The Social Security Administration (SSA) said on Wednesday that it will reduce how far back the work history of disabled workers it takes into account when reviewing requests for benefits, a move that it said will help reduce the time to decide on applications.
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When looking at relevant past work experience, the government will now examine the previous five years only. Before the shift, the agency looked at 15 years of work history. That, it said, made it tough for applicants as they sometimes forgot details that led to mistaken reporting of their history.
The agency also said that it will ignore as irrelevant in the application process work experience that was performed for less than a month.
"This new rule will lessen the burden and time our applicants face when filling out information about their work history and will make it easier for them to focus on the most current and relevant details about their past work," SSA Commissioner Martin O'Malley said in a statement.
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"It also improves the quality of the information our frontline workers receive to make decisions, improving customer service, and reducing case processing time and overall wait times."
The SSA has faced extended criticism in the past over wait times and how long it takes to respond to queries from customers. The announcement on Wednesday will help expedite applications for users, the agency said.
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"[It] will reduce administrative burdens for applicants and help more people with disabilities receive government benefits and services if they are eligible," the SSA said in its statement. "The final rule announces updates that will improve the application process for disability benefits and reduce the time applicants wait for a decision."
As of May, there were more than 7.2 million disabled workers eligible for Social Security benefits. The average benefit that the workers receive comes to about $1,500 a month, amounting to a total of $11 million that the government gives out in support.
The agency manages two programs that relate to benefits for disabled workers: the Social Security Disability Insurance and the Supplemental Security Income program.
"When people become disabled under the statutory definition the Social Security Administration must follow, the agency helps them meet their basic needs and sustain a higher quality of life," the agency said.
"The new rule makes it easier for people applying for benefits by focusing on their most recent relevant work activity while still providing enough information to continue making accurate determinations."
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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Omar Mohammed is a Newsweek reporter based in the Greater Boston area. His focus is reporting on the Economy and ... Read more
