,i  #aah? ,,congress  #b;d ,session  ,h4
 ,r4 #hedf  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(          
,,repres5tatives  ,may #bc1 #bjbd,mr4   
,neguse introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0  
ref]r$ to ! ,committee on ,ways & ,means
  ,a ,,bill  ,to require ! ,commission] 
( ! ,social ,security ,adm9i/ration to  
take c]ta9 actions to improve ! process+
 ( claims & appeals = disability        
insurance b5efits & supplem5tal security
 income1 & = o!r purposes4  #a4 ,%ort   
title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z ! ,social 
,security ,adm9i/ration ,process+       
,claims ,improvem5t ,act ( #bjbd4  #b4  
,f9d+s ,congress f9ds ! foll[+3 7#a7 ,a 
rec5t ,social ,security ,adm9i/ration   
,inspector ,g5]al report f\nd t ne>ly   
half ( ! #aea1jjj1jjj call]s to field   
(fices & ! national #hjj-numb] w5t      
unansw]$4  7#b7 ,9 #bjba1 ov] #i1jjj1jjj
 p receiv$ ,social ,security disability 
insurance b5efits4  7#c7 ,accord+ to !  
,national ,academy ( ,social ,insurance1
 ov] half ( all b5efici>ies rely on     
,disability ,insurance & ,supplem5tal   

,security = #ij p]c5t or m ( _! income4 
7#d7 ,b5efits are int]rupt$ foll[+ !    
d5ial & (t5 rema9 paus$ until a         
review--:i* c take any:]e f #ad to #bb  
mon?s--is complete4  7#e7 ,s9ce #bjaa1 !
 numb] ( b5efici>ies increas$ by m ?an  
#bb p]c5t :ile ov] ! same p]iod1 ,social
 ,security ,adm9i/ration's op]at+ budget
 fell by m ?an #ag p]c5t1 aft] adju/+ = 
inflation4  #c4 ,social ,security       
,adm9i/ration claims process+ review ,n 
lat] ?an #a ye> aft] ! date ( enactm5t (
 ?is ,act1 & on an annual basis !reaft]1
 ! ,commission] %all conduct a review   
to-- 7#a7 id5tify-- 7,a7 process+ error 
tr5ds ( claims processors & ! tra9+ ne$s
 ( claims processors & case manag]s2    
7,b7 possible improvem5ts to ! process+ 
( claims ) respect to cov]$ b5efits1    
includ+ decision-mak+ ( claims          
processors2  7,c7 ! mo/ common causes ( 
ov]paym5ts ( cov]$ b5efits2 &  7,d7 !   
mo/ common reasons = d5y+ an application
 = a cov]$ b5efit2  7#b7 evaluate-- 7,a7
 any writt5 or v]bal in/ructions or     

tra9+ giv5 to b5efits c\nselors2  7,b7  
any guidance or regulation promulgat$ by
 ! ,commission] t is relat$ to          
det]m9ations ( eligibility = cov]$      
b5efits & :e!r updates to su* guidance  
are necess>y to provide claims          
processors ) bett] res\rces to c>ry out 
! duties ( su* processors1 includ+ any  
guidance reg>d+ ! process+ ( claims = a 
cov]$ b5efit2 &  7#c7 aft] ! tra9+      
programs "u section #d are e/abli%$1    
id5tify improvem5ts to ! tra9+ programs 
) reg>d to-- 7,a7 ! process+ ( claims = 
a cov]$ b5efit2 &  7,b7 decision-mak+ = 
claims processors :5 reconsid]+ !       
eligibility ( a claimant = a cov]$      
b5efit4  #d4 ,tra9+s = claims processors
  7a7 ,annual tra9+ program  7#a7       
,e/abli%m5t ,n lat] ?an #a ye> aft] !   
fir/ review "u section #c is conduct$1 !
 ,commission] %all e/abli%1 & update on 
an ongo+ basis1 a national tra9+ program
 = claims processors :o review claims = 
cov]$ b5efits1 includ+ appeals ( cont9u+
 disability reviews4  7#b7 ,p>ticipation

 ,n lat] ?an #ahj days aft] ! date t !  
annual tra9+ program "u p>agraph 7#a7 is
 e/abli%$1 ! ,commission] %all require t
 ea* claims processor p>ticipates 9 su* 
program at lea/ once ea* ye>1 beg9n+ 9 !
 second ye> 9 :i* ! claims processor    
c>ries out ! duties ( a claims processor
 = ! ag5cy4  7#c7 ,requir$ elem5ts ,!   
tra9+ e/abli%$ "u p>agraph 7#a7 %all    
include ! foll[+3 7,a7 ,tra9+ on !      
quality assurance /&>ds e/abli%$ "u     
section #f4  7,b7 ,disability etiquette 
tra9+ = case manag]s & claims processors
 to le>n effective communication &      
empa?y4  7,c7 ,tra9+ reg>d+ int]nal     
communications to prev5t ov]paym5ts &   
subsequ5t b5efit d5ials4  7b7 ,ongo+    
tra9+ program  7#a7 ,e/abli%m5t ,n lat] 
?an #a ye> aft] ! fir/ review "u section
 #c is conduct$1 ! ,commission] %all    
e/abli%1 & update on an ongo+ basis1 an 
ongo+ tra9+ program = claims processors 
:o review claims = cov]$ b5efits1       
includ+ appeals ( cont9u+ disability    
reviews4  7#b7 ,p>ticipation ,n lat] ?an

 #ahj days aft] ! date t ! ongo+ tra9+  
program "u p>agraph 7#a7 is e/abli%$1 ! 
,commission] %all require ea* claims    
processor to p>ticipate 9 su* program on
 an ongo+ basis1 beg9n+ 9 ! second ye> 9
 :i* ! claims processor c>ries out !    
duties ( a claims processor = ! ag5cy4  
7#c7 ,requir$ elem5ts ,! tra9+ program  
e/abli%$ "u p>agraph 7#a7 %all include !
 foll[+3 7,a7 ,work%ops ) claims        
processors e #f mon?s4  7,b7            
,collaborative review ( a complex case  
by all claims processors at a field     
(fice e #b mon?s4  7#d7 ,def9itions ,9  
?is subsection3 7,a7 ,complex case ,!   
t]m complex case means a case t-- 7i7   
has its process+ "t increas$ because ( a
 mi/ake or error t is attributable to ! 
,social ,security ,adm9i/ration2  7ii7  
has conflict+ evid5ce f multiple heal?  
c>e provid]s2 or  7iii7 involves an     
individual ) a lapse = a p]iod ( "t t is
 great] ?an #b weeks4  7,b7 ,lapse ,!   
t]m lapse means1 ) respect to an        
individual receiv+ a cov]$ b5efit1 a    

physical or m5tal impairm5t1 z det]m9$  
by a heal? c>e provid]1 t prev5ts !     
individual f provid+ in=mation requir$ =
 a cont9u+ disability review 7z def9$ 9 
section #bja7;g77#a77;,a7 ( ! ,social   
,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4           
#dja7;g77#a77;,a774  7c7 ,consultation  
requir$ ,:5 e/abli%+ ! tra9+ programs   
describ$ 9 subsections 7a7 & 7b71 !     
,commission] %all consult ) an entity t 
advocates =1 & provides res\rces &      
in=mation to1 individuals ) disabilities
 to assi/ su* individuals 9 ov]com+     
b>ri]s to indep5d5t liv+1 includ+ an    
entity c>ry+ out a community            
rehabilitation program 7z su* t]m is    
def9$ 9 section #g ( ! ,rehabilitation  
,act ( #aigc 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #gje774  #e4
 ,reports  7a7 ,report on backlogs ,n   
lat] ?an #ahj days aft] ! date aft] !   
date ( enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 & on an     
annual basis !reaft]1 ! ,commission]    
%all submit to ,congress a report on !  
/atus ( backlogs = det]m9ations (       
eligibility = cov]$ b5efits & cont9u+   

disability review det]m9ations1 includ+1
 ) respect to bo? su* det]m9ation       
backlogs-- 7#a7 in=mation on wait times 
= su* det]m9ations2 &  7#b7             
recomm5dations on /reaml9+ & improv+ !  
det]m9ation processes4  7b7 ,report on  
accessibility ,n lat] ?an #ahj days aft]
 ! date ( enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 & on an  
annual basis !reaft] ! ,commission] %all
 submit to ,congress a report t         
includes-- 7#a7 a plan to ensure t all  
s]vices at ! ,social ,security          
,adm9i/ration1 includ+ appeals ( cov]$  
b5efit d5ials1 are 9 a =mat t is        
appropriate = ! specific ne$s (         
individuals ) disabilities1 su* z audio 
v]sions ( notifications1 l>ge pr9t &    
braille options1 & easy-to-read         
in=mation2 &  7#b7 ! am\nt ( fund+ ne$$ 
to c>ry out ! plan describ$ 9           
subp>agraph 7,a74  #f4 ,quality         
assurance /&>ds ,n lat] ?an #ahj days   
aft] ! date ( enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 !    
,commission] %all e/abli%1 & update on  
an ongo+ basis1 quality assurance /&>ds 

to /&>dize h[ /aff at field (fices assi/
 claimants1 :i* %all include-- 7#a7     
guidel9es on h[ to answ] que/ions (     
claimants 9 a timely & polite mann]2 &  
7#b7 a process = a claimant to submit   
fe$back to ! ,commission] on :e!r !     
claims processor :o process$ !          
application ( su* claimant met su*      
/&>ds4  #g4 ,def9itions ,9 ?is ,act3    
7#a7 ,cov]$ b5efit ,! t]m cov]$ b5efit  
means-- 7,a7 a disability insurance     
b5efit "u section #bbc ( ! ,social      
,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #dbc72 &  
7,b7 a supplem5tal security income      
b5efit "u title ,,xvi ( ! ,social       
,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #acha et4 
seq74  7#b7 ,commission] ,! t]m         
,commission] means ! ,commission] ( !   
,social ,security ,adm9i/ration4  7#c7  
,cont9u+ disability review ,! t]m       
cont9u+ disability review has ! mean+   
giv5 ! t]m 9 subsection 7g77#a77;,a7 (  
section #bja ( ! ,social ,security ,act 
7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #dja7;g77#a77;,a774  #h4 
,social ,security ,act am5dm5ts  7a7    

,additional review  7#a7 ,title ,,ii    
am5dm5t ,section #bje7;b77#a7 ( !       
,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4   
#dje7;b77#a77 is am5d$ by /rik+ ,any su*
 decision by ! ,commission] ( ,social   
,security :i* involves a det]m9ation (  
disability & :i* is 9 :ole or 9 "p      
unfavorable to su* individual & ins]t+ !
 foll[+3 ,9 ! case ( any su* decision t 
involves a det]m9ation ( disability & t 
is 9 :ole or 9 "p unfavorable to su*    
individual1 ! ,commission] %all require 
a p]son1 o!r ?an ! p]son :o made !      
initial unfavorable det]m9ation1 to     
review ! initial decision & make a      
recomm5dation z to :e!r ! initial       
decision %\ld be modifi$4 ,!            
,commission] %all make a f9al decision 9
 accordance ) su* recomm5dation4 ,any   
su* f9al decision :i* is 9 :ole or 9 "p 
unfavorable to su* individual4  7#b7    
,title ,,xvi am5dm5t ,section           
#afca7;c77#a77;,a7 ( su* ,act 7#db      
,u4,s4,c4 #achc7;c77#a77;,a77 is am5d$  
by /rik+ ,any su* decision by !         

,commission] ( ,social ,security :i*    
involves a det]m9ation ( disability &   
:i* is 9 :ole or 9 "p unfavorable to su*
 individual & ins]t+ ! foll[+3 ,9 ! case
 ( any su* decision t involves a        
det]m9ation ( disability & t is 9 :ole  
or 9 "p unfavorable to ! individual1 !  
,commission] %all require a p]son1 o!r  
?an ! p]son :o made ! initial           
unfavorable det]m9ation1 to review !    
initial decision & make a recomm5dation 
z to :e!r ! initial decision %\ld be    
modifi$4 ,! ,commission] %all make a    
f9al decision 9 accordance ) !          
recomm5dation4 ,any su* f9al decision t 
is 9 :ole or 9 "p unfavorable to !      
individual4  7b7 ,mod]nization (        
in=mation submission ,"p ,a ( title ,,xi
 ( ! ,social ,security ,act 7#db        
,u4,s4,c4 #acja et4 seq7 is am5d$ by    
ins]t+ aft] section #aadc ! foll[+3     
#aadc;,a4 ,mod]nization ( in=mation     
submission ,) respect to any in=mation  
requir$ to be submitt$ by an individual 
to ! ,social ,security ,adm9i/ration    

reg>d+ a proce$+ or det]m9ation = a     
b5efit "u title ,,ii or a supplem5tal   
security income b5efit "u title ,,xvi1 !
 ,commission] %all accept su* in=mation 
9 ! foll[+ ways3 7#a7 ,email4  7#b7 ,fax
 ma*9e1 until ,decemb] #ca1 #bjde4  4   
7c7 ,social security wage report+ app   
,"p ,a ( title ,,xi ( ! ,social         
,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #acja et4 
seq7 is am5d$ by add+ at ! end ! foll[+3
  #aaej;,d4 ,social security wage       
report+ app ,! ,commission] ( ! ,social 
,security ,adm9i/ration %all ensure t an
 individual :o receives a disability    
insurance b5efit "u section #bbc may use
 ! ,,ssa ,mobile ,wage ,report+ ,app = !
 purpose ( track+ ! wages & employm5t ( 
su* individual4  4  7d7 ,effective date 
,! am5dm5ts made by ?is section %all    
take effect #b ye>s aft] ! date (       
enactm5t ( ?is section4