis Code (<abbr class="spell">RBC</abbr>), which appears in Social Security's administrative data systems as well as related research data sets. The <abbr class="spell">RBC</abbr> documents the detailed reason for each <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> determination, in terms of medical, medical-vocational,<sup><a href="#mn1" id="mt1">1</a></sup> and other criteria. The <abbr class="spell">RBC</abbr> is recorded in the National Disability Determination Service System (<abbr class="spell">NDDSS</abbr>); in turn, the <abbr class="spell">NDDSS</abbr> is used to construct the so-called 831 disability applicant files (from Form <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr>-831 data) as well as related research files. We classify the <abbr class="spell">RBC</abbr>s by program and age (<abbr class="spell">DI</abbr>, <abbr class="spell">SSI</abbr> adult, <abbr class="spell">SSI</abbr> child) and step of the determination process at which they are invoked. Our frequency tabulations show that some codes are numerically important at a given step and others represent a range of technical denials, rare findings, or data errors. Further, we provide the proportions of determinations observed for each basis code at each step, using the 831 file for 2010 as a benchmark.</p>
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<h2>Program Background</h2>
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||
<p>The two disability programs administered by <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> have financial and nonfinancial criteria for eligibility. In the case of the <abbr class="spell">DI</abbr> program, financial eligibility is based on (1) past earnings criteria involving the total number of quarters worked while making Federal Insurance Contributions Act (<abbr>FICA</abbr>) contributions, and (2) the number of quarters worked in years immediately before disability onset. Both criteria are used to define the applicant's insured status. For <abbr class="spell">SSI</abbr>, financial eligibility is based on current income and resources<sup><a href="#mn2" id="mt2">2</a></sup> to target payments to individuals with limited financial means.</p>
|
||
<p>While the nonfinancial criterion for <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr>'s retirement program is straightforward (if the applicant's age is greater than or equal to the full retirement age or the early retirement age, then the applicant is eligible), the nonfinancial (largely medical) criteria for <abbr class="spell">DI</abbr> benefits (or for <abbr class="spell">SSI</abbr> disability payments) are complex. In fact, there are multiple medical criteria—or combinations of medical and vocational criteria—under which an applicant can be found medically eligible or medically ineligible. In addition, there are outcomes that are not medical in nature; for example, an applicant can be denied if he or she refuses to submit to a consultative examination or refuses to follow prescribed treatment.</p>
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||
<p><abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> uses the same disability determination process in administering the two disability programs, <abbr class="spell">DI</abbr> and <abbr class="spell">SSI</abbr>. Financial and other nonmedical screens are implemented by <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> field offices. For applicants found eligible under those screens, the initial medical determinations are made by Disability Determination Service (<abbr class="spell">DDS</abbr>) agencies in each state. However, if an applicant is denied at the initial <abbr class="spell">DDS</abbr> level, he or she has the option of pursuing a sequence of appeals, including appealing to (1) the <abbr class="spell">DDS</abbr> itself, known as reconsideration;<sup><a href="#mn3" id="mt3">3</a></sup> (2) an administrative law judge (<abbr class="spell">ALJ</abbr>); (3) the Appeals Council; and finally (4) a federal court.</p>
|
||
<p>The <abbr class="spell">RBC</abbr> records information about the determinations made by the <abbr class="spell">DDS</abbr>, including initial determinations and reconsiderations. The purpose of this note is to help researchers and program analysts interpret the particular medical, medical/vocational, or other criterion that is invoked by the <abbr class="spell">DDS</abbr> in its allow/deny determination of a given applicant. The importance of the <abbr class="spell">RBC</abbr> is that it permits an analyst to parse program outcomes in terms of the effects of the particular medical, medical/vocational, or other criterion used to determine medical eligibility. Next, we outline the sequential disability determination process used by <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> and <abbr class="spell">DDS</abbr> agencies—the decision-making structure underlying field office intake decisions and the detailed <abbr class="spell">DDS</abbr> determination outcomes represented in the <abbr class="spell">RBC</abbr>.</p>
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||
<h2><abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr>'s Disability Determination Process</h2>
|
||
<p>The disability determination process described in this study is used by Social Security field offices and state <abbr class="spell">DDS</abbr> agencies to make initial disability determinations. Field offices implement step 1 of the <span class="nobr">five-step</span> disability determination process, and <abbr class="spell">DDS</abbr> agencies are responsible for the medical determinations at steps <span class="nobr">2–5.</span> The specific criteria used by the <abbr class="spell">DDS</abbr> in its allow/deny determinations are identified in the <abbr class="spell">RBC</abbr>, which is included in the <abbr class="spell">NDDSS</abbr> data generated by <abbr class="spell">DDS</abbr> agencies. The <abbr class="spell">RBC</abbr> describes the basis for initial determinations and reconsiderations. Outcomes of higher-level appeals, such as decisions of <abbr class="spell">ALJ</abbr>s, are in principle, based on the same criteria as <abbr class="spell">DDS</abbr> determinations, but such appeals decisions are not included in the <abbr class="spell">NDDSS</abbr> data generated by <abbr class="spell">DDS</abbr> agencies. <abbr class="spell">ALJ</abbr>-level decisions are recorded in the Case Processing and Management System.</p>
|
||
<p>Former Commissioner Robert M. Ball (1978) provides an insight that is useful in trying to understand the design of the determination process. For the sake of efficiency, the process implies a screening strategy:</p>
|
||
<blockquote>The idea was to screen quickly the large majority of cases that could be allowed on reasonably objective medical tests and then deal individually with the troublesome cases that didn't pass the screen. (157)</blockquote>
|
||
<p class="noindent">For example, the first three stages of the adult disability determination process represent screens:</p>
|
||
<ul>
|
||
<li>claimants who are engaging in substantial gainful activity (<abbr class="spell">SGA</abbr>) are denied (step 1) without any consideration of medical criteria,</li>
|
||
<li>those without severe impairments are denied (step 2), and</li>
|
||
<li>those with the most highly disabling or fatal impairments are allowed (step 3).</li>
|
||
</ul>
|
||
<p class="noindent">In Ball's characterization, the “troublesome” cases are the residual, which are evaluated on a case-by-case basis using both medical and vocational factors (step 4 and possibly step 5).<sup><a href="#mn4" id="mt4">4</a></sup></p>
|
||
<p>Because the processes for adults and children differ, we discuss them separately.</p>
|
||
<h3>Adults</h3>
|
||
<p>The steps in the disability determination process for adults are diagrammed in Chart 1, adapted from Lahiri, Vaughan, and Wixon (1995).</p>
|
||
<div class="chartCenter">
|
||
<div class="chart700">
|
||
<div class="title" id="chart1">Chart 1.<br>Disability determination for adults</div>
|
||
<div class="scrollChart"><img src="rsn2013-01-chart01.gif" alt="Chart 1 shows the five steps of the sequential disability determination process for adults that are described in the text. The steps are shown as rectangles and the outcomes follow the arrows. Step 1 (financial eligibility) is shown at the top of the page and the outcomes at this step include claim denial or further processing. Step 2 (severe impairment) is shown next and the outcomes here are also claim denial or further processing. At step 3 (meets or equals medical listings), a claim may be allowed or have further processing. The claim may proceed directly to step 4 (capacity for past work) or have expedited processing to step 5 (capacity for any work), known as expedited vocational assessment. At both steps 4 and expedited step 5, a claim may be denied but not allowed. Finally, at step 5, a claim may be allowed or denied. Altogether, the chart shows that there are five points along the sequential determination process at which a claim can be denied, but only two points at which it can be allowed. Denial outcomes are shown in red and allowance outcomes in green." width="658" height="754" /></div>
|
||
<div class="onlyNote">SOURCE: Authors' illustration adapted from Lahiri, Vaughan, and Wixon (1995).</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<p class="noindent"><span class="h4">Step 1: Financial screens.</span> For both <abbr class="spell">DI</abbr> and <abbr class="spell">SSI</abbr>, Social Security field offices screen out applicants who work and have earned income above the <abbr class="spell">SGA</abbr> limit. Those claims are denied on the basis of applicants' work activity. <abbr class="spell">SGA</abbr> is “work that involves doing significant and productive physical or mental duties and is done (or intended) for pay or profit.”<sup><a href="#mn5" id="mt5">5</a></sup> In most cases, applicants with earnings above the <abbr class="spell">SGA</abbr> threshold amount are denied on grounds that their earnings indicate that they are not permanently and totally work disabled; otherwise, the application is referred to the <abbr class="spell">DDS</abbr>.<sup><a href="#mn6" id="mt6">6</a></sup> The <abbr class="spell">SGA</abbr> amount for nonblind beneficiaries was $1,010 per month in 2012.</p>
|
||
<p>In addition, field offices verify insured status for <abbr class="spell">DI</abbr> applicants. Analogously, field offices ensure that countable income and resources are below the relevant thresholds for <abbr class="spell">SSI</abbr> applicants. These financial determinations are not technically part of the sequential determination process and thus are not represented in the <abbr class="spell">RBC</abbr>, but for the sake of efficiency, they are normally undertaken (at least on a preliminary basis) by field offices as part of the step 1 process.<sup><a href="#mn7" id="mt7">7</a></sup></p>
|
||
<p class="noindent"><span class="h4">Step 2: A medical screen to deny applicants without a severe impairment.</span> An applicant is denied at step 2 if his or her <span class="nobr">impairment(s)</span> is considered <i>not severe.</i> According to <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr>'s Program Operations Manual System (<abbr>POMS</abbr>), under step 2:</p>
|
||
<blockquote>“it must be determined whether medical evidence establishes a physical or mental impairment or combination of impairments of sufficient severity as to be the basis of a finding of inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity (<abbr class="spell">SGA</abbr>). When medical evidence establishes only a slight abnormality or a combination of slight abnormalities which would have no more than a minimum effect on an individual's ability to work, such <span class="nobr">impairment(s)</span> will be found “not severe,” and a determination of “not disabled” will be made…”<sup><a href="#mn8" id="mt8">8</a></sup></blockquote>
|
||
<p>Applicants are also denied if their impairments fail the <i>duration test</i>; that is, if the impairment (1) is not expected to result in death, and (2) has neither lasted 12 months nor is expected to last for a continuous period of 12 months. The duration test is typically invoked at step 2, but may also be invoked at step 3, 4, or 5.</p>
|
||
<p class="noindent"><span class="h4">Step 3: A medical screen to allow applicants who are the most severely disabled.</span> Medical evidence on an applicant's impairment is assessed under step 3 using codified clinical criteria called the <i>Listing of Impairments</i>, which includes over 100 impairments. Applicants with impairments that “meet” the Listings are allowed with no further evaluation, based solely on medical criteria. Moreover, if an applicant has an impairment not included in the Listings, but considered medically equivalent to a listed impairment, the impairment is said to “equal the Listings” and the applicant is allowed.<sup><a href="#mn9" id="mt9">9</a></sup> Applicants who are not allowed at step 3 have impairments that, although severe, are not severe enough to consider the applicants disabled purely on medical grounds. Such applicants are evaluated further at step 4 and, possibly, step 5.</p>
|
||
<p class="noindent"><span class="h4">Step 4: Can severely impaired applicants work in their past jobs?</span> At this step, the <abbr class="spell">DDS</abbr> considers whether an applicant's <i>residual functional capacity</i> (<abbr class="spell">RFC</abbr>) meets the skill and task requirements of his or her past relevant work. The evaluation of <abbr class="spell">RFC</abbr> determines to what extent the applicant can perform basic work-related activities associated with jobs previously held—usually jobs held in the 15 years before adjudication.<sup><a href="#mn10" id="mt10">10</a></sup> Applicants who are judged able to perform past work are denied; the claims of remaining applicants are passed on for evaluation under step 5.</p>
|
||
<p class="noindent"><span class="h4">Step 5: Can severely impaired applicants do other work in the national economy?</span> At step 5, the applicant's <abbr class="spell">RFC</abbr> is considered, along with <i>vocational factors</i>—specifically, age, education, and work experience—to determine whether he or she can work in jobs other than those previously held. The vocational factors are used to determine whether the applicant can work in employment consistent with his or her residual capacity. This determination often involves the use of a set of tables referred to as the <i>medical-vocational guidelines</i> (sometimes known as the <i>vocational grid</i><sup><a href="#mn11" id="mt11">11</a></sup>) and medical vocational profiles.<sup><a href="#mn12" id="mt12">12</a></sup> At step 5, remaining applicants are either allowed or denied.</p>
|
||
<p>Beginning in 1999, <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> implemented modifications to the disability determination procedures in states known as prototype states.<sup><a href="#mn13" id="mt13">13</a></sup> One modification was to allow <abbr class="spell">DDS</abbr> decision makers the discretion to proceed directly to step 5 when there is insufficient evidence about the claimant's work history to make the evaluation at step 4. Under this procedure, referred to as expedited vocational assessment, applicants may be denied if they are judged able to perform work in the national economy. However, if they are judged unable to do that, the <abbr class="spell">DDS</abbr> is required to return to and complete step 4. Expedited vocational assessment was extended to the other states in August 2012.<sup><a href="#mn14" id="mt14">14</a></sup></p>
|
||
<h3><abbr class="spell">SSI</abbr> Children</h3>
|
||
<p>Some of the steps in the disability determination process for children are similar to those for adults. Steps in the process for children are diagrammed in Chart 2.</p>
|
||
<div class="chartCenter">
|
||
<div class="chart700">
|
||
<div class="title" id="chart2">Chart 2.<br>Disability determination process for children</div>
|
||
<div class="scrollChart"><img src="rsn2013-01-chart02.gif" alt="Chart 2 shows the three steps of the sequential disability determination process for children, with step 3 divided into steps 3a and 3b. Although the determination process for children includes a medical screen and a functional assessment as a single step, we show them separately for analytical purposes. The steps are shown as rectangles and the outcomes follow the arrows. Step 1 (financial eligibility) is shown at the top of the page and the outcomes at this step include claim denial or further processing. Step 2 (severe impairment) is shown next and the outcomes here are also claim denial or further processing. At step 3a (meets or equals medical listings), a claim may be allowed or have further processing. Finally, at step 3b (functionally equals level of severity of listings), a claim may be allowed or denied. Altogether, the chart shows that there are three points along the sequential determination process at which a claim can be denied, but only two points at which it can be allowed. Denial outcomes are shown in red and allowance outcomes in green." width="586" height="523" /></div>
|
||
<div class="firstNote">SOURCE: Authors' illustration.</div>
|
||
<div class="lastNote">NOTE: Although the disability determination process for children includes a medical screen and a functional assessment as a single step (step 3), for analytical purposes we discuss them separately as step 3a and step 3b. </div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<p class="noindent"><span class="h4">Step 1: Financial screens.</span> Children may not qualify for <abbr class="spell">DI</abbr> benefits on their own earnings record.<sup><a href="#mn15" id="mt15">15</a></sup> However, they may qualify for <abbr class="spell">SSI</abbr> payments on their own in some cases or as part of a unit including their <span class="nobr">parent(s).</span> For <abbr class="spell">SSI</abbr>, field offices evaluate income and resource eligibility under a complex set of rules. Field offices also verify whether the child is working at <abbr class="spell">SGA</abbr> because those up to age 18, some of whom may be working, are evaluated under the determination process for children. If a child is engaging in <abbr class="spell">SGA</abbr>, the claim is denied and not referred to the <abbr class="spell">DDS</abbr>.</p>
|
||
<p class="noindent"><span class="h4">Step 2: A medical screen to deny applicants without a severe impairment.</span> The <abbr class="spell">DDS</abbr> denies a child applicant at step 2 if he or she does not have a medically determinable impairment or if his or her <span class="nobr">impairment(s)</span> is considered <i>not severe</i>. Child applicants are also denied if their impairments fail the <i>duration test</i>; that is, if the impairment (1) is not expected to result in death, and (2) has neither lasted 12 months nor is expected to last for a continuous period of 12 months. If the <span class="nobr">impairment(s)</span> is considered severe and if any impairment meets the duration test, the claim will proceed to the next step.</p>
|
||
<p class="noindent"><span class="h4">Step 3a:<sup><a href="#mn16" id="mt16">16</a></sup> A medical screen to allow the most severely impaired applicants.</span> If the child has one or more severe impairments, the <abbr class="spell">DDS</abbr> will decide if any severe impairment meets one of the Listings for children. The Listings cover the major body systems and include descriptions of common physical and mental impairments (such as cerebral palsy, mental disorders, and asthma), along with specific medical severity criteria. As with adults, if the impairment does not meet the Listings, the <abbr class="spell">DDS</abbr> decides if it medically equals the Listings. If the child has one or more impairments that meet or medically equal the requirement of a Listing and meet the duration requirement, the <abbr class="spell">DDS</abbr> will find the child disabled and the determination is complete.</p>
|
||
<p class="noindent"><span class="h4">Step 3b: Can a severely impaired child function at home, at school, and in the community?</span> If the child has one or more impairments that are severe but do not meet or medically equal a Listing, the <abbr class="spell">DDS</abbr> will decide whether the impairment or impairments “functionally equal” the Listings. That means that the <abbr class="spell">DDS</abbr> assesses the effects of any impairment on the child's ability to function at home, at school, and in the community. In particular, the <abbr class="spell">DDS</abbr> considers questions such as—</p>
|
||
<ul>
|
||
<li>What activities is the child able or not able to perform?</li>
|
||
<li>Which activities are limited in comparison with children of the same age without the impairment?</li>
|
||
<li>What type and amount of help does the child need to complete age-appropriate activities?</li>
|
||
</ul>
|
||
<p>Once the <abbr class="spell">DDS</abbr> has evaluated the extent to which the child can perform activities, it evaluates how much the child is limited in each of six domains. The domains are broad areas of functioning intended to capture all that a child can or cannot do. The six domains are as follows:</p>
|
||
<ol>
|
||
<li>Acquiring and using information,</li>
|
||
<li>Attending to and completing tasks,</li>
|
||
<li>Interacting and relating with others,</li>
|
||
<li>Moving about and manipulating objects,</li>
|
||
<li>Caring for himself or herself, and</li>
|
||
<li>Maintaining health and physical well-being.</li>
|
||
</ol>
|
||
<p>If a child's impairment or combination of impairments results in “marked” limitations in two or more of these domains of functioning, or an “extreme” limitation in one domain, then his or her <span class="nobr">impairment(s)</span> functionally equals the Listings. A <i>marked</i> limitation in a domain is one in which a child's impairment interferes seriously with his or her ability to independently initiate, sustain, or complete activities. An <i>extreme</i> limitation in a domain is one in which a child's impairment interferes very seriously with those abilities.</p>
|
||
<h2>Identifying the Sequential Steps Using Regulation Basis Codes</h2>
|
||
<p>The detailed <abbr class="spell">RBC</abbr> values are somewhat different for <abbr class="spell">DI</abbr> (under Title <abbr title="two">II</abbr>—Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance—of the Social Security Act) and <abbr class="spell">SSI</abbr> (under Title <abbr title="sixteen">XVI</abbr> of the Act) and, because they include a number of administrative outcomes, are considerably more detailed than the sequential determination steps might suggest.</p>
|
||
<p>We recode the individual regulation basis values into sequential disability determination steps in Tables 1 through 3. In deriving the recode, we consulted program experts and the documentation from Social Security administrative sources—the basis for day-to-day use of <abbr class="spell">RBC</abbr>s by program administrators. We also compared coding from other sources by examining the coding that is used in annual <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> publications. Specifically, the <i>Annual Statistical Report on the Social Security Disability Insurance Program</i> (<abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> 2011a, Tables 63 and 64) classifies medical decisions at step 2 onward for <abbr class="spell">DI</abbr> determinations. The <i><abbr class="spell">SSI</abbr> Annual Statistical Report</i> (<abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> 2011b, Tables 73 and 74) does a similar classification for <abbr class="spell">SSI</abbr> determinations. In addition, we prepared the coding that was used in several analytical studies, including Lahiri, Vaughan, and Wixon (1995); Hu and others (2001); Dwyer and others (2002/2003); Lahiri, Song, and Wixon (2008); and Autor and others (2011). We also compared those different coding schemes and consolidated differences.<sup><a href="#mn17" id="mt17">17</a></sup> These comparisons establish the broad consistency of the recode presented here with documentation from program administrators, published tables, and recent analyses.</p>
|
||
<p>The frequencies of the sequential disability determination steps are shown in Tables 1 through 3 using the 831 file for 2010.<sup><a href="#mn18" id="mt18">18</a></sup> When comparing those results to frequencies based on other data sources, several features of the sample universe used in our tabulations should be noted. First, data are shown for primary <abbr class="spell">DI</abbr> and <abbr class="spell">SSI</abbr> disability claims, where the claimant is a worker (for <abbr class="spell">DI</abbr> claims), an <abbr class="spell">SSI</abbr> adult, or an <abbr class="spell">SSI</abbr> child. Second, step 1 determinations are generally not included because the majority of those decisions are made in the field offices. Denials made at the field office level are not referred to the <abbr class="spell">DDS</abbr> and are not represented in the <abbr class="spell">NDDSS</abbr> data. Third, researchers often remove 831 observations that can functionally be considered duplicates. For example, because the 831 data are transaction based, if an applicant filed more than one claim for the same program, each claim would generate a new record. Moreover, if the researcher is undertaking a person-based analysis, he or she may choose to purge records so that each person is represented by a single record. We show frequencies with duplicates included as a benchmark that could be easily replicated. Finally, our frequency tabulations include only <abbr class="spell">DDS</abbr> initial determinations; that is, for <abbr class="spell">DDS</abbr> denials that are appealed, our tabulations do not represent the final determination made by <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr>.</p>
|
||
<p>In this note, we describe the steps in the initial disability determination process and provide a classification of <abbr class="spell">RBC</abbr>s for <abbr class="spell">DDS</abbr> decisions made in 2010.<sup><a href="#mn19" id="mt19">19</a></sup> This will allow researchers to create classifications that are comparable to official <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> publications and previous analytical studies. We hope this facilitates research about trends in disability claims and the outcomes of those claims.</p>
|
||
<div class="table" id="table1">
|
||
<table>
|
||
<caption><span class="tableNumber">Table 1. </span>Classification of Regulation Basis Codes into sequential disability determination steps for <abbr class="spell">DDS</abbr> decisions, with frequency distribution: Title <abbr title="Two">II</abbr> disabled workers in 2010</caption>
|
||
<colgroup span="1" style="width:18em"></colgroup>
|
||
<colgroup span="1" style="width:5em"></colgroup>
|
||
<colgroup span="1" style="width:35em"></colgroup>
|
||
<colgroup span="2" style="width:5em"></colgroup>
|
||
<thead>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<th class="stubHeading" id="c1">Code</th>
|
||
<th class="center" id="c2">Decision</th>
|
||
<th class="center" id="c3">Basis</th>
|
||
<th id="c4">Number</th>
|
||
<th id="c5">Percent</th>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
</thead>
|
||
<tbody>
|
||
<tr class="shaded">
|
||
<th class="stub0" id="r1" headers="c1">Step 1: Engaging in <abbr class="spell">SGA</abbr>? <sup>a</sup></th>
|
||
<td headers="r1 c2"> </td>
|
||
<td headers="r1 c3"> </td>
|
||
<td headers="r1 c4">165</td>
|
||
<td headers="r1 c5">0.0</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<th class="stub1" id="r2" headers="r1 c1">N1</th>
|
||
<td class="center" headers="r1 r2 c2">Deny</td>
|
||
<td class="align-left" headers="r1 r2 c3">Engaging in <abbr class="spell">SGA</abbr> <sup>b</sup>—<abbr class="spell">ER</abbr>/<abbr class="spell">PP</abbr> met <sup>c</sup></td>
|
||
<td headers="r1 r2 c4">152</td>
|
||
<td headers="r1 r2 c5">0.0</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<th class="stub1" id="r3" headers="r1 c1">N2</th>
|
||
<td class="center" headers="r1 r3 c2">Deny</td>
|
||
<td class="align-left" headers="r1 r3 c3">Engaging in <abbr class="spell">SGA</abbr>—<abbr class="spell">ER</abbr>/<abbr class="spell">PP</abbr> not met</td>
|
||
<td headers="r1 r3 c4">13</td>
|
||
<td headers="r1 r3 c5">0.0</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr class="shaded">
|
||
<th class="stub0" id="r4" headers="c1">Step 2: Severe impairment?</th>
|
||
<td headers="r4 c2"> </td>
|
||
<td headers="r4 c3"> </td>
|
||
<td headers="r4 c4">384,175</td>
|
||
<td headers="r4 c5">15.8</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<th class="stub1" id="r5" headers="r4 c1">Severity</th>
|
||
<td colspan="4"></td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<th class="stub1" id="r6" headers="r4 r5 c1">F1</th>
|
||
<td class="center" headers="r4 r5 r6 c2">Deny</td>
|
||
<td class="align-left" headers="r4 r5 r6 c3">Impairment not severe—<abbr class="spell">ER</abbr>/<abbr class="spell">PP</abbr>/reentitlement period met</td>
|
||
<td headers="r4 r5 r6 c4">115,287</td>
|
||
<td headers="r4 r5 r6 c5">4.7</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<th class="stub1" id="r7" headers="r4 r5 c1">F2</th>
|
||
<td class="center" headers="r4 r5 r7 c2">Deny</td>
|
||
<td class="align-left" headers="r4 r5 r7 c3">Impairment not severe—<abbr class="spell">ER</abbr>/<abbr class="spell">PP</abbr>/reentitlement period not met</td>
|
||
<td headers="r4 r5 r7 c4">185,324</td>
|
||
<td headers="r4 r5 r7 c5">7.6</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<th class="stub1" id="r8" headers="r4 c1">Duration <sup>d</sup></th>
|
||
<td colspan="4"></td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<th class="stub1" id="r9" headers="r4 r8 c1">E1</th>
|
||
<td class="center" headers="r4 r8 r9 c2">Deny</td>
|
||
<td class="align-left" headers="r4 r8 r9 c3">Impairment prevented <abbr class="spell">SGA</abbr> < 12 months—<abbr class="spell">ER</abbr>/<abbr class="spell">PP</abbr>/reentitlement period met</td>
|
||
<td headers="r4 r8 r9 c4">2,796</td>
|
||
<td headers="r4 r8 r9 c5">0.1</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<th class="stub1" id="r10" headers="r4 r8 c1">E2</th>
|
||
<td class="center" headers="r4 r8 r10 c2">Deny</td>
|
||
<td class="align-left" headers="r4 r8 r10 c3">Impairment prevented <abbr class="spell">SGA</abbr> < 12 months—<abbr class="spell">ER</abbr>/<abbr class="spell">PP</abbr>/reentitlement period not met</td>
|
||
<td headers="r4 r8 r10 c4">453</td>
|
||
<td headers="r4 r8 r10 c5">0.0</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<th class="stub1" id="r11" headers="r4 r8 c1">E3</th>
|
||
<td class="center" headers="r4 r8 r11 c2">Deny</td>
|
||
<td class="align-left" headers="r4 r8 r11 c3">Impairment not expected to last 12 months—<abbr class="spell">ER</abbr>/<abbr class="spell">PP</abbr>/reentitlement period met</td>
|
||
<td headers="r4 r8 r11 c4">78,184</td>
|
||
<td headers="r4 r8 r11 c5">3.2</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr class="top">
|
||
<th class="stub1" id="r12" headers="r4 r8 c1">E4</th>
|
||
<td class="center" headers="r4 r8 r12 c2">Deny</td>
|
||
<td class="align-left" headers="r4 r8 r12 c3">Impairment not expected to last 12 months—<abbr class="spell">ER</abbr>/<abbr class="spell">PP</abbr>/reentitlement period not met</td>
|
||
<td headers="r4 r8 r12 c4">2,131</td>
|
||
<td headers="r4 r8 r12 c5">0.1</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr class="shaded">
|
||
<th class="stub0" id="r13" headers="c1">Step 3: Meets or equals the Listings?</th>
|
||
<td headers="r13 c2"> </td>
|
||
<td headers="r13 c3"> </td>
|
||
<td headers="r13 c4">330,383</td>
|
||
<td headers="r13 c5">13.6</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<th class="stub1" id="r14" headers="r13 c1">A1</th>
|
||
<td class="center" headers="r13 r14 c2">Allow</td>
|
||
<td class="align-left" headers="r13 r14 c3">Impairment meets the Listings</td>
|
||
<td headers="r13 r14 c4">271,278</td>
|
||
<td headers="r13 r14 c5">11.1</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<th class="stub1" id="r15" headers="r13 c1">B1</th>
|
||
<td class="center" headers="r13 r15 c2">Allow</td>
|
||
<td class="align-left" headers="r13 r15 c3">Impairment equals the Listings</td>
|
||
<td headers="r13 r15 c4">59,105</td>
|
||
<td headers="r13 r15 c5">2.4</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr class="shaded">
|
||
<th class="stub0" id="r16" headers="c1">Step 4: Capacity for past work?</th>
|
||
<td headers="r16 c2"> </td>
|
||
<td headers="r16 c3"> </td>
|
||
<td headers="r16 c4">499,238</td>
|
||
<td headers="r16 c5">20.5</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<th class="stub1" id="r17" headers="r16 c1">H1</th>
|
||
<td class="center" headers="r16 r17 c2">Deny</td>
|
||
<td class="align-left" headers="r16 r17 c3">Capacity for <abbr class="spell">SGA</abbr>, past relevant work—<abbr class="spell">ER</abbr>/<abbr class="spell">PP</abbr> met</td>
|
||
<td headers="r16 r17 c4">448,993</td>
|
||
<td headers="r16 r17 c5">18.4</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<th class="stub1" id="r18" headers="r16 c1">H2</th>
|
||
<td class="center" headers="r16 r18 c2">Deny</td>
|
||
<td class="align-left" headers="r16 r18 c3">Capacity for <abbr class="spell">SGA</abbr>, past relevant work—<abbr class="spell">ER</abbr>/<abbr class="spell">PP</abbr> not met</td>
|
||
<td headers="r16 r18 c4">50,245</td>
|
||
<td headers="r16 r18 c5">2.1</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr class="shaded">
|
||
<th class="stub0" id="r19" headers="c1">Step 5: Capacity for any work?</th>
|
||
<td headers="r19 c2"> </td>
|
||
<td headers="r19 c3"> </td>
|
||
<td headers="r19 c4">1,042,622</td>
|
||
<td headers="r19 c5">42.8</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<th class="stub1" id="r20" headers="r19 c1">C1</th>
|
||
<td class="center" headers="r19 r20 c2">Allow</td>
|
||
<td class="align-left" headers="r19 r20 c3">Medical vocational considerations</td>
|
||
<td headers="r19 r20 c4">408,301</td>
|
||
<td headers="r19 r20 c5">16.8</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<th class="stub1" id="r21" headers="r19 c1">D1</th>
|
||
<td class="center" headers="r19 r21 c2">Allow</td>
|
||
<td class="align-left" headers="r19 r21 c3">Medical vocational considerations—arduous unskilled work</td>
|
||
<td headers="r19 r21 c4">310</td>
|
||
<td headers="r19 r21 c5">0.0</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<th class="stub1" id="r22" headers="r19 c1">G1</th>
|
||
<td class="center" headers="r19 r22 c2">Deny</td>
|
||
<td class="align-left" headers="r19 r22 c3">Capacity for <abbr class="spell">SGA</abbr>, vocational considerations—reentitlement period met</td>
|
||
<td headers="r19 r22 c4">34,131</td>
|
||
<td headers="r19 r22 c5">1.4</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<th class="stub1" id="r23" headers="r19 c1">G2</th>
|
||
<td class="center" headers="r19 r23 c2">Deny</td>
|
||
<td class="align-left" headers="r19 r23 c3">Capacity for <abbr class="spell">SGA</abbr>, vocational considerations—reentitlement period not met</td>
|
||
<td headers="r19 r23 c4">1,225</td>
|
||
<td headers="r19 r23 c5">0.1</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<th class="stub1" id="r24" headers="r19 c1">J1</th>
|
||
<td class="center" headers="r19 r24 c2">Deny</td>
|
||
<td class="align-left" headers="r19 r24 c3">Capacity for <abbr class="spell">SGA</abbr>, other work—<abbr class="spell">ER</abbr>/<abbr class="spell">PP</abbr> met</td>
|
||
<td headers="r19 r24 c4">529,680</td>
|
||
<td headers="r19 r24 c5">21.7</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<th class="stub1" id="r25" headers="r19 c1">J2</th>
|
||
<td class="center" headers="r19 r25 c2">Deny</td>
|
||
<td class="align-left" headers="r19 r25 c3">Capacity for <abbr class="spell">SGA</abbr>, other work—<abbr class="spell">ER</abbr>/<abbr class="spell">PP</abbr> not met</td>
|
||
<td headers="r19 r25 c4">68,975</td>
|
||
<td headers="r19 r25 c5">2.8</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr class="shaded">
|
||
<th class="stub0" id="r26" headers="c1">Other</th>
|
||
<td headers="r26 c2"> </td>
|
||
<td headers="r26 c3"> </td>
|
||
<td headers="r26 c4">180,961</td>
|
||
<td headers="r26 c5">7.4</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<th class="stub1" id="r27" headers="r26 c1"><abbr class="spell">CE</abbr></th>
|
||
<td class="center" headers="r26 r27 c2">Allow</td>
|
||
<td class="align-left" headers="r26 r27 c3">Collateral estoppel <sup>e</sup></td>
|
||
<td headers="r26 r27 c4">7,141</td>
|
||
<td headers="r26 r27 c5">0.3</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<th class="stub1" id="r28" headers="r26 c1">K1</th>
|
||
<td class="center" headers="r26 r28 c2">Deny</td>
|
||
<td class="align-left" headers="r26 r28 c3">Failure to follow prescribed treatment—<abbr class="spell">ER</abbr>/<abbr class="spell">PP</abbr>/reentitlement period met</td>
|
||
<td headers="r26 r28 c4">161</td>
|
||
<td headers="r26 r28 c5">0.0</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<th class="stub1" id="r29" headers="r26 c1">K2</th>
|
||
<td class="center" headers="r26 r29 c2">Deny</td>
|
||
<td class="align-left" headers="r26 r29 c3">Failure to follow prescribed treatment—<abbr class="spell">ER</abbr>/<abbr class="spell">PP</abbr>/reentitlement period not met</td>
|
||
<td headers="r26 r29 c4">42</td>
|
||
<td headers="r26 r29 c5">0.0</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<th class="stub1" id="r30" headers="r26 c1">L1</th>
|
||
<td class="center" headers="r26 r30 c2">Deny</td>
|
||
<td class="align-left" headers="r26 r30 c3">Failure/refusal to submit to <abbr class="spell">CE</abbr>—<abbr class="spell">ER</abbr>/<abbr class="spell">PP</abbr>/reentitlement period met</td>
|
||
<td headers="r26 r30 c4">57,612</td>
|
||
<td headers="r26 r30 c5">2.4</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<th class="stub1" id="r31" headers="r26 c1">L2</th>
|
||
<td class="center" headers="r26 r31 c2">Deny</td>
|
||
<td class="align-left" headers="r26 r31 c3">Failure/refusal to submit to <abbr class="spell">CE</abbr>—<abbr class="spell">ER</abbr>/<abbr class="spell">PP</abbr>/reentitlement period not met</td>
|
||
<td headers="r26 r31 c4">5,470</td>
|
||
<td headers="r26 r31 c5">0.2</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr class="top">
|
||
<th class="stub1" id="r32" headers="r26 c1">M3 </th>
|
||
<td class="center" headers="r26 r32 c2">Deny </td>
|
||
<td class="align-left" headers="r26 r32 c3">Does not want to continue claim development; use evidence in file— <abbr class="spell">ER</abbr>/<abbr class="spell">PP</abbr>/reentitlement period met</td>
|
||
<td headers="r26 r32 c4">5,522</td>
|
||
<td headers="r26 r32 c5">0.2</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr class="top">
|
||
<th class="stub1" id="r33" headers="r26 c1">M4 </th>
|
||
<td class="center" headers="r26 r33 c2">Deny </td>
|
||
<td class="align-left" headers="r26 r33 c3">Does not want to continue claim development; use evidence in file— <abbr class="spell">ER</abbr>/<abbr class="spell">PP</abbr>/reentitlement period not met</td>
|
||
<td headers="r26 r33 c4">473</td>
|
||
<td headers="r26 r33 c5">0.0</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<th class="stub1" id="r34" headers="r26 c1">M5</th>
|
||
<td class="center" headers="r26 r34 c2">Deny</td>
|
||
<td class="align-left" headers="r26 r34 c3">Insufficient evidence—<abbr class="spell">ER</abbr>/<abbr class="spell">PP</abbr>/reentitlement period met</td>
|
||
<td headers="r26 r34 c4">74,711</td>
|
||
<td headers="r26 r34 c5">3.1</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<th class="stub1" id="r35" headers="r26 c1">M6</th>
|
||
<td class="center" headers="r26 r35 c2">Deny</td>
|
||
<td class="align-left" headers="r26 r35 c3">Insufficient evidence—<abbr class="spell">ER</abbr>/<abbr class="spell">PP</abbr>/reentitlement period not met</td>
|
||
<td headers="r26 r35 c4">21,885</td>
|
||
<td headers="r26 r35 c5">0.9</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr class="top">
|
||
<th class="stub1" id="r36" headers="r26 c1">M7 </th>
|
||
<td class="center" headers="r26 r36 c2">Deny </td>
|
||
<td class="align-left" headers="r26 r36 c3">Does not want to continue claim development; do not use evidence in file— <abbr class="spell">ER</abbr>/<abbr class="spell">PP</abbr>/reentitlement period met</td>
|
||
<td headers="r26 r36 c4">826</td>
|
||
<td headers="r26 r36 c5">0.0</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr class="top">
|
||
<th class="stub1" id="r37" headers="r26 c1">M8 </th>
|
||
<td class="center" headers="r26 r37 c2">Deny </td>
|
||
<td class="align-left" headers="r26 r37 c3">Does not want to continue claim development; do not use evidence in file— <abbr class="spell">ER</abbr>/<abbr class="spell">PP</abbr>/reentitlement period not met</td>
|
||
<td headers="r26 r37 c4">100</td>
|
||
<td headers="r26 r37 c5">0.0</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<th class="stub1" id="r38" headers="r26 c1">S1</th>
|
||
<td class="center" headers="r26 r38 c2">Deny</td>
|
||
<td class="align-left" headers="r26 r38 c3">Res judicata <sup>f</sup>—<abbr class="spell">ER</abbr>/<abbr class="spell">PP</abbr> not met</td>
|
||
<td headers="r26 r38 c4">2,191</td>
|
||
<td headers="r26 r38 c5">0.1</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr class="top">
|
||
<th class="stub1" id="r39" headers="r26 c1">X3 </th>
|
||
<td class="center" headers="r26 r39 c2">Deny </td>
|
||
<td class="align-left" headers="r26 r39 c3">Medicare only <sup>g</sup>—<abbr class="spell">AOD</abbr> on or after age 62 years and 7 months/or not disabled, whereabouts unknown</td>
|
||
<td headers="r26 r39 c4">9</td>
|
||
<td headers="r26 r39 c5">0.0</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr class="top">
|
||
<th class="stub1" id="r40" headers="r26 c1">Z1</th>
|
||
<td class="center" headers="r26 r40 c2">Deny</td>
|
||
<td class="align-left" headers="r26 r40 c3"><abbr class="spell">DAA</abbr> <sup>h</sup> is material to the determination of disability—<abbr class="spell">ER</abbr>/<abbr class="spell">PP</abbr>/reentitlement period met</td>
|
||
<td headers="r26 r40 c4">3,839</td>
|
||
<td headers="r26 r40 c5">0.2</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr class="top">
|
||
<th class="stub1" id="r41" headers="r26 c1">Z2</th>
|
||
<td class="center" headers="r26 r41 c2">Deny</td>
|
||
<td class="align-left" headers="r26 r41 c3"><abbr class="spell">DAA</abbr> is material to determination of disability—<abbr class="spell">ER</abbr>/<abbr class="spell">PP</abbr>/reentitlement period not met</td>
|
||
<td headers="r26 r41 c4">968</td>
|
||
<td headers="r26 r41 c5">0.0</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<th class="stub1" id="r42" headers="r26 c1"><abbr class="spell">ZZ</abbr></th>
|
||
<td headers="r26 r42 c2"> </td>
|
||
<td class="align-left" headers="r26 r42 c3">Regulation Basis Code is unknown</td>
|
||
<td headers="r26 r42 c4">2</td>
|
||
<td headers="r26 r42 c5">0.0</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<th class="stub1" id="r43" headers="c1">[blank]</th>
|
||
<td headers="r43 c2"> </td>
|
||
<td class="align-left" headers="r43 c3">Regulation Basis Code is not available</td>
|
||
<td headers="r43 c4">9</td>
|
||
<td headers="r43 c5">0.0</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr class="shaded">
|
||
<th class="stub0" id="r44" headers="c1">Total</th>
|
||
<td headers="r44 c2"> </td>
|
||
<td headers="r44 c3"> </td>
|
||
<td headers="r44 c4">2,437,544</td>
|
||
<td headers="r44 c5">100.0</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
</tbody>
|
||
<tfoot>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<td class="firstNote" colspan="5">SOURCES: Frequency data was obtained from the 2010 <span class="nobr"><abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr>-831</span> file. Basis information was obtained from <abbr>RAND</abbr>'s <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> Program Data User's Manual (Panis and others 2000) and exchanges with disability experts at <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr>.</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<td class="note" colspan="5">NOTES: Values may not sum to 100 because of rounding.
|
||
<div class="newNote"><abbr class="spell">AOD</abbr> = alleged onset date;<br><abbr class="spell">CE</abbr> = consultative examination; <abbr class="spell">CE</abbr> is also a Regulation Basis Code;<br><abbr class="spell">DAA</abbr> = drug addiction and/or alcoholism;<br><abbr class="spell">DDS</abbr> = Disability Determination Service;<br><abbr class="spell">DI</abbr> = Disability Insurance;<br><abbr class="spell">ER</abbr> = expedited reinstatement;<br><abbr class="spell">PP</abbr> = provisional period;<br><abbr class="spell">SGA</abbr> = substantial gainful activity;<br><abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> = Social Security Administration;<br><abbr class="spell">SSI</abbr> = Supplemental Security Income.</div>
|
||
</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<td class="note" colspan="5">a. Financial eligibility for <abbr class="spell">DI</abbr> or <abbr class="spell">SSI</abbr> is usually determined at the <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> field office before the claim is referred to the <abbr class="spell">DDS</abbr>. For that reason, most cases determined financially ineligible are not referred to the <abbr class="spell">DDS</abbr> and are not represented in the 831 data created by the <abbr class="spell">DDS</abbr>. However, in a few cases, claims referred to the <abbr class="spell">DDS</abbr> can be sent back to the field office or recalled by the field office; such cases may be found in the 831 data. Some cases may also be for applicants alleging blindness, but the higher blind <abbr class="spell">SGA</abbr> cannot be used until the <abbr class="spell">DDS</abbr> establishes blindness.</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<td class="note" colspan="5">b. <abbr class="spell">SGA</abbr> is an earnings threshold used to determine eligibility for both <abbr class="spell">DI</abbr> benefits and <abbr class="spell">SSI</abbr> payments. In calendar year 2012, the <abbr class="spell">SGA</abbr> threshold was $1,010 per month for the nonblind and $1,690 for the blind. Someone engaging in <abbr class="spell">SGA</abbr> is denied at the field office and not evaluated further. And, a <abbr class="spell">DI</abbr> beneficiary receives no benefits for any month in which he or she has earnings above the <abbr class="spell">SGA</abbr> threshold (with some exceptions for work incentives). The <abbr class="spell">SGA</abbr> threshold is wage-indexed.</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<td class="note" colspan="5">c. <abbr class="spell">ER</abbr>/<abbr class="spell">PP</abbr>/reentitlement period met (or not met): Based on the 1999 Ticket to Work Legislation, Ticket to Work clients who have made a work attempt but are unable to work because of their impairments may be eligible for <abbr class="spell">ER</abbr> to benefit status. <abbr class="spell">ER</abbr> applicants receive temporary benefits for a <abbr class="spell">PP</abbr>, until a medical evaluation of their reinstatement request is completed.</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<td class="note" colspan="5">d. Duration denials are typically made at step 2, but may also be made at steps 3, 4, or 5. The duration test does not apply to the statutorily blind, aged 55 or older.</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<td class="note" colspan="5">e. Collateral estoppel: If there has been a prior favorable determination by <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> or the court, it must be adopted for the same period on the new claim, with certain exceptions.</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<td class="note" colspan="5">f. Res judicata (denial): The finding for a prior denial is adopted under two assumptions: (1) that the relevant facts about an applicant’s disability have not changed and (2) that the criteria under which the earlier determination was made have not become less restrictive.</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<td class="note" colspan="5">g. Medicare-only case: Federal workers ineligible for <abbr class="spell">DI</abbr>, but eligible for Medicare.</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<td class="lastNote" colspan="5">h. Prior to 1996, <abbr class="spell">DI</abbr> beneficiaries and <abbr class="spell">SSI</abbr> recipients could receive benefits based on an impairment associated with <abbr class="spell">DAA</abbr>, provided they fulfilled treatment requirements. After passage of Public Law <span class="nobr">104-121</span> in 1996, such benefits were ended although some beneficiaries continued to receive benefits based on impairments not associated with <abbr class="spell">DAA</abbr>.</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
</tfoot>
|
||
</table>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<div class="table" id="table2">
|
||
<table>
|
||
<caption><span class="tableNumber">Table 2. </span>Classification of Regulation Basis Codes into sequential disability determination steps for <abbr class="spell">DDS</abbr> decisions, with frequency distribution: Title <abbr title="sixteen">XVI</abbr> adults in 2010</caption>
|
||
<colgroup span="1" style="width:18em"></colgroup>
|
||
<colgroup span="1" style="width:5em"></colgroup>
|
||
<colgroup span="1" style="width:35em"></colgroup>
|
||
<colgroup span="2" style="width:5em"></colgroup>
|
||
<thead>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<th class="stubHeading" id="c1">Code</th>
|
||
<th class="center" id="c2">Decision</th>
|
||
<th class="center" id="c3">Basis</th>
|
||
<th id="c4">Number</th>
|
||
<th id="c5">Percent</th>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
</thead>
|
||
<tbody>
|
||
<tr class="shaded">
|
||
<th class="stub0" id="r1" headers="c1">Step 1: Engaging in <abbr class="spell">SGA</abbr>? <sup>a</sup></th>
|
||
<td headers="r1 c2"> </td>
|
||
<td headers="r1 c3"> </td>
|
||
<td headers="r1 c4">0</td>
|
||
<td headers="r1 c5">0.0</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<th class="stub1" id="r2" headers="r1 c1">33 </th>
|
||
<td class="center" headers="r1 r2 c2">Deny</td>
|
||
<td class="align-left" headers="r1 r2 c3">Engaging in <abbr class="spell">SGA</abbr> <sup>b</sup></td>
|
||
<td headers="r1 r2 c4">0</td>
|
||
<td headers="r1 r2 c5">0.0</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr class="shaded">
|
||
<th class="stub0" id="r3" headers="c1">Step 2: Severe impairment?</th>
|
||
<td headers="r3 c2"> </td>
|
||
<td headers="r3 c3"> </td>
|
||
<td headers="r3 c4">215,282</td>
|
||
<td headers="r3 c5">10.1</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<th class="stub1" id="r4" headers="r3 c1">Severity</th>
|
||
<td colspan="4"></td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<th class="stub1" id="r5" headers="r3 r4 c1">30</th>
|
||
<td class="center" headers="r3 r4 r5 c2">Deny</td>
|
||
<td class="align-left" headers="r3 r4 r5 c3">Impairment not severe—no visual allegation <sup>c</sup></td>
|
||
<td headers="r3 r4 r5 c4">139,524</td>
|
||
<td headers="r3 r4 r5 c5">6.6</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<th class="stub1" id="r6" headers="r3 r4 c1">41</th>
|
||
<td class="center" headers="r3 r4 r6 c2">Deny</td>
|
||
<td class="align-left" headers="r3 r4 r6 c3">Impairment not severe—visual allegation</td>
|
||
<td headers="r3 r4 r6 c4">6,999</td>
|
||
<td headers="r3 r4 r6 c5">0.3</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<th class="stub1" id="r7" headers="r3 c1">Duration <sup>d</sup></th>
|
||
<td colspan="4"></td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<th class="stub1" id="r8" headers="r3 r7 c1">34</th>
|
||
<td class="center" headers="r3 r7 r8 c2">Deny</td>
|
||
<td class="align-left" headers="r3 r7 r8 c3">Impairment prevented <abbr class="spell">SGA</abbr> < 12 months—no visual allegation</td>
|
||
<td headers="r3 r7 r8 c4">2,315</td>
|
||
<td headers="r3 r7 r8 c5">0.1</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<th class="stub1" id="r9" headers="r3 r7 c1">35</th>
|
||
<td class="center" headers="r3 r7 r9 c2">Deny</td>
|
||
<td class="align-left" headers="r3 r7 r9 c3">Impairment not expected to last 12 months—no visual allegation</td>
|
||
<td headers="r3 r7 r9 c4">65,082</td>
|
||
<td headers="r3 r7 r9 c5">3.1</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<th class="stub1" id="r10" headers="r3 r7 c1">45</th>
|
||
<td class="center" headers="r3 r7 r10 c2">Deny</td>
|
||
<td class="align-left" headers="r3 r7 r10 c3">Impairment prevented <abbr class="spell">SGA</abbr> < 12 months—visual allegation</td>
|
||
<td headers="r3 r7 r10 c4">97</td>
|
||
<td headers="r3 r7 r10 c5">0.0</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<th class="stub1" id="r11" headers="r3 r7 c1">46</th>
|
||
<td class="center" headers="r3 r7 r11 c2">Deny</td>
|
||
<td class="align-left" headers="r3 r7 r11 c3">Impairment not expected to last 12 months—visual allegation</td>
|
||
<td headers="r3 r7 r11 c4">1,265</td>
|
||
<td headers="r3 r7 r11 c5">0.1</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr class="shaded">
|
||
<th class="stub0" id="r12" headers="c1">Step 3: Meets or equals the Listings?</th>
|
||
<td headers="r12 c2"> </td>
|
||
<td headers="r12 c3"> </td>
|
||
<td headers="r12 c4">261,750</td>
|
||
<td headers="r12 c5">12.3</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<th class="stub1" id="r13" headers="r12 c1">61</th>
|
||
<td class="center" headers="r12 r13 c2">Allow</td>
|
||
<td class="align-left" headers="r12 r13 c3">Impairment meets the Listings</td>
|
||
<td headers="r12 r13 c4">220,310</td>
|
||
<td headers="r12 r13 c5">10.3</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<th class="stub1" id="r14" headers="r12 c1">62</th>
|
||
<td class="center" headers="r12 r14 c2">Allow</td>
|
||
<td class="align-left" headers="r12 r14 c3">Impairment equals the Listings</td>
|
||
<td headers="r12 r14 c4">41,440</td>
|
||
<td headers="r12 r14 c5">1.9</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr class="shaded">
|
||
<th class="stub0" id="r15" headers="c1">Step 4: Capacity for past work?</th>
|
||
<td headers="r15 c2"> </td>
|
||
<td headers="r15 c3"> </td>
|
||
<td headers="r15 c4">402,416</td>
|
||
<td headers="r15 c5">18.9</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<th class="stub1" id="r16" headers="r15 c1">31</th>
|
||
<td class="center" headers="r15 r16 c2">Deny</td>
|
||
<td class="align-left" headers="r15 r16 c3">Capacity for <abbr class="spell">SGA</abbr>, past relevant work—no visual allegation</td>
|
||
<td headers="r15 r16 c4">386,411</td>
|
||
<td headers="r15 r16 c5">18.2</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<th class="stub1" id="r17" headers="r15 c1">42</th>
|
||
<td class="center" headers="r15 r17 c2">Deny</td>
|
||
<td class="align-left" headers="r15 r17 c3">Capacity for <abbr class="spell">SGA</abbr>, past relevant work—visual allegation</td>
|
||
<td headers="r15 r17 c4">16,005</td>
|
||
<td headers="r15 r17 c5">0.8</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr class="shaded">
|
||
<th class="stub0" id="r18" headers="c1">Step 5: Capacity for any work?</th>
|
||
<td headers="r18 c2"> </td>
|
||
<td headers="r18 c3"> </td>
|
||
<td headers="r18 c4">993,844</td>
|
||
<td headers="r18 c5">46.7</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<th class="stub1" id="r19" headers="r18 c1">63</th>
|
||
<td class="center" headers="r18 r19 c2">Allow</td>
|
||
<td class="align-left" headers="r18 r19 c3">Medical vocational considerations</td>
|
||
<td headers="r18 r19 c4">271,022</td>
|
||
<td headers="r18 r19 c5">12.7</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<th class="stub1" id="r20" headers="r18 c1">64</th>
|
||
<td class="center" headers="r18 r20 c2">Allow</td>
|
||
<td class="align-left" headers="r18 r20 c3">Medical vocational considerations—arduous unskilled work</td>
|
||
<td headers="r18 r20 c4">1,080</td>
|
||
<td headers="r18 r20 c5">0.1</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<th class="stub1" id="r21" headers="r18 c1">32</th>
|
||
<td class="center" headers="r18 r21 c2">Deny</td>
|
||
<td class="align-left" headers="r18 r21 c3">Capacity for <abbr class="spell">SGA</abbr>, other work—no visual allegation</td>
|
||
<td headers="r18 r21 c4">690,181</td>
|
||
<td headers="r18 r21 c5">32.4</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<th class="stub1" id="r22" headers="r18 c1">43</th>
|
||
<td class="center" headers="r18 r22 c2">Deny</td>
|
||
<td class="align-left" headers="r18 r22 c3">Capacity for <abbr class="spell">SGA</abbr>, other work—visual allegation <sup>e</sup></td>
|
||
<td headers="r18 r22 c4">31,561</td>
|
||
<td headers="r18 r22 c5">1.5</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr class="shaded">
|
||
<th class="stub0" id="r23" headers="c1">Other</th>
|
||
<td headers="r23 c2"> </td>
|
||
<td headers="r23 c3"> </td>
|
||
<td headers="r23 c4">255,560</td>
|
||
<td headers="r23 c5">12.0</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<th class="stub1" id="r24" headers="r23 c1"><abbr class="spell">CE</abbr></th>
|
||
<td class="center" headers="r23 r24 c2">Allow</td>
|
||
<td class="align-left" headers="r23 r24 c3">Collateral estoppel <sup>f</sup></td>
|
||
<td headers="r23 r24 c4">356</td>
|
||
<td headers="r23 r24 c5">0.0</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<th class="stub1" id="r25" headers="r23 c1">36</th>
|
||
<td class="center" headers="r23 r25 c2">Deny</td>
|
||
<td class="align-left" headers="r23 r25 c3">Insufficient evidence—with/without visual allegation</td>
|
||
<td headers="r23 r25 c4">123,799</td>
|
||
<td headers="r23 r25 c5">5.8</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<th class="stub1" id="r26" headers="r23 c1">37</th>
|
||
<td class="center" headers="r23 r26 c2">Deny</td>
|
||
<td class="align-left" headers="r23 r26 c3">Failure/refusal to submit to <abbr class="spell">CE</abbr>—with/without visual allegation</td>
|
||
<td headers="r23 r26 c4">116,635</td>
|
||
<td headers="r23 r26 c5">5.5</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<th class="stub1" id="r27" headers="r23 c1">38</th>
|
||
<td class="center" headers="r23 r27 c2">Deny</td>
|
||
<td class="align-left" headers="r23 r27 c3">Does not want to continue development of claim—with/without visual allegation</td>
|
||
<td headers="r23 r27 c4">4,768</td>
|
||
<td headers="r23 r27 c5">0.2</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<th class="stub1" id="r28" headers="r23 c1">39</th>
|
||
<td class="center" headers="r23 r28 c2">Deny</td>
|
||
<td class="align-left" headers="r23 r28 c3"><abbr class="spell">DAA</abbr> or failure to follow prescribed treatment—with/without visual allegation <sup>g</sup></td>
|
||
<td headers="r23 r28 c4">7,104</td>
|
||
<td headers="r23 r28 c5">0.3</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<th class="stub1" id="r29" headers="r23 c1">Data errors <sup>h</sup></th>
|
||
<td headers="r23 r29 c2"> </td>
|
||
<td headers="r23 r29 c3"> </td>
|
||
<td headers="r23 r29 c4">2,898</td>
|
||
<td headers="r23 r29 c5">0.1</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr class="shaded">
|
||
<th class="stub0" id="r30" headers="c1">Total</th>
|
||
<td headers="r30 c2"> </td>
|
||
<td headers="r30 c3"> </td>
|
||
<td headers="r30 c4">2,128,852</td>
|
||
<td headers="r30 c5">100.0</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
</tbody>
|
||
<tfoot>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<td class="firstNote" colspan="5">SOURCES: Frequency data was obtained from the 2010 <span class="nobr"><abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr>-831</span> file. Basis information was obtained from <abbr>RAND</abbr>'s <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> Program Data User's Manual (Panis and others 2000) and exchanges with disability experts at <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr>.</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<td class="note" colspan="5">NOTES:
|
||
<div class="newNote"><abbr class="spell">CE</abbr> = consultative examination; <abbr class="spell">CE</abbr> is also a Regulation Basis Code;<br><abbr class="spell">DAA</abbr> = drug addiction and/or alcoholism;<br><abbr class="spell">DDS</abbr> = Disability Determination Service;<br><abbr class="spell">DI</abbr> = Disability Insurance;<br><abbr class="spell">RB</abbr> = Regulation Basis;<br><abbr class="spell">RBC</abbr> = Regulation Basis Code;<br><abbr class="spell">SGA</abbr> = substantial gainful activity;<br><abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> = Social Security Administration;<br><abbr class="spell">SSI</abbr> = Supplemental Security Income.</div>
|
||
</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<td class="note" colspan="5">a. Financial eligibility for <abbr class="spell">DI</abbr> or <abbr class="spell">SSI</abbr> is usually determined at the <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> field office before the claim is referred to the <abbr class="spell">DDS</abbr>. For that reason, most cases determined financially ineligible are not represented in the 831 data created by the <abbr class="spell">DDS</abbr>.</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<td class="note" colspan="5">b. <abbr class="spell">SGA</abbr> is an earnings threshold used to determine eligibility for both <abbr class="spell">DI</abbr> benefits and <abbr class="spell">SSI</abbr> payments. In calendar year 2012, the <abbr class="spell">SGA</abbr> threshold was $1,010 per month for the nonblind and $1,690 for the blind. Someone engaging in <abbr class="spell">SGA</abbr> is denied at the field office and not evaluated further. And, a <abbr class="spell">DI</abbr> beneficiary receives no benefits for any month in which he or she has earnings above the <abbr class="spell">SGA</abbr> threshold (with some exceptions for work incentives). The <abbr class="spell">SGA</abbr> threshold is wage-indexed.</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<td class="note" colspan="5">c. No visual allegation means the applicant does not have a visual impairment that requires a determination under statutory criteria for blindness.</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<td class="note" colspan="5">d. Duration denials are typically made at step 2, but may also be made at steps 3, 4, or 5. The duration test does not apply to <abbr class="spell">SSI</abbr> applicants who are statutorily blind.</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<td class="note" colspan="5">e. Code 43 has dual meanings. For child applicants it indicates that the claim is denied at step 3 because it neither meets, nor equals, nor functionally equals the Listings.</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<td class="note" colspan="5">f. Collateral estoppel: If there has been a prior favorable determination by <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> or the court, it must be adopted for the same period on the new claim, with certain exceptions.</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<td class="note" colspan="5">g. Code 39 has the same meaning and use for adult and child <abbr class="spell">SSI</abbr> applicants. It signifies denial for failure to follow prescribed treatment or, following a 1996 Congressional Act, denial of applicants for whom <abbr class="spell">DAA</abbr> was found material to the finding of disability.</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<td class="lastNote" colspan="5">h. Includes records with unknown <abbr class="spell">RB</abbr> (<abbr class="spell">RBC</abbr> = <abbr class="spell">ZZ</abbr>), <abbr class="spell">RB</abbr> not available (<abbr class="spell">RBC</abbr> = [blank]), obsolete codes, and other data errors.</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
</tfoot>
|
||
</table>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<div class="table" id="table3">
|
||
<table>
|
||
<caption><span class="tableNumber">Table 3. </span>Classification of Regulation Basis Codes into sequential disability determination steps for <abbr class="spell">DDS</abbr> decisions, with frequency distribution: Title <abbr title="sixteen">XVI</abbr> children in 2010</caption>
|
||
<colgroup span="1" style="width:25em"></colgroup>
|
||
<colgroup span="1" style="width:5em"></colgroup>
|
||
<colgroup span="1" style="width:35em"></colgroup>
|
||
<colgroup span="2" style="width:5em"></colgroup>
|
||
<thead>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<th class="stubHeading" id="c1">Code</th>
|
||
<th class="center" id="c2">Decision</th>
|
||
<th class="center" id="c3">Basis</th>
|
||
<th id="c4">Number</th>
|
||
<th id="c5">Percent</th>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
</thead>
|
||
<tbody>
|
||
<tr class="shaded">
|
||
<th class="stub0" id="r1" headers="c1">Step 1: Engaging in <abbr class="spell">SGA</abbr>? <sup>a</sup></th>
|
||
<td headers="r1 c2"> </td>
|
||
<td headers="r1 c3"> </td>
|
||
<td headers="r1 c4">0</td>
|
||
<td headers="r1 c5">0.0</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<th class="stub1" id="r2" headers="r1 c1">33</th>
|
||
<td class="center" headers="r1 r2 c2">Deny</td>
|
||
<td class="align-left" headers="r1 r2 c3">Engaging in <abbr class="spell">SGA</abbr> <sup>b</sup>—with/without visual allegation <sup>c</sup></td>
|
||
<td headers="r1 r2 c4">0</td>
|
||
<td headers="r1 r2 c5">0.0</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr class="shaded">
|
||
<th class="stub0" id="r3" headers="c1">Step 2: Severe impairment?</th>
|
||
<td headers="r3 c2"> </td>
|
||
<td headers="r3 c3"> </td>
|
||
<td headers="r3 c4">34,030</td>
|
||
<td headers="r3 c5">6.4</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<th class="stub1" id="r4" headers="r3 c1">Severity</th>
|
||
<td colspan="4"></td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<th class="stub1" id="r5" headers="r3 r4 c1">44 <sup>d</sup></th>
|
||
<td class="center" headers="r3 r4 r5 c2">Deny</td>
|
||
<td class="align-left" headers="r3 r4 r5 c3">Impairment not severe—with/without visual allegation</td>
|
||
<td headers="r3 r4 r5 c4">31,527</td>
|
||
<td headers="r3 r4 r5 c5">5.9</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<th class="stub1" id="r6" headers="r3 c1">Duration <sup>e</sup></th>
|
||
<td colspan="4"></td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<th class="stub1" id="r7" headers="r3 r6 c1">34</th>
|
||
<td class="center" headers="r3 r6 r7 c2">Deny</td>
|
||
<td class="align-left" headers="r3 r6 r7 c3">Impairment prevented <abbr class="spell">SGA</abbr> < 12 months—no visual allegation</td>
|
||
<td headers="r3 r6 r7 c4">317</td>
|
||
<td headers="r3 r6 r7 c5">0.1</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<th class="stub1" id="r8" headers="r3 r6 c1">35</th>
|
||
<td class="center" headers="r3 r6 r8 c2">Deny</td>
|
||
<td class="align-left" headers="r3 r6 r8 c3">Impairment not expected to last 12 months—no visual allegation</td>
|
||
<td headers="r3 r6 r8 c4">2,071</td>
|
||
<td headers="r3 r6 r8 c5">0.4</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<th class="stub1" id="r9" headers="r3 r6 c1">45</th>
|
||
<td class="center" headers="r3 r6 r9 c2">Deny</td>
|
||
<td class="align-left" headers="r3 r6 r9 c3">Impairment prevented <abbr class="spell">SGA</abbr> < 12 months—visual allegation</td>
|
||
<td headers="r3 r6 r9 c4">37</td>
|
||
<td headers="r3 r6 r9 c5">0.0</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<th class="stub1" id="r10" headers="r3 r6 c1">46</th>
|
||
<td class="center" headers="r3 r6 r10 c2">Deny</td>
|
||
<td class="align-left" headers="r3 r6 r10 c3">Impairment not expected to last 12 months—visual allegation</td>
|
||
<td headers="r3 r6 r10 c4">78</td>
|
||
<td headers="r3 r6 r10 c5">0.0</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr class="shaded">
|
||
<th class="stub0" id="r11" headers="c1">Step 3a: <sup>f</sup> Meets or equals the Listings?</th>
|
||
<td headers="r11 c2"> </td>
|
||
<td headers="r11 c3"> </td>
|
||
<td headers="r11 c4">87,683</td>
|
||
<td headers="r11 c5">16.5</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<th class="stub1" id="r12" headers="r11 c1">61</th>
|
||
<td class="center" headers="r11 r12 c2">Allow</td>
|
||
<td class="align-left" headers="r11 r12 c3">Impairment meets the Listings</td>
|
||
<td headers="r11 r12 c4">75,466</td>
|
||
<td headers="r11 r12 c5">14.2</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<th class="stub1" id="r13" headers="r11 c1">65</th>
|
||
<td class="center" headers="r11 r13 c2">Allow</td>
|
||
<td class="align-left" headers="r11 r13 c3">Medically equals the Listings</td>
|
||
<td headers="r11 r13 c4">12,217</td>
|
||
<td headers="r11 r13 c5">2.3</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr class="shaded">
|
||
<th class="stub0" id="r14" headers="c1">Step 3b: Functionally equals severity of the Listings?</th>
|
||
<td headers="r14 c2"> </td>
|
||
<td headers="r14 c3"> </td>
|
||
<td headers="r14 c4">379,298</td>
|
||
<td headers="r14 c5">71.5</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<th class="stub1" id="r15" headers="r14 c1">66</th>
|
||
<td class="center" headers="r14 r15 c2">Allow</td>
|
||
<td class="align-left" headers="r14 r15 c3">Impairment functionally equals the Listing requirements</td>
|
||
<td headers="r14 r15 c4">109,849</td>
|
||
<td headers="r14 r15 c5">20.7</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<th class="stub1" id="r16" headers="r14 c1">43</th>
|
||
<td class="center" headers="r14 r16 c2">Deny</td>
|
||
<td class="align-left" headers="r14 r16 c3">Neither meets, nor medically equals, nor functionally equals the Listings <sup>g</sup></td>
|
||
<td headers="r14 r16 c4">269,449</td>
|
||
<td headers="r14 r16 c5">50.8</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr class="shaded">
|
||
<th class="stub0" id="r17" headers="c1">Other</th>
|
||
<td headers="r17 c2"> </td>
|
||
<td headers="r17 c3"> </td>
|
||
<td headers="r17 c4">29,167</td>
|
||
<td headers="r17 c5">5.5</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<th class="stub1" id="r18" headers="r17 c1"><abbr class="spell">CE</abbr></th>
|
||
<td class="center" headers="r17 r18 c2">Allow</td>
|
||
<td class="align-left" headers="r17 r18 c3">Collateral estoppel <sup>h</sup></td>
|
||
<td headers="r17 r18 c4">21</td>
|
||
<td headers="r17 r18 c5">0.0</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<th class="stub1" id="r19" headers="r17 c1">36</th>
|
||
<td class="center" headers="r17 r19 c2">Deny</td>
|
||
<td class="align-left" headers="r17 r19 c3">Insufficient evidence—with/without visual allegation</td>
|
||
<td headers="r17 r19 c4">10,440</td>
|
||
<td headers="r17 r19 c5">2.0</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<th class="stub1" id="r20" headers="r17 c1">37</th>
|
||
<td class="center" headers="r17 r20 c2">Deny</td>
|
||
<td class="align-left" headers="r17 r20 c3">Failure/refusal to submit to <abbr class="spell">CE</abbr>—with/without visual allegation</td>
|
||
<td headers="r17 r20 c4">14,710</td>
|
||
<td headers="r17 r20 c5">2.8</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<th class="stub1" id="r21" headers="r17 c1">38 </th>
|
||
<td class="center" headers="r17 r21 c2">Deny </td>
|
||
<td class="align-left" headers="r17 r21 c3">Does not want to continue development of claim—with/without visual allegation</td>
|
||
<td headers="r17 r21 c4">678</td>
|
||
<td headers="r17 r21 c5">0.1</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<th class="stub1" id="r22" headers="r17 c1">39</th>
|
||
<td class="center" headers="r17 r22 c2">Deny</td>
|
||
<td class="align-left" headers="r17 r22 c3"><abbr class="spell">DAA</abbr> or failure to follow prescribed treatment—with/without visual allegation <sup>i</sup></td>
|
||
<td headers="r17 r22 c4">55</td>
|
||
<td headers="r17 r22 c5">0.0</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<th class="stub1" id="r23" headers="r17 c1">Data errors <sup>j</sup></th>
|
||
<td headers="r17 r23 c2"> </td>
|
||
<td headers="r17 r23 c3"> </td>
|
||
<td headers="r17 r23 c4">3,263</td>
|
||
<td headers="r17 r23 c5">0.6</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr class="shaded">
|
||
<th class="stub0" id="r24" headers="c1">Total</th>
|
||
<td headers="r24 c2"> </td>
|
||
<td headers="r24 c3"> </td>
|
||
<td headers="r24 c4">530,178</td>
|
||
<td headers="r24 c5">100.0</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
</tbody>
|
||
<tfoot>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<td class="firstNote" colspan="5">SOURCES: Frequency data was obtained from the 2010 <span class="nobr"><abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr>-831</span> file. Basis information was obtained from <abbr>RAND</abbr>'s <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> Program Data User's Manual (Panis and others 2000) and exchanges with disability experts at <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr>.</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<td class="note" colspan="5">NOTES: Values may not sum to 100 because of rounding.
|
||
<div class="newNote"><abbr class="spell">CE</abbr> = consultative examination; <abbr class="spell">CE</abbr> is also a Regulation Basis Code;<br><abbr class="spell">DAA</abbr> = drug addiction and/or alcoholism <abbr class="spell">DDS</abbr> = Disability Determination Service;<br><abbr class="spell">DI</abbr> = Disability Insurance;<br><abbr class="spell">RB</abbr> = Regulation Basis;<br><abbr class="spell">RBC</abbr> = Regulation Basis Code;<br><abbr class="spell">SGA</abbr> = substantial gainful activity;<br><abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> = Social Security Administration;<br><abbr class="spell">SSI</abbr> = Supplemental Security Income.</div>
|
||
</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<td class="note" colspan="5">a. Financial eligibility for <abbr class="spell">DI</abbr> or <abbr class="spell">SSI</abbr> is usually determined at the <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> field office before the claim is referred to the <abbr class="spell">DDS</abbr>. For that reason, most cases determined financially ineligible are not represented in the 831 data created by the <abbr class="spell">DDS</abbr>.</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<td class="note" colspan="5">b. <abbr class="spell">SGA</abbr> is an earnings threshold used to determine eligibility for both <abbr class="spell">DI</abbr> benefits and <abbr class="spell">SSI</abbr> payments. In calendar year 2012, the <abbr class="spell">SGA</abbr> threshold was $1,010 per month for the nonblind and $1,690 for the blind. Someone engaging in <abbr class="spell">SGA</abbr> is denied at the field office and not evaluated further. And, a <abbr class="spell">DI</abbr> beneficiary receives no benefits for any month in which he or she has earnings above the <abbr class="spell">SGA</abbr> threshold (with some exceptions for work incentives). The <abbr class="spell">SGA</abbr> threshold is wage-indexed.</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<td class="note" colspan="5">c. No visual allegation means the applicant is not alleging blindness.</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<td class="note" colspan="5">d. Code 44 was initially used to indicate a Title <abbr title="sixteen">XVI</abbr> <abbr class="spell">SGA</abbr> denial, but in the early 1990s it was redefined to indicate a nonsevere denial for <abbr class="spell">SSI</abbr> children.</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<td class="note" colspan="5">e. Duration denials can be invoked at step 2 or step 3. The duration test does not apply to <abbr class="spell">SSI</abbr> applicants who are statutorily blind.</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<td class="note" colspan="5">f. Although the disability determination process for children includes a medical screen and a functional assessment as a single step (step 3), for analytical purposes we discuss them separately as step 3a and step 3b.</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<td class="note" colspan="5">g. Code 43 has dual meanings. For <abbr class="spell">SSI</abbr> adults it indicates the applicant was determined to be able to perform some work in the national economy and was denied.</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<td class="note" colspan="5">h. Collateral estoppel: If there has been a prior favorable determination by <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> or the court, it must be adopted for the same period on the new claim, with certain exceptions.</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<td class="note" colspan="5">i. Code 39 has the same meaning and use for adult and child <abbr class="spell">SSI</abbr> applicants. It signifies denial for failure to follow prescribed treatment or, following a 1996 Congressional Act, denial of applicants for whom <abbr class="spell">DAA</abbr> was found material to the finding of disability.</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
<tr>
|
||
<td class="lastNote" colspan="5">j. Includes records with unknown <abbr class="spell">RB</abbr> (<abbr class="spell">RBC</abbr> = <abbr class="spell">ZZ</abbr>), <abbr class="spell">RB</abbr> not available (<abbr class="spell">RBC</abbr> = [blank]), obsolete codes, and other data errors.</td>
|
||
</tr>
|
||
</tfoot>
|
||
</table>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<div id="notes">
|
||
<h2>Notes</h2>
|
||
<p> <a href="#mt1" id="mn1">1</a> Program administrators differentiate “medical allowances” (based solely on the medical Listings) from “medical-vocational allowances” (which require a severe impairment, but also take into account residual functional capacity, age, past work, and education).</p>
|
||
<p> <a href="#mt2" id="mn2">2</a> Program administrators typically use “resources” to refer to financial assets such as savings or stocks. Administrators implement a limitation on financial assets, and they refer to it as the “resources test.”</p>
|
||
<p> <a href="#mt3" id="mn3">3</a> In 1999, <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> began the Prototype pilot in 10 states, whereby claims can be appealed directly to the administrative law judge level without going through the reconsideration phase.</p>
|
||
<p> <a href="#mt4" id="mn4">4</a> In describing the disability determination process, “medical” is used in two ways. First, it is used to distinguish the determination of medical eligibility using the <span class="nobr">five-step</span> sequential process described in this note from the determination of financial eligibility, such as insured status (for <abbr class="spell">DI</abbr>) or income and resource eligibility (for <abbr class="spell">SSI</abbr>). Second, in discussing the <span class="nobr">five-step</span> process, program administrators differentiate <i>medical allowances</i> (based solely on the medical Listings) from <i>medical-vocational allowances</i> (which require a severe impairment, but also take into account residual functional capacity, age, past work, and education); see note 1.</p>
|
||
<p> <a href="#mt5" id="mn5">5</a> For example, activities involving <span class="nobr">self-care,</span> household tasks, unpaid training, hobbies, therapy, school attendance, clubs, or social programs are not generally considered to be <abbr class="spell">SGA</abbr>. For more detail, see the publicly available <i>Program Operations Manual</i> (<abbr>POMS</abbr>), <a href="https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0410501001">https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0410501001</a>, or the <i>Code of Federal Regulations</i> (<abbr class="spell">CFR</abbr>), http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/retrieveECFR?gp=&SID=efc4db7ae17950f4db4ddfdf34e13c74&n=20y2.0.1.1.5.16&r=SUBPART&ty=HTML#20:2.0.1.1.5.16.188.10.</p>
|
||
<p> <a href="#mt6" id="mn6">6</a> Applicants are also screened with respect to a host of other nonmedical requirements. For example, for Title <abbr title="two">II</abbr> dependent benefits, spouses and children must provide proof of their relationship to the wage earner and, when applicable, their age. Survivors must provide death certificates. Proof of citizenship or permanent residence is required according to statute. Proof that the claimant is not incarcerated may be required. In addition, Title <abbr title="two">II</abbr> spousal benefits may require demonstration that the <span class="nobr">ex-spouse</span> has not remarried. These and other nonmedical factors are checked by field offices, typically before the case is referred to the <abbr class="spell">DDS</abbr>.</p>
|
||
<p> <a href="#mt7" id="mn7">7</a> Claims denied at the <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> field office level are not referred to the <abbr class="spell">DDS</abbr> agencies, so 831 records are not typically created. Hence, for example, field office denials for insured status, income test/resources test, incarceration, or noncitizenship are all considered technical denials, but they are not represented in the <abbr class="spell">RBC</abbr>. A small percentage of <abbr class="spell">SGA</abbr> denials may be included in the <abbr class="spell">RBC</abbr>—typically those remanded from the <abbr class="spell">DDS</abbr> to the field office. Researchers interested in field office determinations should access the Title <abbr title="two">II</abbr> Disability Research File or the Title <abbr title="sixteen">XVI</abbr> Disability Research File.</p>
|
||
<p> <a href="#mt8" id="mn8">8</a> See the publicly available <i>Program Operations Manual</i>, <a href="https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0424505001">https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0424505001</a>.</p>
|
||
<p> <a href="#mt9" id="mn9">9</a> For more detail on the Listings, see the publicly available <i>Program Operations Manual</i>, <a href="https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/subchapterlist!openview&restricttocategory=04340">https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/subchapterlist!openview&restricttocategory=04340</a> or see <a href="/disability/professionals/bluebook/listing-impairments.htm">http://www.socialsecurity.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/listing-impairments.htm</a>.</p>
|
||
<p><a href="#mt10" id="mn10">10</a> In some cases, the analysis of past work can extend further than 15 years back into the claimant's work history. See <a href="https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0425005015">https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0425005015</a>.</p>
|
||
<p><a href="#mt11" id="mn11">11</a> In certain cases, including mental impairments, the vocational grid is not used or it is used as a general framework. For more detail on the vocational grid, see the publicly available <i>Program Operations Manual</i>, <a href="https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/subchapterlist!openview&restricttocategory=04250">https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/subchapterlist!openview&restricttocategory=04250</a>, or <i>the Code of Federal Regulations</i>, http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?c=ecfr&SID=ece928d7f4cda42f9d9a43f83b661174&rgn=div8&view=text&node=20:2.0.1.1.5.16.194.35&idno=20.</p>
|
||
<p><a href="#mt12" id="mn12">12</a> See the Code of Federal Regulations, <a href="/OP_Home/cfr20/404/404-1562.htm">http://www.socialsecurity.gov/OP_Home/cfr20/404/404-1562.htm</a> and <a href="/OP_Home/cfr20/416/416-0962.htm">http://www.socialsecurity.gov/OP_Home/cfr20/416/416-0962.htm</a>.</p>
|
||
<p><a href="#mt13" id="mn13">13</a> Alabama, Alaska, part of California, Colorado, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, New Hampshire, New York, and Pennsylvania.</p>
|
||
<p><a href="#mt14" id="mn14">14</a> See the publicly available <i>Program Operations Manual</i>, <a href="https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0425005005">https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0425005005</a>, the <i>Code of Federal Regulations</i>, http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?c=ecfr&SID=ece928d7f4cda42f9d9a43f83b661174&rgn=div8&view=text&node=20:2.0.1.1.5.16.194.35&idno=20, and the Federal Register, <abbr title="Volume">Vol.</abbr> 76, <abbr title="Number">No.</abbr> 177, Tuesday, September 13, 2011, <a href="http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-09-13/pdf/2011-23396.pdf">http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-09-13/pdf/2011-23396.pdf</a>. For implementation of expedited vocational assessment in prototype states, see <a href="/disability/Documents/Prototype_Operating_Instructions.doc">http://www.socialsecurity.gov/disability/Documents/Prototype_Operating_Instructions.doc</a> (<abbr title="page">p.</abbr> 17).</p>
|
||
<p><a href="#mt15" id="mn15">15</a> However, children's insurance benefits under Title <abbr title="two">II</abbr> are available for a child of a parent who is entitled to retirement or disability benefits or who is deceased. Generally, benefits are available after the age of 18 for a disability that began prior to that age. For more information, see <a href="https://secure.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0410115001">https://secure.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0410115001</a>.</p>
|
||
<p><a href="#mt16" id="mn16">16</a> Although the disability determination process for children includes a medical screen and a functional assessment as a single step (step 3), for analytical purposes we discuss them separately as step 3a and step 3b.</p>
|
||
<p><a href="#mt17" id="mn17">17</a> The three recodes were quite consistent, though not identical. However, the reasons for the slight differences fall into three categories. First, the coding for Lahiri, Vaughan, and Wixon (1995); Hu and others (2001); Dwyer and others (2002/2003); and Lahiri, Song, and Wixon (2008) was derived from an analytical sample of 831 records, and several very low-frequency code values that did not occur in the sample were not classified. Second, because of the nature of the tables used in the <abbr class="spell">DI</abbr> and <abbr class="spell">SSI</abbr> statistical reports (<abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> 2011, 2011b), the recode did not include step 1 outcomes relating to financial eligibility determination, in contrast to the other studies. Third, the analytical studies excluded children from their recodes, whereas the annual <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> publications include children.</p>
|
||
<p><a href="#mt18" id="mn18">18</a> The codes shown in <a href="#table1">Tables 1</a> through <a href="#table3">3</a> are those used in the 831 files; other data sets that are derived from the <abbr class="spell">NDDSS</abbr> may use <abbr class="spell">RBC</abbr>s that are not identical to those used in the 831 data. For example, the Disability Operational Data Store (<abbr>DIODS</abbr>), a data base constructed from the <abbr class="spell">NDDSS</abbr> system, uses a three-character variable for its Title <abbr title="sixteen">XVI</abbr> <abbr class="spell">RBC</abbr>s—a letter prefix, followed by the two-place numerical code used in the 831 data. However, the Disability Research File uses the same <abbr class="spell">RBC</abbr> found in the 831 data.</p>
|
||
<p><a href="#mt19" id="mn19">19</a> Note that the great recession may have affected both the number and composition of determinations made in 2010.</p>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<div id="references">
|
||
<h2>References</h2>
|
||
<p>Autor, David, Nicole Maestas, Kathleen Mullen, and Alexander Strand. 2011. “Does Delay Cause Decay? The Effect of Administrative Decision Time on the Labor Force Participation and Earnings of Disability Applicants.” <abbr class="spell">MRRC</abbr> Working Paper <abbr title="Number">No.</abbr> <span class="nobr">2011-258.</span> Ann Arbor, <abbr title="Michigan">MI</abbr>: University of Michigan Retirement Research Center.</p>
|
||
<p>Ball, Robert M. 1978. <i>Social Security: Today and Tomorrow</i>. New York, <abbr title="New York">NY</abbr>: Columbia University Press.</p>
|
||
<p>Dwyer, Debra, Jianting Hu, Denton R. Vaughan, and Bernard Wixon. 2002/2003. “Counting the Disabled: Using Survey Self-Reports to Estimate Medical Eligibility for Social Security's Disability Programs.” <i>Journal of Economic and Social Measurement</i> 28(3): <span class="nobr">109–142.</span></p>
|
||
<p>Hu, Jianting, Kajal Lahiri, Denton R. Vaughan, and Bernard Wixon. 2001. “A Structural Model of Social Security's Disability Determination Process.” <i>The Review of Economics and Statistics</i> 83(2): <span class="nobr">348–361.</span></p>
|
||
<p>Lahiri, Kajal, Jae Song, and Bernard Wixon. 2008. “A Model of Social Security Disability Insurance Using Matched <abbr>SIPP</abbr>/Administrative Data.” <i>Journal of Econometrics</i> <span class="nobr">145(1–2)</span>: <span class="nobr">4–20</span> (July).</p>
|
||
<p>Lahiri, Kajal, Denton R. Vaughan, and Bernard Wixon. 1995. “Modeling <abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr>'s Sequential Disability Determination Process Using Matched <abbr>SIPP</abbr> Data.” <i>Social Security Bulletin</i> 58(4): <span class="nobr">3–42.</span></p>
|
||
<p>Panis, Constantijn, Ronald Euller, Cynthia Grant, Melissa Bradley, Christin E. Peterson, Randall Hirscher, and Paul Steinberg. 2000. <i><abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr> Program Data User's Manual [<abbr>RAND</abbr> Manual]</i>. Prepared by the <abbr>RAND</abbr> Corporation (contract <abbr title="number">no.</abbr> <abbr class="spell">PM</abbr>-973-<abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr>) for the Social Security Administration.</p>
|
||
<p>[<abbr class="spell">SSA</abbr>] Social Security Administration. 2011a.<i> Annual Statistical Report on the Social Security Disability Insurance Program, 2010</i>. Washington, <abbr class="spell">DC</abbr>: Office of Retirement and Disability Policy, Office of Research, Evaluation, and Statistics.</p>
|
||
<p>———. 2011b. <i><abbr class="spell">SSI</abbr> Annual Statistical Report, 2010.</i> Washington, <abbr class="spell">DC</abbr>: Office of Retirement and Disability Policy, Office of Research, Evaluation, and Statistics. </p>
|
||
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