SSA Updates

Adult beneficiaries who do not have a representative payee can now complete the medical Continuing Disability Review Report (Form SSA-454) using their personal my Social Security account.

On April 14, 2022, SSA revised their internal policies, known as Program Operations Manual System (POMS), for Presumptive Disability and Presumptive Blindness (PD/PB).

SSA is now evaluating the long-term effects of COVID-19 when determining disability. On April 16, 2021, SSA issued an Emergency Message (EM) with guidance to its employees for evaluating adult disability cases that include an allegation or diagnosis of COVID-19. Here are the key points of the EM as well as tips for SOAR practitioners to effectively represent SSI/SSDI applicants whose functioning is impacted by COVID-19.

SSA updated the list of options on the Adult Online Disability Benefit Application to indicate who is completing the application.

Applicants can now file for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) online, but only if they meet certain requirements.

Effective March 27, 2017, SSA updated rules for evaluating medical evidence, including adding Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) as acceptable medical sources (AMS).

On September 26, 2016 the Social Security Administration (SSA) published new rules updating how they will evaluate mental disorders, which will go into effect on January 17, 2017.

This SSA ruling clarifies SSA’s existing regulations which require that claimants and/or their authorized attorney or non-attorney representatives inform SSA about, or submit all evidence known to them that relates to their disability claim.