*SSA Plans to Revise Rules for Evaluating Mental Disorders

TO: Individuals with disabilities, advocates, disability-rights leaders, and parents.

FROM: Troy Justesen, Associate Director for Domestic Policy

SSA has published a notice of intent to update and revise the rules that we use to evaluate mental disorders of adults and children who apply for, or receive, disability benefits under title II and title XVI. See 68 Fed.Reg. 12639 (3/17/2003), available at www.gpo.gov. This is pre-proposed regs notice. SSA states that, as part of our long-term planning for the disability programs, we are interested in your ideas about the evaluation of mental impairments, as well as information about advances in medical knowledge, and treatment. SSA is also interested in ideas about it can improve programs for people with mental impairments who would like to work. Under consideration are Listings 12.00, 112.00, and 20 C.F.R. sections 404.1520a and 416.920a. The deadline for providing input is June 16, 2003.

DATE: Tuesday, March 18, 2003

SUBJECT: Social Security Administration plans to update and revise the rules it uses for eligibility of SSDI and SSI benefits.

Social Security Administration Plans To Update and Revise Its Rules For Evaluating Mental Disorders

The Social Security Administration (SSA) is planning to update and revise the rules it uses to evaluate mental disorders in both adults and children who apply for Social Security disability benefits or Supplemental Security Income payments based on disability. However, before drafting any revisions, SSA is asking interested people and organizations to send them comments and suggestions for revising the rules they use to evaluate mental disorders.In addition to your comments about its rules, SSA is also interested in any ideas you have about how to improve their programs for people who have mental disorders, especially those who would like to work full-time or part-time with supports.

SSA is publishing its invitation to send comments and suggestions in an "Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking" in the Federal Register on March 17, 2003 Federal Register: (Volume 68, Number 51) 20 CFR Parts 404 and 416 (Regulations Nos. 4 and 16). The pdf file is attached to this page.The electronic version of this Advance Notice is available in the Federal Register at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2003/03-6278.htm.It is also available on SSA's Internet site, Social Security Online: https://www.ssa.gov/regulations/.

The Social Security Administration will accept your comments pnpublic.nsf/LawsRegs no later than June 16, 2003.

This information is also available on https://www.dol.gov/odep/topics/disability.htm.