evaluate and improve the Social Security Administration’s disability benefits administrative process to assure that task assignments and participant roles achieve a maximum level of effectiveness and efficiency.

RECOMMENDATION 4–8. The committee recommends that the Social Security Administration develop plans for simulation and modeling of alternative disability decision processes and other policy options, and devote adequate resources for this activity.

RECOMMENDATION 5–1. The committee recommends that the Social Security Administration’s research and evaluation staff and its extramural research program be expanded substantially.

RECOMMENDATION: The committee strongly recommends that SSA revise the project schedule to allow significantly more time to plan and analyze the pilot study and test alternative solutions for problem areas before starting the national study.