4190-29

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Social Security Administration

Supplemental  Security  Income  Modernization Project; Final
Report by the Experts

AGENCY:  Social Security Administration, HHS

ACTION:   Notice  of  final report and  request  for  public
comments

SUMMARY:  The Social Security Administration (SSA) requests
comments on the final report  of  the  Supplemental Security
Income (SSI) Modernization Project (the Project) experts.

DATES:  Comments must be postmarked on or before December 3,
1992.

ADDRESSES:  Comments should be submitted  in  writing to the
SSI   Modernization   Project   Staff,  Room  311,  Altmeyer
Building,  P.O. Box 17052, Baltimore, MD 21235.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  SSI Modernization Project
Staff,  Room  311,  Altmeyer  Building,   P.O.   Box  17052,
Baltimore, MD 21235, telephone (410) 965-3571.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

   SSA has undertaken a comprehensive examination of the SSI
program by reviewing its fundamental structure and  purpose.
The  SSI  program has been in operation over 18 years.   The
purpose of  the  Project  is  to  determine  whether the SSI
program  is meeting and will continue to meet the  needs  of
the population  it  is intended to serve in an efficient and
caring manner, recognizing  the  constraints  in the current
fiscal climate.

   The  Project  was  intended  to  create  a dialogue  that
provided a full examination of how well the SSI law, and the
policies developed by SSA to implement the law, serve people
with  very  low  or  no income who are over 65 or  blind  or
otherwise disabled.  The goal of the initial dialogue was to
exchange ideas and information  about  the  program  and  to
promote    the    sharing    of   ideas   among   attendees'
constituencies, including advocacy  groups,  State and local
governments, and academicians.  To begin this  dialogue, the
Commissioner involved 21 people who are experts  in  the SSI
program  and/or  related  public  policy areas.  The experts
represent a wide range of interests  regarding programs that
serve  aged,  blind  and disabled persons.   Dr.  Arthur  S.
Flemming, former Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare,
is the Chairman.  The  Project  held  meetings in Baltimore,
MD; Washington, DC; New York, NY; Chicago,  IL; Los Angeles,
CA; Montgomery, AL; Atlanta, GA; and Falls Church,  VA.   We
announced these meetings in the FEDERAL REGISTER and invited
the   public   to   comment  either  in  person  or  through
correspondence.  During  these  meetings, the public as well
as the experts expressed their individual views and concerns
about the SSI program.

   From  late  June  1990  to  July  1991   more   than  400
individuals,  including  current  and former SSI recipients,
representative  payees,  representatives  from  professional
organizations,    advocacy    groups,     legal     services
organizations,  institutions,  private agencies and federal,
State and local governments, provided  oral  and/or  written
comments.   The  Chairman  and  other  experts  met with SSA
employees  in  regional  offices  in  all 10 regions of  the
Department of Health and Human Services  across the country.
They  also met with State disability determination  services
employees in five States, and staff in a hearing office.

   On July 31, 1991, the Project published a paper in the
FEDERAL  REGISTER  (56 FR 36640) which identified issues and
options.  The paper  summarized  the comments which had been
provided  and  included  options  for   change   that   were
identified  as  a result of public comments.  The public was
invited  to  comment   by   September  30,  1991.   In  all,
approximately 14,600 comments  were  received on this paper.
These public comments were shared with  the  Project experts
in  preparation  for  their final meeting, on January  9-10,
1992, in Falls Church,  VA.   The  experts' individual views
concerning  what options they supported  and  which  deserve
priority consideration are included in this final report.

   The  Commissioner   of  Social  Security  has  asked  the
Modernization Project Staff  to  solicit  comments  on  this
report.   After  the  close  of  the  public  comment period
announced by this notice, the Project staff will  prepare an
analysis of the options presented in the paper, taking  into
account   the  experts'  individual  views  and  the  public
comments.   The  analysis  will  be  considered  by  SSA  in
developing  legislative  proposals as well as in determining
regulatory  and  other  initiatives  which  do  not  require
legislation.

Dated:  August 19, 1992

                  ________________________
                      Peter D. Spencer
                  Executive Staff Director
                 SSI Modernization Project