Developing Occupational Information for SSA Disability Programs
Developing Occupational Information for SSA Disability Programs. Sylvia Karman Social Security Administration International Association for Rehabilitation Professionals Forensic Conference October 31, 2008 Fort Lauderdale, FL. Overview. The Two-pronged solution to the DOT problem:
Developing Occupational Information for SSA Disability Programs
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Presentation Transcript
Developing Occupational Informationfor SSA Disability Programs Sylvia Karman Social Security Administration International Association for Rehabilitation Professionals Forensic Conference October 31, 2008 Fort Lauderdale, FL
Overview The Two-pronged solution to the DOT problem: • Short-Term Project • Goals • Status • Long-Term Project • Goals • Phases • Status
Two-Pronged Approach • Short-term project will evaluate and select updated DOT-based occupational information • Long-term project will develop national occupational information tailored to SSA’s needs
Short TermProject Goals • Provide SSA with updated DOT-based information while SSA pursues long-term solutions • Do not change SSA policies, forms, or processes for short term • Provide information that may be useful to long-term project
Short-Term Project • Two Requests for Information (RFI’s) released March 2008: • Updated DOT-based information • Independent Evaluation (IE) of DOT-based information • RFP’s for Updated DOT-based information and IE published June 2008
Short Term Project Status Contracts awarded August 2008 to • Independent Evaluator: ICF International • Occupational Information: CPSSI, Inc. Evaluation expected to run 9 months • Criteria: Updates DOT-like data elements • DOL’s Revised Handbook of Analyzing Jobs • Reflects occupations nationally • Plans: If appropriate, SSA to use updated DOT-like data by December 2009
Long Term Project Goals* • Develop an integrated national occupational information system tailored for SSA’s disability programs • Update SSA’s disability policies, forms, and processes in light of new occupational data • Establish an ongoing process to keep the occupational information current * NOTE: Project assumes no changes to Social Security Act
What Do We Mean by “Integrated”? Integrate: • Most viable methods to collect and classify occupational data • Any relevant DOT data elements into new methodology • New occupational information into SSA’s disability policy and process/systems • Future data updates and policy development
Long Term Project Phases • Outreach • Research and Development (Including data collection) • Policy Development • Disability Process and Systems Integration • Ongoing Maintenance and Support
Outreach and R&D • What type of information do we really want? What would be most critical for SSA disability evaluation? • How do we go about getting it? • Build on work done earlier • Talk to the experts and groups with an interest in outcome
Research & Development: FACA • Establish Advisory Panel under the Federal Advisory Committee Act • Experts in these areas: • Vocational Rehabilitation • Occupational Analysis • Physical and Occupational Therapy • Disability Insurance • Disability Claimant Representation • Physiatrist/Psychology/Psychiatry/
Research and Development:Determining What We Need • SSA Workgroup Convened • Identify which physical and mental job demands are most relevant to disability evaluation • Study effects of using these new demands in residual functional assessment • Use study results to develop instruments & metrics for job demands, including other data SSA needs
Research and Development:Determining How to Get It • Develop data collection and sampling plans • Collect and validateoccupational information
Policy Development • Study effects of introducing nonexertional work demands (e.g. mental, postural, manipulative) into med-voc rules • Study effects of vocational factors (age, education, work skills) on disability claims • Develop & test policy options • Draft & publish revised regulations, rulings, policy guidance, etc. • Develop & conduct training
Disability Process and Systems Integration • Develop a “free-standing” occupational information system, and • Develop an occupational information system as part of SSA disability process systems.
Ongoing Maintenance and Support • Develop occupational methods and processes to keep occupational information current • Keep Ongoing Maintenance in mind during R&D!