Social Security Fast-Track Disability Processes Get Even Faster New Rules Will F

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Social Security Fast-Track Disability Processes Get Even Faster

http://www.socialsecurity.gov/pressoffice/pr/fast-track-disability-process-pr.ht\

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New Rules Will Further Speed Benefits to Tens of Thousands of Americans with

Disabilities

J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, today announced that the

agency has published final rules that will further reduce the time it takes to

decide applications for disability benefits from those persons with the most

severe disabilities—a process that currently takes less than two weeks on

average. The new rules allow disability examiners to make fully favorable

determinations for adult cases under the agency's Quick Disability Determination

(QDD) and Compassionate Allowance (CAL) processes without medical or

psychological consultant approval. It also will help the agency process cases

more efficiently as it will give medical and psychological consultants more time

to work on complex cases where their expertise is most needed.

" The new rules we are publishing today will help us get disability benefits to

the most severely disabled Americans even faster, " Commissioner Astrue said.

" This year, more than 100,000 people benefited from our fast-track disability

processes and received decisions in a matter of days rather than the months and

years it can sometimes take. I am pleased that our fast-track processes will

now be even faster and help speed much needed benefits to our most vulnerable

citizens. "

Under Social Security's QDD process, a predictive computer model analyzes

specific data within the electronic disability file to identify cases where

there is a high likelihood that the claimant is disabled and we can quickly

obtain medical evidence. The CAL process currently identifies 88 specific

diseases and conditions that clearly qualify for Social Security and

Supplemental Security Income disability benefits and can be fast-tracked.

The final rules, 20 CFR Parts 404 and 416, can be accessed through the Federal

Register online at www.regulations.gov. They will be effective on November 12,

2010.

Additional information about Social Security's Compassionate Allowances process

is available at www.socialsecurity.gov/compassionateallowances.

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SSA Press Office 440 Altmeyer Building 6401 Security Blvd. Baltimore, MD

21235