Social Security Administration – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

We are extending the expiration dates of the following body systems in the Listing of Impairments (listings) in our regulations: Low Birth Weight and Failure to Thrive, Endocrine Disorders, and Cancer (Malignant Neoplastic Diseases). We are making no other revisions to these body systems in this final rule. This extension ensures that we will continue to have the criteria we need to evaluate impairments in the affected body systems at step three of the sequential evaluation processes for initial claims and continuing disability reviews.

In accordance with the Privacy Act, we are issuing public notice of our intent to modify an existing system of records entitled, Parking Management Record System, 60-0230, last published in full January 11, 2006. This notice publishes details of the modified system as set forth under the caption, SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

In accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act, as amended, this notice announces a new matching program with the Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE). OCSE will provide SSA with quarterly wage and unemployment insurance information located in the National Directory of New Hires to allow SSA to determine eligibility of applicants for Extra Help (low-income subsidy assistance) under the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003. This agreement assists SSA in determining eligibility of applicants for Extra Help; redetermining eligibility of existing Extra Help beneficiaries during periodic screening, and administering the Extra Help program.

Our Office of the General Counsel (OGC) is responsible for processing and handling summonses and complaints in lawsuits involving judicial review of our final decisions on individual claims for benefits under titles II, VIII, and XVI of the Social Security Act (Act), and individual claims for a Medicare Part D subsidy under title XVIII of the Act. This notice sets out the names and current addresses of those offices and the jurisdictions for which each office has responsibility.

In accordance with 20 CFR 402.35(b)(2), 404.985(e)(4) and 416.1485(e)(4), the Commissioner of Social Security gives notice of the rescission of Social Security Acquiescence Ruling (AR) 86-3(5).

We are extending the expiration dates of the following body systems in the Listing of Impairments (listings) in our regulations: Special Senses and Speech, Hematological Disorders, and Congenital Disorders That Affect Multiple Body Systems. We are making no other revisions to these body systems in this final rule. This extension ensures that we will continue to have the criteria we need to evaluate impairments in the affected body systems at step three of the sequential evaluation processes for initial claims and continuing disability reviews.

In accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act, as amended, this notice announces a new matching program with the Department of the TreasuryInternal Revenue Service (IRS). This computer matching agreement sets forth the terms, conditions, and safeguards under which IRS will disclose to SSA certain return information for the purpose of verifying eligibility for the Medicare Part D Low Income Subsidy (LIS) and determining the correct subsidy percentage of benefits provided under section 1860D-14 of the Social Security Act (Act).

The Social Security Administration is giving notice of its updated maximum civil monetary penalties. These amounts are effective from January 15, 2020 through January 14, 2021. 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 (the 2015 Act).

We are publishing a final rule we proposed in November 2018 regarding setting the time, place, and manner of appearance for hearings at the administrative law judge (ALJ) level of our administrative review process, with modifications. Our final rule states that we (the agency) will determine how parties and witnesses will appear at a hearing before an ALJ, and that we will set the time and place for the hearing accordingly. We will schedule the parties to a hearing to appear by video teleconference (VTC), in person, or, in limited circumstances, by telephone. Under this final rule, we will decide how parties and witnesses will appear at a hearing based on several factors, but the parties to a hearing will continue to have the ability to opt out of appearing by VTC at the ALJ hearings level. Finally, we are revising our rule to state that, at the ALJ hearing level, if we need to send an amended notice of hearing, or if we need to schedule a supplemental hearing, we will send the amended notice or notice of supplemental hearing at least 20 days before the date of the hearing. The date of hearing indicated in the amended notice or notice of supplemental hearing will be at least 75 days from the date we first sent the claimant a notice of hearing, unless the claimant has waived his or her right to advance notice.

We are announcing that the assessment percentage rate under the Social Security Act (Act) is 6.3 percent for 2020.

We are extending the expiration dates of the following body systems in the Listing of Impairments (listings) in our regulations: Musculoskeletal System, Cardiovascular System, Digestive System, Skin Disorders, and Immune System Disorders. We are making no other revisions to these body systems in this final rule. This extension ensures that we will continue to have the criteria we need to evaluate impairments in the affected body systems at step three of the sequential evaluation processes for initial claims and continuing disability reviews.

We are announcing the fourteenth National Disability Forum. The purpose of this public forum is to obtain feedback from experts in their field on what impairments have a likelihood to improve. This forum will be moderated, and include up to five panelists presenting information on the topic. Additionally, there will be a combined question and answer session during which the panelists will address questions from those on site and received by email during the forum.

In accordance with the Privacy Act, we are issuing public notice of our intent to modify an existing system of records entitled, Claims Folders System (60-0089), last published on April 1, 2003. This notice publishes details of the modified system as set forth under the caption, SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

On February 15, 2019, we published final rules in the Federal Register to prohibit persons convicted of certain crimes from serving as representative payees under the Social Security Act (Act), as required by the Strengthening Protections for Social Security Beneficiaries Act of 2018. Those final rules inadvertently included two words in three places that should not have been there, and omitted one word in two sections of the rules. This document corrects the inadvertent inclusions and omissions in the final rules.

In accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act, as amended, this notice announces a new matching program with the Department of Labor (DOL). The matching agreement (agreement) establishes the terms, conditions, and safeguards under which 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.

In accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act, as amended, this notice announces a new matching program with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA). The matching agreement (agreement) sets forth the terms, conditions, and safeguards under which VA/VBA will provide SSA with information necessary to: (1) Identify certain Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Special Veterans Benefit (SVB) recipients under Title XVI and Title VIII of the Social Security Act (Act), respectively, who receive VA-administered benefits; (2) determine the eligibility or amount of payment for SSI and SVB recipients; and (3) identify the income of individuals who may be eligible for Medicare cost-sharing assistance through the Medicare Savings Programs (MSP) as part of the agency's Medicare outreach efforts.

On July 2, 2018, we published final rules in the Federal Register revising our rules of conduct and standards of responsibility for representatives. Those final rules reduced the amount of time to request Appeals Council review of a hearing officer's decision from 30 days to 14 business days, but we inadvertently failed to make the same change in the parallel sections of the CFR, which details when the Appeals Council will dismiss a request for review. This document corrects the omitted sections and makes our regulations consistent.

We are extending the expiration dates of the following body systems in the Listing of Impairments (listings) in our regulations: Respiratory Disorders and Genitourinary Disorders. We are making no other revisions to these body systems in this final rule. This extension ensures that we will continue to have the criteria we need to evaluate impairments in the affected body systems at step three of the sequential evaluation processes for initial claims and continuing disability reviews.