Advocates and Providers Urged to Comment on SSA Mental Impairment Criteria by June 16 Deadline

Bazelon Center Model Now Available

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June 4, 2003—The Social Security Administration (SSA) has announced plans to review and revise the criteria used to determine whether someone has a mental impairment that is disabling. These criteria are used to make the decision whether someone is, or is not, entitled to Supplemental Security Income disability benefits (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). In a notice in the Federal Register dated March 17, SSA asked for public input on what changes they should make.

A coalition of national organizations reviewed the current rules and developed a set of suggestions. The Bazelon Center extracted the items most relevant to adults and children with mental illnesses and prepared suggested comments for advocates, providers and others to send in to SSA-with or without your own revisions.

SSA will count the number of respondents who make a particular point. It is therefore vital to generate as many comments as possible by individuals and groups who agree that people with mental illnesses should have a fair assessment of their disability status, based on up-to-date scientific information.

Take Action: Comment on the Proposed Changes

Your comments will be considered by SSA. The proposed Bazelon Center comments are posted on our web page in HTML format. You can download the file and put them on your own letterhead, editing them to reflect your own views.

• To send your comments by mail, write:
  Commissioner, Social Security Administration
  PO Box 17703
  Baltimore, MD
  21235-7703
  
• To fax your comments, dial:
  (410) 966-2830
  
• To send electronically:
  Visit SSA's Internet site
  E-mail regulations@ssa.gov

Please note: Comments must be received at SSA by June 16, 2003.