Social Security Administration August 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

We are announcing the extension of tests involving modifications to our disability determination procedures that we are conducting under the authority of current rules codified at 20 CFR 404.906 and 416.1406. These rules provide authority to test several modifications to the disability determination procedures that we normally follow in adjudicating claims for disability insurance benefits under title II of the Social Security Act (the Act) and for supplemental security income payments based on disability under title XVI of the Act. We have decided to extend testing of the two redesign features of the disability prototype for up to 3 years in the following disability determination services (DDSs): New York, Pennsylvania, Alabama, Michigan, Louisiana, Missouri, Colorado, California (Los Angeles North and West Branches), and Alaska. We are not extending testing of these features in the New Hampshire DDS due to the publication of the final rule changes to 20 CFR 404.1527(f)(1) and 20 CFR 405.201 that take effect August 1, 2006. These rule changes are initially only in effect in the Boston Region.

In accordance with 20 CFR 402.35(b)(1), the Commissioner of Social Security gives notice of Social Security Ruling, SSR 06-03p. This Ruling clarifies how we consider opinions from sources who are not ``acceptable medical sources'' and how we consider decisions made by other governmental and nongovernmental agencies on the issue of disability or blindness.