{"abstract":"We are proposing to revise our regulations that pertain to the processing of initial claims for disability benefits under title II (Social Security Disability Insurance) and title XVI (Supplemental Security Income) of the Social Security Act (the Act). The proposed rules would incorporate modifications to our administrative review process and disability determination procedures based on testing that we are conducting. The changes, which would apply to initial applications for disability benefits, would: <bullet> First, permit disability examiners in our State agencies the flexibility to decide whether input from a medical or psychological consultant is needed to make a disability determination, so that our State agencies may use the expertise of the disability examiners and medical and psychological consultants more effectively; <bullet> Second, provide claimants with an opportunity for an informal disability conference with the adjudicators of their claims at the initial level in cases in which it appears that the evidence does not support a fully favorable determination; and <bullet> Third, eliminate the reconsideration step of the administrative review process. We plan to phase in these changes over a period of 1 year until they apply in every State.","action":"Notice of proposed rulemaking.","agencies":[{"raw_name":"Social Security Administration","name":"Social Security Administration","id":470,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/social-security-administration","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/470","parent_id":null,"slug":"social-security-administration"}],"body_html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/html/2001/01/19/01-1442.html","cfr_references":[{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":404,"title":20},{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":416,"title":20},{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":422,"title":20}],"citation":"66 FR 5494","comment_url":null,"comments_close_on":"2001-03-20","correction_of":null,"corrections":[],"dates":"To be sure that your comments are considered, we must receive them no later than March 20, 2001.","disposition_notes":null,"docket_ids":["Regulations Nos. 4 and 16"],"dockets":[],"document_number":"01-1442","effective_on":null,"end_page":5507,"executive_order_notes":null,"executive_order_number":null,"full_text_xml_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/xml/2001/01/19/01-1442.xml","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2001/01/19/01-1442/new-disability-claims-process","images":{},"images_metadata":{},"json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/documents/01-1442?publication_date=2001-01-19","mods_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/metadata/granule/FR-2001-01-19/01-1442/mods.xml","not_received_for_publication":null,"page_length":14,"page_views":{"count":160,"last_updated":"2026-08-24 02:15:07 -0400"},"pdf_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2001-01-19/pdf/01-1442.pdf","presidential_document_number":null,"proclamation_number":null,"public_inspection_pdf_url":null,"publication_date":"2001-01-19","raw_text_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2001/01/19/01-1442.txt","regulation_id_number_info":{"0960-AF44":{"issue":"200304","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/0960-AF44/new-disability-claims-process-roles-of-state-agency-816f-","title":"New Disability Claims Process--Roles of State Agency (816F)","xml_url":"http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaViewRule?pubId=200304&RIN=0960-AF44&operation=OPERATION_EXPORT_XML","priority_category":"Economically Significant"}},"regulation_id_numbers":["0960-AF44"],"regulations_dot_gov_info":{"checked_regulationsdotgov_at":"2011-02-27T17:06:08Z"},"regulations_dot_gov_url":null,"significant":true,"signing_date":null,"start_page":5494,"subtype":null,"title":"New Disability Claims Process","toc_doc":"New disability claims process","toc_subject":"Social security benefits and supplemental security income:","topics":["Administrative practice and procedure","Aged","Blind","Disability benefits","Freedom of information","Old-age, Survivors and Disability Insurance","Organization and functions (Government agencies)","Public assistance programs","Reporting and recordkeeping requirements","Social security","Supplemental Security Income (SSI)"],"type":"Proposed Rule","volume":66}