Social Security Administration July 2010 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In the Federal Register of June 11, 2010, we published a final rules document replacing the word ``wholly'' with the word ``fully'' in a number of sections of our regulations when we describe the favorable and unfavorable nature of determinations or decisions we make on claims on benefits. We inadvertently amended Sec. 408.1070 incorrectly. This document corrects the wording in this section.

We propose to revise the procedures for how claimants who request hearings before administrative law judges (ALJs) may seek further review of their fully favorable revised determinations based on prehearing case reviews or fully favorable attorney advisor decisions. We also propose to notify claimants who receive partially favorable determinations based on prehearing case reviews that an ALJ will still hold a hearing unless all parties to the hearing tell us in writing that we should dismiss the hearing requests. We expect that these changes will simplify the process and free up scarce administrative resources that we can better use to reduce the hearings level case backlog.

We are modifying our regulations to clarify and revise what we consider major life-changing events for the Medicare Part B income- related monthly adjustment amount (IRMAA) and what evidence we require to support a claim of a major life-changing event. Recent changes in the economy and other unforeseen events have had a significant effect on many Medicare Part B beneficiaries. The changes we are making in this interim final rule will allow us to respond appropriately to circumstances brought about by the current economic climate and other unforeseen events, as described below.