Mathematica Issues Public Comment on SSA Notice

WASHINGTON, Nov. 18 -- Pamela L. Tapscott, vice president of contract operations at Mathematica, has issued a public comment on the Social Security Administration notice entitled "Request for Information: Potential Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income Demonstrations". The comment was written on Nov. 9, 2021, and posted on Nov. 15, 2021:

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The Commissioner of the Social Security Administration (SSA) can conduct demonstration projects testing initiatives to (1) promote employment and economic self-sufficiency of individuals receiving or applying for Social Security Disability Insurance (DI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI); and (2) to improve the administration and effectiveness of DI, SSI, and related programs.

This authority comes from two sources. Section 234(d)(2) of the Social Security Act provides the authority to conduct demonstrations among volunteer DI beneficiaries and the authority to initiate projects is set to expire on December 31, 2021. Section 1110 of the Social Security Act provides the authority to conduct demonstrations among volunteer SSI recipients. Under both, demonstration participants must provide written informed consent to volunteer and can withdraw at any time. Section 1110 also requires that participation cannot result in a substantial reduction in income.

To further its mission of delivering quality Social Security services to the public, we suggest SSA consider testing policy and service changes in three key areas: (1) streamline beneficiary reporting and program rules to reduce overpayments, (2) provide services to facilitate employment, and (3) modify SSA rules governing how earnings effect benefits. Tables 1a through 1c outline the specific suggestions.

The necessary demonstration authority to conduct the proposed interventions varies. Some of the suggested interventions do not require demonstration authority at all--for example, sending earnings reporting reminders to DI beneficiaries or developing and testing new features of the DI eligibility determination process. Many interventions require renewal of Section 234 demonstration authority and some of those appear appropriate for a volunteer-based demonstration. However, a demonstration authority allowing for mandatory participation would likely enhance others.

For example, one intervention would expand employment services to beneficiaries who leave the DI rolls for work. A volunteer-based demonstration might recruit those most motivated to maintain employment who want to take advantage of all available resources and opportunities or could recruit those whose long-term employment is most tenuous and are most in-need of services. However, it would be difficult to discern which group volunteered for the demonstration, making it difficult to generalize results.

View attachment at https://downloads.regulations.gov/SSA-2021-0025-0009/attachment_1.pdf

Please address any questions relating to this memorandum to:

Pamela L. Tapscott

Vice President of Contract Operations

(202) 484-3294

[email protected]

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The notice can be viewed at: https://www.regulations.gov/document/SSA-2021-0025-0001

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