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Outdated Job Data in Disability Claims Processing Cited in Congressional Hearing
Recently confirmed Social Security Commissioner Martin O’Malley was taken to task at a Joint Social Security and Work & Welfare Subcommittee Hearing last week on the Agency’s use of decades-old jobs data in its disability determination processes. In discussing where the Social Security Administration should direct its priorities, Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) suggested “SSA should also focus on updating the outdated occupations list used in making disability decisions, to ensure the correct applicants are receiving benefits.” The focus of Sen. Crapo’s observation is the “Dictionary of Occupational Titles” currently used by SSA–a data source compiled in the 1970s and not reflective of occupations in today’s labor markets. The Hill’s David A. Weaver, in a post on their website, discusses the availability of newer, more current data sources and questions the level of interest Cmr. O’Malley will bring to the issue of improving this part of the disability claim processing picture. Read Weaver’s full post here.
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