Progress has been made modernizing the Social Security Administration’s disability programs but key efforts warrant more management focus, GAO has said.
The agency has taken promising steps for improving the process for updating its medical criteria, but continues to face challenges ensuring timely updates, according to GAO-12-420.
For example, it said the agency now uses a two-tiered system for ongoing revisions to its medical listings, consisting of a comprehensive review and targeted approach to revisions or updates.
However, SSA has embarked on an ambitious plan to design by 2016 an occupational information system for use in its disability decision-making process, but has fallen short of best practices for estimating costs, maintaining a schedule, and considering risks and alternatives, GAO said.
SSA agreed with recommendations to explicitly identify resources needed to achieve its five-year time frame for updating its medical listings, and to follow best practices in its cost estimate, schedule, and risk assessment for the occupational information system.
However, it disagreed with GAO on the need to conduct limited, focused studies on how to more fully consider assistive devices and workplace accommodations in its disability determinations, arguing such studies would be inconsistent with Congress’ intentions.
