Social Security Administration – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents
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Social Security Ruling, SSR 24-3p.; Titles II and XVI: Use of Occupational Information and Vocational Specialist and Vocational Expert Evidence in Disability Determinations and Decisions
We are providing notice of SSR 24-3p. This SSR rescinds and replaces "SSR 00-4p: Titles II and XVI: Use of Vocational Expert and Vocational Specialist Evidence, and Other Reliable Occupational Information in Disability Decisions", and explains our standard for evaluating whether vocational evidence is sufficient to support a disability determination or decision.
Privacy Act of 1974; Matching Program
In accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act, as amended, this notice announces a new matching program with Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records
In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, we are issuing public notice of our intent to modify our existing systems of records listed below under the System Name and Number section. This notice publishes details of the modified systems as set forth below under the caption, SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
Social Security Acquiescence Ruling 24-1(6); Rescission of Social Security Acquiescence Ruling 98-3(6) and Social Security Acquiescence Ruling 98-4(6)
The Commissioner of Social Security is giving notice of Social Security Acquiescence Ruling 24-1(6) and rescission of Social Security Acquiescence Ruling 98-3(6) and Social Security Acquiescence Ruling 98- 4(6).
Request for Information: Use and Conservation of Social Security Benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Payments That Representative Payees Receive for Beneficiaries Residing in Foster Care
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Administration for Children, Youth, and Families (ACYF), Children's Bureau (CB) oversees the child welfare system, which is administered by State, local, and Tribal child welfare agencies nationwide. The Social Security Administration (SSA) administers the Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) programs. This request for information (RFI) seeks public input to inform how Federal agencies can support broader State and local efforts to improve the outcomes of children in the child welfare system who are eligible for Federal benefits. The input we receive will inform our deliberations about potential policy changes.
Cost-of-Living Increase and Other Determinations for 2025
Under title II of the Social Security Act (Act), there will be a 2.5 percent cost-of-living increase in Social Security benefits effective December 2024. In addition, the national average wage index for 2023 is $66,621.80. The cost-of-living increase and national average wage index affect other program parameters as described below.
Privacy Act of 1974; Matching Program
In accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act, as amended, this notice announces a new matching program with the States, including tribal agencies and United States (U.S.) territories.
Privacy Act of 1974; Matching Program
In accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act, as amended, this notice announces a new matching program with the Department of Labor (DOL). Under this matching program, DOL will disclose the DOL-administered Part B Black Lung (BL) benefit data to SSA. SSA will match DOL's Part B BL data with SSA's records of persons receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) to verify that Part B BL beneficiaries are receiving the correct amount of SSI payments.
Privacy Act of 1974; Matching Program
In accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act, as amended, this notice announces a new matching program with the Railroad Board (RRB). Under this matching program, the RRB will disclose to SSA information necessary to verify an individual's self-certification of eligibility for the Extra Help with Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Costs program (Extra Help). It will also enable SSA to identify individuals who may qualify for Extra Help as part of the agency's Medicare outreach efforts.
Privacy Act of 1974; Matching Program
In accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act, as amended, this notice announces a new matching program with the Department of Labor (DOL). Under this matching program, DOL will disclose the DOL-administered Part C Black Lung (BL) benefit data to SSA. SSA will match DOL's Part C BL data with SSA's records of persons receiving Social Security disability benefits to verify that Part C BL beneficiaries are receiving the correct amount of Social Security disability benefits.
Setting the Manner of Appearance of Parties and Witnesses at Hearings
We are revising our hearing regulations to provide that claimants may appear at hearings in one of four ways: by agency video, by online video, by audio, or in person. Those four manners will all be standard manners of appearance in our hearing process. For online video and audio appearances, claimants may appear for hearings remotely, using private electronic devices that we do not own, operate, or approve. For online video appearances, a claimant may appear for a hearing using approved online video conferencing applications, rather than conferencing options using equipment that we own or approve. Additionally, while our current regulations permit us to schedule claimants to appear by telephone in limited circumstances only, this final rule will allow us to schedule claimants to appear by audio without similar restrictions, if the claimant does not object to appearing in that manner. We expect that this final rule will provide us and claimants with additional flexibility, allowing us to manage our hearing process more efficiently.
Charging Standard Administrative Fees for Non-Program Information
On August 22, 2012, we announced in the Federal Register a schedule of standard administrative fees we charge to the public. When authorized, we charge these fees to recover our full costs when we provide information and related services for non-program purposes. We are announcing an update to the previously published schedule of standard administrative fees. The updated standard fee schedule is part of our continued effort to standardize fees for non-program information requests. Standard fees provide consistency and ensure we recover the full cost of supplying information when we receive a request for a purpose not directly related to the administration of a program under the Social Security Act (Act).
Changes to the Administrative Rules for Claimant Representation and Provisions for Direct Payment to Entities
We are revising our regulations to enable us to directly pay entities fees we may authorize to their employees, as required by the decision of the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit (First Circuit) in Marasco & Nesselbush, LLP v. Collins. To make direct payments, issue the necessary tax documents, and properly administer these rules, we are requiring all entities that want to be assigned direct payment of authorized fees and all representatives who want to be appointed on a claim, matter, or issue to register with us. We also are standardizing the registration, appointment, and payment processes. This rule will help us implement the changes required by the Marasco decision, increase accessibility to our electronic services, reduce delays, and help us prepare for more automation, thereby improving our program efficiencies.
Privacy Act of 1974; Matching Program
In accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act, as amended, this notice announces a new matching program with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This matching program sets forth the terms, conditions, and safeguards under which DHS will disclose information to SSA in order to identify noncitizens who leave the United States voluntarily and noncitizens who are removed from the United States.
Public Availability of Social Security Administration Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 Service Contract Inventory
In accordance with the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2010, we are publishing this notice to advise the public of the availability of the FY 2022 Service Contract inventory.
Social Security Ruling, SSR 24-2p. Titles II and XVI: How We Evaluate Past Relevant Work
We are providing notice of SSR 24-2p. This SSR explains how we evaluate past relevant work in establishing disability under titles II and XVI of the Social Security Act (Act) and our implementing regulations. This ruling rescinds SSR 86-8 and rescinds and replaces SSRs 82-61 and 82-62.
Social Security Ruling, SSR 24-1p. Titles II and XVI: How We Apply Medical-Vocational Profiles
We are providing notice of SSR 24-1p. This SSR explains how we apply the medical-vocational profiles in establishing disability under titles II and XVI of the Social Security Act (Act) and our implementing regulations. This ruling rescinds and replaces SSR 82-63.
Intermediate Improvement to the Disability Adjudication Process, Including How We Consider Past Work; Deferral of Effective Date
We published in the Federal Register on April 18, 2024, a final rule to revise the time period we consider when determining whether an individual's past work is relevant for the purposes of making disability determinations and decisions under our rules. The preamble of that final rule cited an effective date of June 8, 2024. This rulemaking defers that effective date to June 22, 2024.
Request for Information: Social Security Administration's Plan for Increasing Public Access to the Results of Federally Funded Scientific Research
The Social Security Administration (SSA) requests public comment about how to implement our Plan for Increasing Public Access to the Results of Federally Funded Scientific Research (public access plan). Our public access plan provides general guidelines supporting public access to our scientific research publications and scientific research data. We are seeking public input to inform our development of specific policies and guidelines that will apply to all new research grants, cooperative agreements, contracts, and other awards made on or after December 31, 2025. The policies and guidelines will also apply to all scientific research by our employees published on or after December 31, 2025.
Maximum Dollar Limit in the Fee Agreement Process
We are increasing the maximum dollar amount limit for fee agreements approved under the Social Security Act (the Act) to $9,200. Effective November 30, 2024, we may approve fee agreements up to the new dollar limit, provided that the fee agreement otherwise meets the statutory conditions of the agreement process.
Privacy Act of 1974; Matching Program
In accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act, as amended, this notice announces a new matching program with the Department of Defense (DOD), Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC).
Expand the Definition of a Public Assistance Household
We are finalizing our proposed rule to expand the definition of a public assistance (PA) household for purposes of our programs, particularly the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program, to include the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) as an additional means-tested public income-maintenance (PIM) program. We are also revising the definition of a PA household from a household in which every member receives some kind of PIM payment to a household that has both an SSI applicant or recipient, and at least one other household member who receives one or more of the listed PIM payments (the any other definition). If determined to be living in a PA household, inside in-kind support and maintenance (ISM) would no longer need to be developed. The final rule will decrease the number of SSI applicants and recipients charged with ISM from others within their household. In addition, we expect this rule to decrease the amount of income we would deem to SSI applicants and recipients because we will no longer deem as income from ineligible spouses and parents who live in the same household: the value of the SNAP benefits that they receive; any income that was counted or excluded in figuring the amount of that payment; or any income that was used to determine the amount of SNAP benefits to someone else. These policy changes reduce administrative burden for low-income households and SSA.
Notice of Subscription Tier Structure Change for Our Electronic Consent Based Social Security Number Verification Service
The Social Security Administration (SSA) is announcing a revision in the upper transactions limit to the upper subscription tier for the electronic Consent Based Social Security Number (SSN) Verification (eCBSV) service. In accordance with statutory requirements, a permitted entity (PE) is required to provide payment to reimburse SSA for the development and support of the eCBSV system.
Expansion of the Rental Subsidy Policy for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Applicants and Recipients
We are finalizing our proposed regulation to apply nationwide the In-Kind Support and Maintenance (ISM) rental subsidy exception that has until now been available only for SSI applicants and recipients residing in seven States. This final rule provides that a "business arrangement" exists, such that the SSI applicant or recipient is not considered to be receiving ISM in the form of room or rent, when the amount of monthly required rent for the property equals or exceeds the presumed maximum value (PMV).
Omitting Food From In-Kind Support and Maintenance Calculations
We are updating our Supplemental Security Income (SSI) regulations to remove food from the calculations of In-Kind Support and Maintenance (ISM). We are also adding conforming language to our definition of income. These changes simplify our rules by making them less cumbersome to administer and easier for the public to understand and follow, and they improve the equitable treatment of food assistance within the SSI program. This final rule also includes other minor revisions to our regulations related to income, including clarifying our longstanding position that income may be received ``constructively.''
Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records
In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, we are issuing public notice of our intent to modify our existing systems of records listed below under the System Name and Number section. This notice publishes details of the modified systems as set forth below under the caption, SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records
In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, we are issuing public notice of our intent to modify our existing systems of records listed below under the System Name and Number section. This notice publishes details of the modified systems as set forth below under the caption, SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
Use of Electronic Payroll Data To Improve Program Administration
Section 824 of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 (BBA) authorizes the Commissioner of Social Security to enter into information exchanges with payroll data providers to obtain wage and employment information. We use wage and employment information to administer the Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) disability and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) programs under titles II and XVI of the Social Security Act (Act). We are proposing these rules pursuant to section 824 of the BBA, which requires us to prescribe, by regulation, procedures for implementing the access to and use of the information held by payroll data providers. We expect these proposed rules will support proper use of information exchanges with payroll data providers that will help us administer our programs more efficiently and prevent improper payments under titles II and XVI of the Act, which can otherwise occur when we do not receive timely and accurate wage and employment information.
Privacy Act of 1974; Matching Program
In accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act, as amended, this notice announces a new matching program with the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). Under this matching program, OPM will provide SSA with civil service benefit and payment data. This disclosure will provide SSA with information necessary to verify an individual's self-certification of eligibility for the Extra Help with Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Costs program (Extra Help). It will also enable SSA to identify individuals who may qualify for Extra Help as part of the agency's Medicare outreach efforts.
Public Availability of Social Security Administration Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 Service Contract Inventory
In accordance with the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2010, we are publishing this notice to advise the public of the availability of the FY 2021 Service Contract inventory.
Privacy Act of 1974; Matching Program
In accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act, as amended, this notice announces a new matching program with the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). Under this matching program, OPM will disclose civil service benefit and payment data to SSA. SSA is legally required to offset specific benefits by a percentage of civil service benefits received (Spousal and Survivors benefits, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, and Retirement and Disability Insurance Benefits are offset by a percentage of the recipients' own Federal Government pension benefits). SSA administers the Old Age, Survivors, Disability Insurance (OASDI), SSI, and Special Veterans' Benefits (SVB) programs. SSA will use the match results under this agreement to meet its civil service benefit offset obligations. SSA's Office of the Chief Actuary (OCA) will also use OPM's data for statistical and research purposes in tracking the size of, and impact on, subpopulations of government annuitants affected by the Government Pension Offset, the Windfall Elimination Provision, and in cost estimates of proposals to change the two provisions.
Request for Information on Social Security Scientific Integrity Policy
The SSA is soliciting comments and suggestions from the public on the DRAFT Scientific Integrity Policy of the Social Security Administration (DRAFT SSA Scientific Integrity Policy). The DRAFT SSA Scientific Integrity Policy codifies expectations to preserve scientific integrity throughout SSA scientific activities, establishes key roles and responsibilities for those who will lead the agency's scientific integrity program, and, as appropriate, establishes relevant reporting and evaluation mechanisms.
Notice on Penalty Inflation Adjustments for Civil Monetary Penalties
The Social Security Administration is giving notice of its updated maximum civil monetary penalties. These amounts are effective from January 15, 2024 through January 14, 2025. These figures represent an annual adjustment for inflation. The updated figures and notification are required by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015.
Finding Regarding Foreign Social Insurance or Pension System of Cambodia
We find that, under the Alien Nonpayment Provision of the Social Security Act (Act), citizens of Cambodia may continue to receive Social Security benefits under title II, after 6 consecutive months of absence from the United States, without regard to length of absence, if they meet certain conditions. This finding is based on our analysis of information and data we received about the social insurance system of Cambodia and its laws. The Commissioner of Social Security delegated the authority to make this finding to the Deputy Commissioner for Retirement and Disability Policy.
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