Aspects of Disability Decision Making: Data and Materials

■■developing and submitting budget proposalsto SSA’s Office of Budget for disability programs,initiatives, and mandates. This includesdeveloping budgets for DDS operations and automationactivities, based on DDS input;■■planning, coordinating, and managing systems-relatedactivities for DDS automationinitiatives including the development of userspecifications; and■■analyzing, planning, distributing, and monitoringall DDS funding on a State-by-State basis,and establishing and monitoring workloadand productivity targets for each DDS.Office of Quality PerformanceThe Office of Quality Performance assessesperformance and program quality, working collaborativelywith other SSA staff componentsto improve it throughout the agency. The officeconducts quality reviews, studies, and statisticalanalyses of SSA’s programs (including the disabilityprogram), business processes, and servicedelivery.The Office of Quality Review evaluates andassesses the integrity and quality of theadministration of SSA’s programs. It performsa quality review of disability claims (bothdenials and allowances) at the initial andreconsideration levels. It also performs mandatedpre-effectuation reviews and specialstudies of disability cases.The Office of Quality Data Management servesas a clearinghouse for quality data managementactivities. It manages, updates, anddesigns selection models for workloads suchcontinuing disability reviews.Office of Retirement and Disability PolicyThe Office of Retirement and Disability Policyhas the primary responsibility at SSA for allmajor activities in the areas of strategic and disabilityprogram policy planning, disability policyresearch and evaluation, statistical programs, andoverall disability policy development, analysis andimplementation.The Office of Disability Programs plans,develops, evaluates and issues policies andprocedures for SSA’s disability programs.This includes providing guidance to the medicalpersonnel working in SSA’s central andregional offices and the DDSs. It carries out itsresponsibilities by:■■coordinating and providing policies, procedures,and process requirements in support ofelectronic disability processes,■■maintaining data and conducting data analyses,and developing studies to identify areaswhere policy clarification is needed,■■resolving conflicting opinions between adjudicatorsand quality reviewers regarding disabilitydeterminations through its programconsultation process, and■■developing training programs for disabilityadjudicators.The Office of Medical and Vocational Expertiseprovides analytical support in the development,application and evaluation of disabilitypolicies and procedures. It also provides adjudicativeassistance to the DDSs. The office’sresponsibilities include:■■maintaining a cadre of medical and psychologicalspecialists that assists disability adjudicatorsin processing cases,■■performing timely and appropriate actionsneeded to evaluate and adjudicate disabilitycases, and■■identifying and analyzing disability issuesthrough case reviews that impact the operation,funding, and quality of the disability programs.The Office of Employment Support Programsdevelops and administers policies that aredesigned to promote the employment of beneficiarieswith disabilities. The office is alsoresponsible for implementing the Ticket toWork and Work Incentives Improvement Act.Responsibilities of the office include:■■providing operational advice, technical support,and direction to SSA’s central office, regionaloffices, and field offices in implementingthe agency’s employment support programs,and■■assisting with public educational activitiesabout disability program work incentives, rehabilitation,and other forms of employmentsupports.The Office of Income Security Programs develops,coordinates, and issues Retirementand Survivors Insurance and SupplementalSecurity Income policies and non-medicaladministrative policies that affect the adjudicationof disability claims. It plays animportant role in the disability program inthat many individuals who file for retirement110 Aspects of Disability Decision Making: Data and Materials