Progress Report on Development of a Redesigned Method of Evaluating Disability in Social Security Claims

This notice updates and requests further comment on SSA's research plan for developing a new method for determining whether an individual is ``disabled,'' as defined in the Social Security Act (the Act), for purposes of entitlement or eligibility to disability benefits under titles II or XVI. Notice of the original research plan, including a request for comments, was published in the Federal Register on September 9, 1996 (61 FR 47542). This notice discusses: Preliminary research that has been conducted on functional assessment tools and occupational classification systems; Independent review and oversight of the research, including the related disability evaluation study (DES), by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS); Expert, technical guidance being provided by outside consultants; and The role of external stakeholders. In addition, this notice describes SSA's plans for future research and development activities.