SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION (SSA)

Statement of Regulatory Priorities

We administer the Retirement, Survivors, and Disability Insurance programs under title II of the Social Security Act (Act), the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program under title XVI of the Act, and the Special Veterans Benefits program under title VIII of the Act. As directed by Congress, we also assist in administering portions of the Medicare program under title XVIII of the Act. Our regulations codify the requirements for eligibility and entitlement to benefits and our procedures for administering these programs. Generally, our regulations do not impose burdens on the private sector or on State or local governments, except for the States' disability determination services. We fully fund the disability determination services in advance or by way of reimbursement for necessary costs in making disability determinations.

The ten entries in our regulatory plan (plan) represent issues of major importance to the Agency. We describe the individual initiatives more fully in the attached plan.

Improving the Disability Process

Since the continued improvement of the disability program is of vital concern to us, we have initiatives in the plan addressing disability-related issues. They include:

One proposed rule and five final rules update the medical listings used to determine disability-evaluating digestive disorders, neurological impairments, hematological disorders, growth disorders and weight loss in children, human immunodeficiency virus infection for evaluating functional limitation in immune system disorders, and cancer (malignant neoplastic diseases). The revisions reflect our adjudicative experience and advances in medical knowledge, diagnosis, and treatment.

Enhance Public Service

Another proposed rule will require our claimants to inform us or to submit all evidence known to them that relates to their disability claim.

We are revising our rules to allow applicants for a Social Security number card to apply by completing a prescribed application and submitting the required evidence, rather than completing a paper application.

There is one proposed rule that will enhance claims processing. The rule will strengthen the integrity of our programs by clarifying our expectations about the obligations representatives have in representing their clients.

Retrospective Review of Existing Regulations

Pursuant to section 6 of Executive Order 13563 "Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review" (January 18, 2011), the following Regulatory Identifier Numbers (RINs) have been identified as associated with retrospective review and analysis in our final retrospective review of regulations plan. Some of the entries on this list may be completed actions, which do not appear in The Regulatory Plan. However, you can find more information about these completed rulemakings in past publications of the Unified Agenda at: www.Reginfo.gov in the Completed Actions section for the Social Security Administration. You can also find these rulemakings at: www.Regulations.gov. The agency final plans are located at: www.socialsecurity.gov/open/regsreview/EO-13563-Final-Plan.html.