Connecting Contemporary Paradigms to the Social Security Administration's Disability Evaluation Process

Area of Science:

• Social Sciences
• Public Health
• Health Policy

Background:

• The Social Security Administration's (SSA) Disability Insurance (DI) program experienced a significant increase in applications between 1998 and 2009.
• This surge in applications necessitates improvements in processing efficiency, cost reduction, and overall program performance.
• Current conceptual models of disability and the SSA's evaluation process for adults exhibit a notable disconnect.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current conceptual models of disability and the SSA's adult disability evaluation process.
• To identify gaps between contemporary disability models and the SSA's operational definitions.
• To explore potential improvements in SSA's disability assessment methodologies.

Main Methods:

• Conducted a literature review focusing on conceptual models of disability.
• Examined the SSA's disability evaluation process for adults.
• Analyzed challenges related to applicant functional information and workplace demands.

Main Results:

• A significant gap exists between modern disability concepts and the SSA's definition and operationalization of disability.
• Variability in the timing, quantity, and quality of applicant functional data complicates assessments.
• The current focus on impairment overlooks comprehensive functional assessments needed for work capacity evaluation.

Conclusions:

• Revising the SSA's approach to disability assessment is crucial for improving program efficiency and effectiveness.
• Addressing the gap between conceptual models and operational definitions is essential.
• Novel assessment methods, like computer adaptive testing, show promise for enhancing SSA's data collection and disability assessment.