Social Security Administration 2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This final rule is another step in our continual efforts to handle workloads more effectively and efficiently. We are publishing final rules for portions of the rules we proposed in October 2007 that relate to persons, other than the claimant or any other party to the hearing, appearing by telephone. We are also clarifying that the administrative law judge (ALJ) will allow the claimant or any other party to a hearing to appear by telephone under certain circumstances when the claimant or other party requests to make his or her appearance in that manner. We expect that these final rules will make the hearings process more efficient and help us continue to reduce the hearings backlog. In addition, we made some minor editorial changes to our regulations that do not have any effect on the rights of claimants or any other parties.

The Social Security Administration published a document in the Federal Register of March 28, 2013, in FR Doc. 2013-06975, on page 18842, in the second column, under c., in the equation in the last sentence, replace ``-16[radic]'' with ``[verbar]-16[verbar]''.

In accordance with the Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552a(e)(4) and (e)(11)), we are issuing public notice of our intent to modify the system of records entitled, Master Representative Payee File, 60-0222 (hereinafter referred to as the Representative Payee SOR). We propose modifying the categories of records, record source categories, and adding two new routine uses to the Representative Payee SOR. We propose adding criminal history information and representative payee annual accounting reports to the categories of records. We propose adding third parties, contractors, other Federal agencies, and SSA's Prisoner Update Processing System of Records, 60-0269 as new record source categories. The first new routine use will allow us to disclose representative payee (RP) and RP applicant personally identifiable information (PII) to conduct criminal background checks. The second routine use will allow us to disclose RP and RP applicant PII to Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies and private security contractors to protect the safety of SSA employees and customers or assist in the investigation or prosecution of activities that disrupt the operation of SSA facilities. We discuss the revisions to the categories of records in the system, the record source categories, and the routine uses in detail in the Supplementary Information section below. We invite public comment on this proposal.

The Social Security Administration published a document in the Federal Register of January 29, 2013, in FR Doc. 2013-01833, on page 6171, in the third column, the last line of the document change ``30 days'' to ``60 days''.

The Social Security Administration published a document in the Federal Register on February 20, 2013. (78 FR 11939). On page 11940, in the first column, under the ``CITATIONS'' section, replace the period after 1614(a) with a comma, and remove the additional space between 416.927 and the comma. On page 11941, in the ``DAA Evaluation Process'' chart, in step 6 b, add a period after ``material''. On page 11942, in the second column, under section e. i., first bullet, add a space between ``20'' and ``CFR''. On page 11943, footnote 19, replace ``20 CFR 404.1527(e) and 416.927(e)'' with the correct reference which is ``20 CFR 404.1527(d) and 416.927(d)''. On page 11943, footnote 20, replace ``20 CFR 404.1527(f) and 416.927(f)'' with the correct reference which is ``20 CFR 404.1527(e) and 416.927(e)''. On page 11944, first column, question 8. ``What evidence do we need in cases involving DAA?'', a., italicize the subheading ``General'', and in the first sentence add a period at the end of the sentence. On page 11944, second column, under c. i., third sentence, hyphenate ``nonmedical'' to read ``non-medical''. On page 11944, third column, under c. ii, third sentence, delete ``the'' before ``well''. On page 11944, third column, under d. i., first sentence, hyphenate ``nonmedical'' to read ``non-medical''. On page 11944, footnote 22, replace ``404.928'' with ``404.1528''. On page 11945, second column, c. iii., second sentence, remove the extra space after ``abstinence'' and before the period. On page 11946, second column, first bullet, replace the semi-colon with a period. On page 11946, second column, under ``15. How should adjudicators consider Federal district and circuit court decisions about DAA?'', first sentence, replace ``20 CFR 404.1585 and 416.985'' with ``20 CFR 404.985 and 416.1485'', and under a., italicize the subheading ``General''.

The Social Security Administration published a document in the Federal Register of March 12, 2013, in FR Doc. 2013-05595, on page 15797, in the third column; in the SUMMARY caption insert the following hyper-links. In the first sentence after the words, ``Service Delivery Plan (SDP) insert https://www.ssa.gov/open/SDP. In addition, in the third sentence after the words ``Agency Strategic Plan'' insert https://ssa.gov/asp/plan-2013-2016.pdf.

We are requesting public input as we finalize our Service Delivery Plan (SDP). We designed our SDP as a roadmap for how we will serve the public over the next decade. The SDP explains how we will build on our achievements, accommodate our resource constraints, and achieve the goals and objectives laid out in our Agency Strategic Plan.

In accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act, (5 U.S.C. 552a), this notice announces a renewal of an existing computer matching program that we are currently conducting with IRS.

In accordance with 20 CFR 402.35(b)(2), 404.985(e) and 416.1485(e), the Commissioner of Social Security gives notice of the rescission of Social Security AR 92-2(6).

The Social Security Administration published a document in the Federal Register of January 29, 2013, in FR Doc. 2013-01833, on page 6168, in the third column; correct the DATES caption to read:

We are requesting information from the public regarding whether we should prohibit persons who have been convicted of certain crimes from serving as representative payees under titles II, VIII, and XVI of the Social Security Act (Act). We are seeking this information in order to determine the best way to protect our beneficiaries from persons whose criminal history indicates they may pose an increased risk of abuse or exploitation of vulnerable individuals.

The Social Security Administration published a document in the Federal Register of January 29, 2013, in FR Doc. 2013-01833, on page 6168, in the third column, the fourth line under the ``Summary'' heading, change ``SSR-13-Xp'' to ``SSR-13-1p''

We propose to revise the criteria in the Listing of Impairments (listings) that we use to evaluate claims involving genitourinary disorders in adults and children under titles II and XVI of the Social Security Act (Act). The proposed revisions reflect our program experience, advances in methods of evaluating genitourinary disorders, and comments we received in response to an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM).

In accordance with 20 CFR 402.35(b)(1), the Commissioner of Social Security gives notice of Social Security Ruling, SSR-13-Xp. This Ruling explains the three separate vehicles we have for addressing complaints of unfairness, prejudice, partiality, bias, misconduct, or discrimination by an administrative law judge (ALJ). First, the Ruling describes the procedures that the Office of Disability Adjudication and Review's (ODAR) Appeals Council follows when it receives such allegations in the context of claim adjudication. Next, the Ruling describes how ODAR's Division of Quality Service reviews or investigates such complaints outside of the claim adjudication process to determine whether ODAR should take any administrative or disciplinary action with respect to the ALJ. Finally, the Ruling describes how the public may file with us complaints of discrimination based on race, color, national origin (including English language ability), religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, or in retaliation for having previously filed a civil rights complaint against the agency. This Ruling supersedes our prior Notice of Procedures: Social Security Administration Procedures Concerning Allegations of Bias or Misconduct by Administrative Law Judges, 57 FR 49186 (October 30, 1992).

We propose to replace the term ``mental retardation'' with ``intellectual disability'' in our Listing of Impairments (listings) that we use to evaluate claims involving mental disorders in adults and children under titles II and XVI of the Social Security Act (Act) and in other appropriate sections of our rules. This change would reflect the widespread adoption of the term ``intellectual disability'' by Congress, government agencies, and various public and private organizations.

We are seeking information and comments from other Federal agencies' regarding their intention to use the WHO ICF \1\ as a standard for coding functional capacity with broad potential for application to the business processes of other Federal agencies and researchers throughout the world. We invite other interested Federal agencies involved in disability monitoring to collaborate with us to evaluate an ICF-based standard for coding functional capacity in Federal disability programs. We also invite interested public and private parties to comment on appropriate Federal direction on capturing data on functioning.