[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 88 (Thursday, May 7, 1998)] [Notices] [Pages 25263-25264] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 98-12153] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION Testing Modifications to Initial Disability Claim Procedures and Disability Determination Procedures; Test Sites for Disability Claim Manager Positions AGENCY: Social Security Administration (SSA). ACTION: Notice of test sites and the duration of tests involving a disability claim manager. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: SSA is announcing the locations and the duration of additional tests that it will conduct under the current rules at 20 CFR 404.906 and 416.1406. Those rules authorize the testing of several modifications to the disability determination procedures and disability claim procedures that we normally follow in adjudicating claims for disability insurance benefits under title II of the Social Security Act (the Act) and claims for supplemental security income (SSI) payments based on disability under title XVI of the Act. This notice announces the test sites and duration of tests involving use of a disability claim manager (DCM). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard Fussell, DCM Test Lead, Office of the Commissioner, Disability Process Redesign Team, Social Security Administration, 6401 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland, 21235, 410-965-9230. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Current regulations at Secs. 404.906 and 416.1406 authorize us to test several different modifications to the disability determination procedures. In our regulations, we explained that prior to commencing each test or group of tests, we would publish a notice in the Federal Register describing the model(s) that we will test, where the test sites will be and the duration of the tests. SSA is announcing the locations and the duration of tests involving a DCM that it will conduct under the authority of these regulations. On or about May 11, 1998, we will begin testing the DCM process at the test sites listed below (some of which are located at federal sites and some of which are located at state sites). Under SSA's Plan for a New Disability Claim Process approved by the Commissioner of Social Security in September 1994 (the disability redesign plan), the DCM will be the focal point for medical and non- medical claim activities from the time an initial claim for disability benefits is filed until an initial determination is made on the claim. The DCM may be either a State agency employee or a Federal employee and may be assisted by other individuals. When an application for benefits based on disability is handled by a DCM, the DCM will explain the disability programs and how we determine whether all the requirements for disability benefits are met. The DCM will explain what will be expected of the applicant during the claims process and provide information or assistance to the applicant, as necessary. The DCM will also provide information regarding the claimant's right to representation and will provide appropriate referral sources for representation. The DCM will manage the case from intake to point of determination. He/she may work in a team environment with access to experts such as medical or vocational consultants and technicians such as specialist coaches for advice and guidance. A Claims Support Specialist (CSS) may also provide assistance in the non-medical aspects of the disability workload for the Federal and State DCM. DCM cases will be limited to initial adult title II and title XVI disability claims that can be fully processed through SSA's automated systems. The DCM will make the initial disability determination, after any appropriate consultation with a medical or psychological consultant, and will obtain the forms used to certify the medical consultant's concurring signature on the disability determination to SSA. The DCM will also determine whether other conditions of eligibility (for benefits for disability cases associated with programs administered by SSA) are met. However, when the DCM is a State agency employee, a Federal employee will make the final determination regarding whether the other conditions for [[Page 25264]] entitlement to benefits are met (as required by law). We will continue the tests for approximately 36 months. We plan to test the use of a DCM in 35 sites located in 15 states. The sites selected represent a mix of geographic areas and case loads. We will publish another notice in the Federal Register if we extend the duration of the test or expand the test sites. For the purpose of these tests, a DCM will be either an employee of the State agency that makes disability determinations for SSA or an SSA employee. The testing of the DCM in the sites listed below are separate from, and in addition to, the testing of the Full Process Model which we previously announced on April 4, 1997 (62 FR 16209, 62 FR 16210) and August 1, 1997 (62 FR 41457). Tests of the DCM position will be held at the following locations: Social Security Administration, Field Office, 2600 Mount Ephraim Ave, Camden, NJ 08104 Social Security Administration, Field Office, 22 Sussex Street, Hackensack, NJ 07302 Social Security Administration, Field Office, Capitol Center Bldg., 2nd Floor, 50 East State Street, Trenton, NJ 08608 Social Security Administration, Field Office, 52 Charles Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901 Social Security Administration, Field Office, 970 Broad Street, Room 1035, Newark, NJ 07102 Social Security Administration, Field Office, 3733 W University Boulevard, Suite 100, Jacksonville, FL 32217 Social Security Administration, Field Office, 1395 S Marietta Parkway, Building 100, Room 130, Marietta, GA 30067 Social Security Administration, DCM Unit, 100 West Capitol Street, Room 401, Jackson, MS 39201 Social Security Administration, Field Office, 9 St. Emanuel Street, Mobile, AL 36602 Social Security Administration, Field Office, Worthman Mall, Suite 235, 5800 Fairfield Avenue, Fort Wayne, IN 46807 Social Security Administration, Field Office, 575 N Pennsylvania Avenue, Room 617, Indianapolis, IN 46204 Social Security Administration, Field Office, 6951 E 30th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46219 Social Security Administration, Field Office, 2715 W Monroe Street, Springfield, IL 62704 Social Security Administration, Field Office, 1673 S 9th Street, 5th Floor, Milwaukee, WI 53204 Social Security Administration, Field Office, 4120 Oakwood Hills Parkway, Eau Claire, WI 54701 Social Security Administration, Field Office, 850 Nebraska Avenue, Kansas City, KS 66101 Social Security Administration, Field Office, 210 Walnut Street, Federal Building, Room 293, Des Moines, IA 50309 Social Security Administration, DCM Unit, 1616 Champa Street, 4th Floor, Denver, CO 80202 Social Security Administration, DCM Unit, 46 West 300 South, Suite 100, Salt Lake City, UT 84104 Social Security Administration, DCM Unit, 301 South Park, Room 138, Helena, MT 59626 Social Security Administration, Field Office, 7227 North 16th Street, Suite 190, Phoenix, AZ 85020 Social Security Administration, Field Office, McNamara Building, Room 1550, 477 Michigan Avenue, Detroit, MI 48226 Social Security Administration, Field Office, 525 Munson Avenue, Traverse City MI 49686 State of New Jersey, Division of Disability Determination, 506 Jersey Avenue, New Brunswick NJ 08901 State of Alabama, Division of Disability Determinations, 2545 Rocky Ridge Lane, Birmingham AL 35216 State of Georgia, Dept of Human Resources, Div of Rehab Srvcs, Disability Adjudication Sec., 330 W Ponce de Leon Avenue, Decatur GA 30030 State of Florida, Div of Voc Rehab, Div of Disability Determinations, 4140 Woodcock Drive, Jacksonville FL 32254 State of Wisconsin, Div of Voc Rehab, Disability Determination Bureau, 1st Floor Olds Seed Building, 722 Williamson Street, Madison WI 53703 State of Indiana, Div of Aging & Rehab, Disability Determination Bureau, 225 New Jersey Street, Indianapolis IN 46204 State of Illinois, Dept of Rehab Srvcs, Bureau of Disab Determination Srvcs, 100 N 1st Street, 5th Floor, Springfield IL 62702 State of Michigan, Disability Determination Services, 315 East Front Street, Traverse City MI 49684 State of Michigan, Disability Determination Services, 1200 Sixth Street, 10th Floor, Detroit MI 48226 State of Kansas, Dept of Social & Rehab Srvcs, Disability Deter & Referral Srvcs, Suite 100, 3640 SW Topeka Blvd., Topeka KS 66611 State of Iowa, Div of Voc Rehab Srvcs, Disability Determination Services, 510 East 12th Street, Des Moines IA 50319 State of Arizona, Disability Determination Services, 3310 N 19th Avenue, Phoenix AZ 85016 Not all disability cases received in the test sites listed above will be handled under the test procedures. During the test, DCM cases will be randomly selected from initial adult title II and title XVI disability claims that can be fully processed through SSA's automated systems. When a claim is handled by a DCM as part of the test, the claim will be processed under the procedures established under the regulations cited above. Dated: April 30, 1998. Sue C. Davis, Director, Disability Process Redesign Team. [FR Doc. 98-12153 Filed 5-6-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4190-29-P