Keeping our Disability Programs Updated
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: August 19, 2021
As we continue to reflect on the 60th anniversary of Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) this year, it’s worth noting some of the ways the program has evolved over time. A lot has changed since DI started in 1956! We continuously work to ensure our programs keep pace with rapid changes in medical care, healthcare delivery models, assistive technology, and workplace requirements.
- Medical care: Our disability programs have strict eligibility criteria, and beneficiaries must have severe impairments. For many of the most severe impairments, we rely on comprehensive listings of disabling conditions to make our disability decisions. We update the listings periodically to keep pace with advancements in medical care and assistive technologies. This year, we published comprehensive updates to the medical listings for respiratory, neurological, and mental disorders.
- Technology: Medical records are essential for making our disability determinations, and each year we make nearly 15 million requests for records from healthcare providers and organizations to make medical decisions on about three million disability claims. Now, participating healthcare organizations send us medical records electronically through health information technology. With electronic records transmission, we can obtain medical records in seconds or minutes. That lets us obtain a claimant’s medical record, review it with the aid of automated decision-support, and make a determination faster than ever before. We currently can receive electronic medical records from about 7,000 healthcare facilities across the country, and are adding new providers and facilities on an ongoing basis.
- Healthcare delivery: Because we rely heavily on medical evidence, we adjust our policies to keep up with changing healthcare delivery models. For example, we’re looking into the types of medical professionals that frequently provide care, and are considering whether telehealth – such as providing healthcare consultations remotely by video – might improve the medical evidence we can gather for certain populations.
- Updating Vocational Information: By law, we consider an applicant to be disabled if their medical condition prevents them from doing any job in the national economy, given the applicant’s age, education, and work experience. That means we need detailed information about the physical and mental requirements of a wide range of occupations in the national economy. We work with the Bureau of Labor Statistics to update this information and keep pace with the changing world of work.
We’re proud to live up to our mission to “deliver Social Security services that meet the changing needs of the public.”
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Tags: Disability, social security disability benefits
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Gina Clemons, Associate Commissioner, Office of Disability Policy
Gina Clemons, Associate Commissioner, Office of Disability Policy
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Peggy A.
Does my SSDI change when I turn 65?
From disability to retirement?
I really want to know how all of this effects
everything , and why/ how. Me!
Please let me know soon.
Thank you
Mr. J.
Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (D.A.R.S.) ruled that my brother in law with stage four cancer was not disabled according to their doctors. The results were sent to Social Security Adm. in Harlingen, Texas and that is what they ruled. I will be appealing with strong doctor statements and photographs for a favorable decision. Chemotherapy will initiate this coming Thursday and hopefully, a decision will have been done. Mr. Casanova, case worker just ruled it without asking-calling-or follow up with a letter why he was denied. Gina Clemons, Associate Commissioner, Office of Disability could you please confirm an appointment for March 27, 2018 at 11am. If you or Mr. Ray Fernandez, Public Affairs Specialist have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact A.S.A.P..
Louise A.
I am disabled. Buying a house with another individual 50 % – 50%. We are not married do our own lives and bills ect… each our own.Room mate resently had his job burn down twice and started back to work same job. They don’t have automatic deposit where he work. In order to get his check in same day because he wouldn’t get to bank before closing he had me cash and deposit it so it would go in same day. He put my name on his account so I could do that for him. We don’t use each others account and he is not on anything of mine. It was a favor so the house payments would get paid on time. Now s.s.i. has used his income and charged me $890 over payment. They will not reverse it. His stuff has nothing to do with me but they some how got his bank statement because he allowed me to cash and deposit his check for him. I have nothing to do with his stuff. He was quite angry s.s.i got into his account too. Now my payments are going from $750 to $380 and I cant even afford to go to Dr. Had to cancel 2 Dr appointments out of town plus my transmission is going out on my car and cant get it fixed. With out them taking out I have a balance at end of month of $2 -$5. I cant make it on this little money. I explained this to them. He wrote a letter to them and it fall on deaf ears. I filled out the paper work to get them to drop it. She refuses. So for the next 3 years or so I will be penalized for cashing and depositing a persons check for them so it would go in the same day all because they usurally wouldn’t get off work til 6 and banks closed. I am so fruistrated. I cant sleep and am back to wondering why I exsist only for people to harass. Help!!! So unfair.
Diane E.
The current acting Commissioner of Social Security is in need of tighter supervisory controls and not fit to serve in this capacity as it is a conflict of interest. Perhaps after undergoing behavioral therapy intervention he can continue but not until that happens.
We must not fear any further. Fraud is fraud, and it costs US taxpayers money. Those who serve in the US government must be of upright character, uphold all of the tenets of the US Constitution and Bill of Rights, and not be afraid of blackmail or retaliation by terrorists and other mentally unstable persons or entities for any reason. We can stand united against these enemies. Our future as a nation and as a species depends upon our strength and unity, right now. I pledge my support and continued cooperation.
Diane E.
The current SSA is under attack by persons filing false disability claims in order to obtain US benefits illegally. Payees, or designated payees, misrepresent themselves in writing and in person in order to obtain access to the precious, vulnerable individuals, who I can name and identify. This issue is of utmost urgency and priority, as precious and vulnerable individuals are at risk and need immediate supervision. An overhaul of the US Dept. of Social Security and Medicaid/Medicare in the US must be given stat priority.
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Lesly F.
I have some issue about to get my SSDI now i became unable to work at age 46 years old since my get kill in haiti.i been suffering with major depression Diabetes bipolar high blood pressure sleep desorder stress problems chronic pain ECT.but i was an ssi now i try to get SSDI.because i have 25 ssa telling i need 15 more credit.i am 63 years old and unable working.
wendy
I am on ssdI. My biggest fear in not having that monthly check. Is that somehing that can happen?
Nerissa S.
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Dave
Why do children born with severe disabilities, not qualify for disability until they are 18 yeas old?
Ray F.
Thank you for your question Dave. Disabled children younger than age 18, whose parents have little income or resources may be eligible for Supplemental Security Income benefits. Disabled Adult Children who became disabled prior to age 22, may be eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits. We call this SSDI benefit a “child’s” benefit because it’s paid on a parent’s Social Security earnings record. Please read our publication “Benefits For Children With Disabilities” for more information.
Sandy
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