1. Shirleen Roth and Michael Dunn Social Security Administration Office of Program Development and Research January 2010

2. Social Security Administration2  Objectives  Research Question  Research Participants  Development  Methodology  Results  Discussion

3. January 2010Social Security Administration3

4. January 2010Social Security Administration4  Primary Objective: Development of OIS Content Model  Secondary Objective: Inform Future Integration of the OIS into SSA’s Disability Claims Processes

5. January 2010Social Security Administration5  What occupational, vocational, and medical-vocational information does SSA need or would SSA like to have in order to adjudicate claims for adult disability benefits?

6. January 2010Social Security Administration6  Research participants were SSA users of occupational information (that is, SSA disability adjudicators and reviewers).  SSA is respectful of needs and contributions of other users of occupational information.

7. January 2010Social Security Administration7  Evolved out of a series of prior investigations ◦ Physical and Mental Demands of Work Questionnaire ◦ UNA Pretest Atlanta, GA ◦ UNA Pretest Chicago, IL

8. January 2010Social Security Administration8  SSA headquarters components and DDS offices in the Philadelphia region  Particular office selection based on: ◦ Public Law (P.L.) 104-13, The Paperwork Reduction Act (1995) ◦ Our ability to obtain a professional and geographically diverse sample

9. January 2010Social Security Administration9  Factors considered in office selection: ◦ Time and resource constraints ◦ Goal was to include at least three DDS offices ◦ Centralized and decentralized DDS office structures ◦ Service areas with potential differences in industries or occupations ◦ Willingness to participate

10. January 2010Social Security Administration10  Disability Determination Services (DDS), Maryland  DDS Clarksburg, West Virginia  DDS, Greensburg, Pennsylvania  Office of Disability Adjudication and Review (ODAR), Office of Appellate Operations  Office of Operations, Atlanta Regional Office, Center for Disability Operations  Office of Operations, Chicago Regional Office, Center for Disability  Office of Quality Performance (OQP), Atlanta Disability Quality Branch (DQB)  OQP, Baltimore DQB  OQP, Chicago DQB  Office of Retirement and Disability Policy, Office of Medical and Vocational Expertise

11. January 2010Social Security Administration11  Presented to participants as a brainstorming activity  Semi-structured design ◦ Questions ◦ Written responses were analyzed in conjunction with digital recordings ◦ Digital recordings ◦ Duration of one hour

12. January 2010Social Security Administration12  Nine Impairments selected: ◦ Herniated nucleus pulposus of the lumbar spine ◦ Osteoarthritis of the upper and lower extremities ◦ Depression ◦ Ischemic heart disease ◦ Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ◦ Borderline intellectual functioning ◦ Cerebrovascular accident ◦ Schizophrenia ◦ Multiple Sclerosis

13. January 2010Social Security Administration13  Picture an individual with (insert impairment); what work-related limitations or restrictions might a person have as a result of this impairment?  Additional follow-up questions provided for each impairment.

14. January 2010Social Security Administration14  Primary source of information in the UNA  Developed to: ◦ Elicit users’ perceptions of the essential physical and mental/cognitive requirements of work, and ◦ Elicit any ideas for later integration of the OIS into SSA’s disability claims processes, including improvements in documenting a claimant’s allegations and past relevant work.

15. January 2010Social Security Administration15  Based on your interview, what are some of the requirements of work (physical/mental) with regards to the various impairments discussed?  Do you have any comments or suggestions regarding how to obtain information about the claimant’s functioning more efficiently?  Do you have any comments or suggestions regarding how to obtain information about the claimants past work more efficiently?

16. January 2010Social Security Administration16  Physical Data  Sensory Data  Environmental Data  Mental Data  Task Data  Workplace Tolerances, Flexibilities, and Standards  General Comments and Suggestions

17. January 2010Social Security Administration17  Generated a substantial number of ideas and opinions from subject matter experts,  Produced consistent responses in terms of Content Model data elements and measurements,  Generated unique ideas for later integration of the OIS into SSA’s disability claims process, and  Produced wish list of items for new OIS.

18. January 2010Social Security Administration18  Themes ◦ Content Model: Worker Traits and Work Demands ◦ Updated Occupational Information Versus an Updated Dictionary of Occupational Titles ◦ Data Versus Their Application ◦ Classification: US Labor Market Connection ◦ Data Suggestions for Work History and Transferability Assessments ◦ Work Options