Administrative Review Process, Testing Modifications to Prehearing Procedures and Decisions by Adjudication Officers

We are amending our rules to establish authority to test use of an adjudication officer who, under the Plan for a New Disability Claim Process approved by the Commissioner of Social Security in September 1994 (the disability redesign plan), would be the focal point for all prehearing activities when a request for a hearing before an administrative law judge (ALJ) is filed. The adjudication officer position is an integral part of the disability redesign plan. We expect that our tests of this position will provide us with sufficient information to determine the effect of the position on the hearing process. These final rules add two new sections setting out, for purposes of the tests we will conduct, the responsibilities of the adjudication officer in connection with a claim for Social Security or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits based on disability. Unless specified, all other regulations related to our administrative review process and the disability determination process remain unchanged.