The Social Security Administration (SSA) is taking steps to update its outdated list of jobs used in determining eligibility for disability benefits. This move comes as the agency seeks to modernize its assessment process and better reflect the current job market.
For decades, the SSA has relied on the Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT), a publication created by the U.S. Department of Labor in 1938. Despite the Labor Department abandoning the DOT over 30 years ago, the SSA continued to use this resource when evaluating disability claims. The list, last updated in 1991, includes obsolete jobs such as pneumatic tube operator, microfilm processor, and nut sorter.
The use of this outdated list has been controversial. A 2022 Washington Post investigation revealed that thousands of disability benefit claims were denied based on the existence of these obsolete jobs, which the government argued could still be performed by applicants.
In response to these concerns, the SSA is developing a new method for determining disability eligibility called the Occupational Information System (OIS). This system aims to provide up-to-date occupational information by broadly describing the requirements of current jobs in the national economy and the range of critical tasks associated with these occupations.
The development of the OIS has been a significant undertaking. Between the fiscal years 2012 and 2022, the SSA invested approximately $239 million in pre-production testing and data collection for this new system. However, despite this substantial investment, the OIS has yet to be fully implemented.
As the SSA moves forward with this modernization effort, it is expected to provide a more accurate representation of today’s job market when evaluating disability benefit claims. This change could potentially impact thousands of applicants who have previously been denied benefits based on outdated occupational information.
The SSA’s decision to update its job list reflects a broader recognition of the need to adapt disability benefit determinations to the realities of the modern workforce. As the implementation of the OIS progresses, it will be crucial to monitor its effectiveness in ensuring fair and accurate assessments of disability claims.
For more such Local News, Check Cookislands.Wenzica.com.