alt.social-security-disability

At least I can't.

In 8/06, the Boston Region began a new disability process that
featured a quick disability determination (QDD) for those with a high
potential for allowance, replacement of reconsideration stage by
Federal review, elimination of the Appeals Council for disability
issues, et. al. The goal was to shorten delays in processing time.

In the recent press release (below) the Commish has been so pleased
with the QDD that SSA has published a proposed ruling to extend it to
all States.

However, there is not anything at their web site about the other
processes, especially elimination of recon stage and Appeals Council.
Any status??

Anyone here from New England????
________________

/pressoffice/pr/

SOCIAL SECURITY
News Release
Commissioner Astrue Proposes to Extend Social Security’s
Quick Disability Determination Process to all States

Proposed Rule Would Accelerate Benefits to Those Deemed Clearly
Disabled

Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, today announced
that Social Security will publish a proposed regulation to extend the
quick disability determination (QDD) process to all State disability
determination services. The process is now operating in the Boston
region, comprised of the states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts,
New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. Under QDD, a predictive
model analyzes specific elements of data within the electronic claims
file to identify claims where there is a high potential that the
claimant is disabled and where evidence of the claimant’s allegations
can be quickly and easily obtained.

“At my confirmation hearing, I promised to look closely at the
disability changes we were testing in New England and implement
nationally those things that were working well,” Commissioner Astrue
said. “We have seen the success of the QDD model in identifying cases
that are most likely to be allowed. To date, 97 percent of the cases
identified have been decided within 21 days and the average decision
time is 11 days. We plan to build on the success of QDD by expanding
it to all States because it is both efficient and compassionate for us
(snip)