[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 113 (Friday, June 12, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32274-32278]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-15695]


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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION


Statement of Organization, Functions and Delegations of Authority

    This statement amends Part S of the Statement of the Organization, 
Functions and Delegations of Authority which covers the Social Security 
Administration (SSA). Chapter S2 covers the Deputy Commissioner, 
Operations. Notice is given that Subchapter S2B, the Office of Central 
Records Operations, and Subchapter S2H, the Office of Disability and 
International Operations, are being deleted. Notice is further given 
that a new Subchapter S2R, the Office of Central Operations (OCO) is 
being established to supplant the two deleted organizations. Because of 
numerous editorial changes in the functional statements in the 
Immediate Office of the Deputy Commissioner, that opening chapter 
statement is being reissued. The following Chapter and Subchapters 
reflect these changes:
Chapter S2
Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Operations
S2.00  Mission
S2.10  Organization
S2.20  Functions
Section S2.00  The Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Operations--
(Mission):
    The Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Operations (ODCO) directs 
and manages central office and geographically dispersed operations 
installations. It oversees regional operating program, technical, 
assessment and program management activities. It directs studies and 
actions to improve the operational effectiveness and efficiency of its 
components. It promotes systems and operational integration and defines 
user needs in the strategic planning process. It determines automation 
support needs for Operations components. This Office defines user 
concerns in the development of operational and programmatic 
specifications for new and modified systems, including the evaluation 
and implementation phases.
Section S2.10  The Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Operations--
(Organization):
    The Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Operations, under the 
leadership of the Deputy Commissioner, Operations, includes:
    A. The Deputy Commissioner, Operations (S2).
    B. The Assistant Deputy Commissioner, Operations (S2).
    C. The Immediate Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Operations 
(S2A).
    1. The Senior Advisor to the Deputy Commissioner, Operations (S2A-
2).
    D. The Office of Central Operations (S2R).
    E. The Office of the Regional Commissioner (S2D).
    F. The Office of Public Service and Operations Support (S2N).
    G. The Office of Telephone Services (S2Q).
    H. The Office of Automation Support (S2L).
Section S2.20  The Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Operations--
(Functions):
    A. The Deputy Commissioner, Operations (S2) is directly responsible 
to the Commissioner for carrying out the ODCO mission and providing 
general supervision to the major components of ODCO.
    B. The Assistant Deputy Commissioner Operations (S2) assists the 
Deputy Commissioner in carrying out his/her responsibilities and 
performs other duties as the Deputy Commissioner may prescribe.
    C. The Immediate Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Operations 
(S2A) provides the Deputy Commissioner with staff assistance on the 
full range of his/her responsibilities.
    1. The Senior Advisor to the Deputy Commissioner, Operations (S2A-
2) assists the Deputy Commissioner on a wide variety of special 
management issues affecting Agency operations and the delivery of SSA 
programs to the public.
    D. The Office of Central Operations (OCO) (S2R) provides executive 
direction and leadership for the nationwide establishment and 
maintenance of basic records supporting Social Security programs, 
foreign claims operations and OCO disability operations. It manages 
centralized records operations and a stand alone data operations center 
(DOC). The Office receives and processes Social Security earnings 
reports from private and governmental employers and adjustments or 
corrections to posted earnings. The Office maintains Social Security 
enumeration and earnings records in various media and conducts an 
ongoing data exchange with the Treasury Department to compile and 
verify individual earnings data. It directs the OCO processing of 
claims under disability benefits programs and maintains beneficiary 
rolls. It directs the OCO initial adjudication and reconsideration of 
disability claims excluded from State agency jurisdiction and directs 
the OCO authorization of disability and auxiliary claims not authorized 
by Field Offices (FOs) at the initial, reconsideration and appeal 
levels. It determines whether and when eligibility or payments should 
be terminated, suspended, continued, increased or reduced in amount. It 
recovers or waives recovery of amounts incorrectly paid to 
beneficiaries. It directs the development, adjudication and 
authorization of payment or disallowance of claims for Retirement, 
Survivors and Disability Insurance (RSDI) benefits filed by persons in 
foreign countries; determines eligibility for Medicare on related 
claims; and determines entitlement to benefits based on international 
Social Security agreements. It serves as liaison on operational issues 
which affect the administration of the United States Social Security 
program abroad, with the Department of State, other Federal agencies, 
agencies of foreign governments and private organizations.
    E. The Office of the Regional Commissioner (ORC) (S2D). An Office 
of the Regional Commissioner serves as the principal SSA component in 
each of SSA's ten regions. Each ORC ensures effective SSA interaction 
with other Federal agencies, State welfare agencies, State disability 
determination services (DDSs) and other regional and local 
organizations. The Office provides regional program leadership and 
technical direction for the RSDI and the Supplemental Security Income 
(SSI) programs. It issues regional supplementary operating policy and 
procedures for these programs. It directs a region-wide network of FOs, 
teleservice centers (TSCs) and, in each

[[Page 32275]]

of the six regions where present, a Program Service Center (PSC). The 
Office manages and coordinates SSA regional operations. It provides 
overall management direction for the provision of personnel services 
and administrative support to SSA regional components. It establishes 
regional priorities and issues policy directives consistent with 
national program objectives, operational requirements and systems; and 
implements a regional SSA public affairs program. Each Office maintains 
a broad overview of administrative operations of the SSA RO, the Office 
of Hearings and Appeals (OHA) offices in the region and, in region 3, 
the DOC to ensure effective coordination of SSA activities at the 
regional level.
    F. The Office of Public Service and Operations Support (OPSOS) 
(S2N) provides operations analysis, program support, service to the 
public and employee services for the Deputy Commissioner, Operations 
(DCO), and conducts studies and analyses. The Office provides broad 
operations support to FOs, TSCs, PSCs, and OCO. OPSOS also integrates 
operational delivery of public services under the RSDI, SSI and health 
insurance (HI) programs for domestic beneficiaries and delivery of RSDI 
program services to foreign beneficiaries. The Office provides broad 
operations support to the maintenance of the basic earnings data which 
support the Social Security programs. It also conducts activities 
associated with the overall effectiveness and efficiency of the DCO 
components. It directs and coordinates internal management support 
functions to ensure effective position management, workforce 
utilization and management analysis and planning. It directs the 
overall DCO budget process; and it plans, implements, manages and 
assesses the delivery of SSA programs and related services to the 
public.
    G. The Office of Telephone Services (OTS) (S2Q) plans, implements, 
operates and evaluates SSA telephone service to the public delivered by 
way of the national 800 Number and SSA FOs. It plans and conducts 
studies, pilots and analyses of 800 Number and FO telephone operations 
to assess and improve the service provided. It provides direct support 
to 36 TSCs and approximately 1,300 FOs, including developing and 
communicating uniform operating policies and procedures. It maintains 
close, effective working relationships with SSA policy, program and 
administrative components, with other Federal agencies, and with 
vendors which have important roles in the delivery and evaluation of 
SSA telephone service to the public. It also manages SSA national 800 
Number network operation, designs and administers call routing plans, 
continuously monitors call handling, and adjusts routing to handle 
emergency situations and to maximize call answering effectiveness and 
efficiency.
    H. The Office of Automation Support (OAS) (S2L) is responsible for 
integrating service delivery and employee concerns with modern 
technology. It determines and defines DCO requirements for software and 
hardware support. OAS directs user evaluations of new technology 
assuring that technology considered for adoption meets DCO needs. It 
also coordinates all implementation activities. OAS develops, 
implements and administers evaluative tools for hardware purchases and 
software development. It assures that the most recent appropriate 
technology is integrated into the operations of all DCO components.
    Delete:
    Subchapter S2B, the Office of the Central Records Operations and 
Subchapter S2H, the Office of Disability and International Operations.
    Establish:
    Subchapter S2R, the Office of Central Operations.
Subchapter S2R
Office of Central Operations
S2R.00  Mission
S2R.10  Organization
S2R.20  Functions

    Section S2R.00  The Office of Central Operations--(Mission):
    The Office of Central Operations (OCO) (S2R) provides executive 
direction and leadership for: the nationwide establishment and 
maintenance of basic records supporting Social Security programs; 
foreign claims operations; and OCO disability operations. It manages 
centralized records operations and a stand alone DOC.
    The Office receives and processes Social Security earnings reports 
from private and governmental employers and adjustments or corrections 
to posted earnings. The Office maintains Social Security enumeration 
and earnings records in various media and conducts an ongoing data 
exchange with the Treasury Department to compile and verify individual 
earnings data. It directs the OCO processing of claims under disability 
benefits programs and maintains beneficiary rolls. It directs the OCO 
initial adjudication and reconsideration of disability claims excluded 
from State agency jurisdiction and directs the OCO authorization of 
disability and auxiliary claims not authorized by FOs at the initial, 
reconsideration and appeal levels. It determines whether and when 
eligibility should be terminated, suspended or continued; or payments 
increased or reduced in amount. It recovers or waives recovery of 
amounts incorrectly paid to beneficiaries. It directs the development, 
adjudication, and authorization of payment or disallowance of claims 
for RSDI benefits filed by persons in foreign countries; determines 
eligibility for Medicare on related claims; and determines entitlement 
to benefits based on international Social Security agreements. It 
serves as liaison on operational issues which affect the administration 
of the United States Social Security program abroad, with the 
Department of State, other Federal agencies, agencies of foreign 
governments and private organizations.
    Section S2R.10  The Office of Central Operations--(Organization):
    The Office of Central Operations, under the leadership of the 
Associate Commissioner, OCO, includes:
    A. The Associate Commissioner, Office of Central Operations (S2R).
    B. The Deputy Associate Commissioner, Office of Central Operations 
(S2R).
    C. The Immediate Office of the Associate Commissioner, Office of 
Central Operations (S2R).
    1. The Assistant Associate Commissioner for Disability Operations 
(S2RA).
    a. The Divisions of Disability Operations (S2RA1, 2, 3, 4).
    b. The Division of Direct Service Operations (S2RA5).
    2. The Assistant Associate Commissioner for International 
Operations (S2RE).
    a. The Division of International Operations (S2RE1).
    3. The Assistant Associate Commissioner for Earnings Operations 
(S2RB).
    a. The Division of Earnings Record Operations (S2RB1).
    b. The Division of Employer Services (S2RB2).
    c. The Wilkes-Barre Data Operations Center (S2RB-F3).
    4. The Assistant Associate Commissioner for Management and 
Operations Support (S2RC).
    a. The Center for Systems and Logistics Support (S2RC1).
    b. The Center for Management Support (S2RC2).
    c. The Center for Program Support (S2RC3).
    d. The Center for Material Resources Support (S2RC4).

[[Page 32276]]

Section S2R.20  The Office of Central Operations--(Functions):
    A. The Associate Commissioner, OCO (S2R) is directly responsible to 
the Deputy Commissioner, Operations for carrying out OCO's mission and 
managing its respective components.
    B. The Deputy Associate Commissioner, OCO (S2R) assists the 
Associate Commissioner, OCO in carrying out his/her responsibilities 
and performs other duties as the Associate Commissioner may prescribe.
    C. The Immediate Office of the Associate Commissioner, OCO (S2R) 
provides internal operations and management support and assistance to 
the Associate Commissioner and all OCO components.
    1. The Assistant Associate Commissioner for Disability Operations 
(S2RA) is responsible for planning and directing a major portion of the 
operations administered by OCO. He/she is responsible for the planning 
and direction of four divisions which review, adjudicate and reconsider 
claims for Social Security disability and auxiliary benefits, and a 
fifth division, which provides OCO service to the public by telephone 
and applies and evaluates proposed alternative ways of performing OCO 
functions.
    a. The Divisions of Disability Operations (S2RA1,2,3,4) each direct 
and coordinate the activities of twelve OCO process modules which 
adjudicate, pay, maintain and reconsider domestic disability claims 
excluded from State agency jurisdiction involving claimants and 
beneficiaries up to a specific age (54 years and 9 months at the time 
of this publication), related auxiliary claims, and End-Stage Renal 
Disease cases under the jurisdiction of OCO. They direct the review of 
work and earnings reports to assure that continuing disability reviews 
are conducted as required. They direct and coordinate the authorization 
of initial claims not authorized by field offices and of OCO disability 
claims allowed at the administrative law judge or other appellate 
level. The process modules: make representative-payee determinations; 
process representative-payee accountability reports; approve the 
payment and amount of attorney fees; offset previous SSI payments 
against disability insurance benefits; implement, adjust, suspend and 
terminate benefits; prepare benefit payment data for introduction into 
the computer system; maintain beneficiary payment rolls; recover or 
waive benefits incorrectly paid; prepare and release award 
certificates, denial letters and other claims-related notices; answer 
inquiries regarding individual cases; expedite actions where claimant 
hardship is indicated; and contact Federal and State components such as 
the Department of Labor, the Railroad Retirement Board, Workers 
Compensation Commissions and SSA components, as necessary, to resolve 
disability claims actions.
    a. The Division of Direct Service Operations (S2RA5):
    1. Formulates legally defensible decisions which address all 
medical and legal aspects of the full range of disability and non-
disability cases.
    2. Responds to telephone calls from the public by providing 
information about eligibility, rights and benefits for RSDI, HI, and 
SSI; and makes referrals regarding other types of related government 
and public services.
    3. Conducts special studies and projects to evaluate alternative 
claims policy, procedures and processing operations and pilots 
innovative approaches or proposed changes in operations.
    4. Tests alternative ideas or processes and provides analyses and 
recommendations concerning their feasibility for use in OCO operations.
    2. The Assistant Associate Commissioner for International 
Operations (S2RE) plans and directs a major portion of the operations 
administered by OCO. He/she is responsible for a division which 
oversees dispersed foreign claims operations.
    a. The Division of International Operations (DIO) (S2RE1) directs 
and coordinates activities pertinent to developing and processing 
foreign claims. It oversees the processing of requests for Social 
Security numbers from individuals residing in foreign countries, and 
the development and initial adjudication of Retirement, Survivors, 
Disability and Health Insurance claims filed abroad, including cases 
filed under totalization agreements. It also directs the 
reconsideration and continuing disability review of such disability 
claims. It directs the processing of post-entitlement actions, the 
determination of fees for attorneys and other representatives, and the 
proper application of tax liability to benefit payments abroad. DIO is 
the focal point for SSA debt management activities regarding foreign 
claims and benefits. It determines the proper payees for beneficiaries; 
recovers or waives overpayments; and processes nonreceipt-of-benefits 
allegations. It provides input or responds to congressional, critical, 
sensitive, hardship and controlled correspondence cases; associates 
material; maintains records and prepares notices and correspondence. It 
provides translation services to SSA, prepares claims material for 
appealed cases, reconsiders adverse claims involving benefits for 
persons in foreign countries, makes findings of administrative finality 
and applies regulations governing the disclosure of confidential 
records.
    This Division also serves as liaison with the Department of State, 
other Government agencies and SSA components on matters pertaining to 
the administration of the SSA program abroad. It provides technical 
direction and guidance to Social Security representatives stationed 
overseas and appraises the role of foreign service posts in 
administering the Social Security program abroad. It designs and 
conducts validation and other special studies to evaluate and foster 
integrity in the Social Security program overseas. It participates in 
negotiations with foreign government representatives, negotiates 
operational accords and procedures with foreign Social Security 
agencies for the implementation of agreements, develops requirements 
for totalization processing and oversees the implementation of 
totalization agreements. The Division provides liaison with the 
Department of State and other Government agencies to ensure SSA 
operations, systems and administrative policies and procedures are 
correctly carried out as they affect the Social Security program 
overseas. It evaluates Social Security representatives stationed 
overseas and ensures that necessary administrative support is provided 
to carry out SSA's mission abroad. It also furnishes information about 
Social Security foreign program matters and concerns to other SSA 
components, other Government agencies, members of Congress and the 
public. It prepares some forms and procedures for OCO and foreign 
service post employees; and participates with the Office of 
International Policy in the development of field office instructions, 
applications, notices, public information materials and systems 
requirements, for totalization processing. The Division continually 
evaluates the processing of cases under existing agreements.
    3. The Assistant Associate Commissioner for Earnings Operations 
(S2RB) is responsible for planning and directing a major portion of the 
operations administered by OCO. He/she is responsible for the planning 
and direction of two divisions and a DOC which establish and maintain 
earnings and enumeration records supporting Social Security programs.

[[Page 32277]]

    a. The Division of Earnings Record Operations (S2RB1):
    1. Answers inquiries about earnings records, including earnings 
discrepancies; investigates and adjusts incorrectly reported earnings 
items; and resolves discrepancies where SSA records disagree with 
individual allegations of services rendered or remuneration received.
    2. Certifies earnings record data to FOs and PSCs for use in the 
adjudication of RSDI cases.
    3. Reviews determinations regarding the correctness of earnings 
data, coverage, increment years, total earnings, closing dates, primary 
insurance amounts and, in disability cases, determinations as to 
whether work requirements are met. Makes these determinations when 
needed.
    4. Makes determinations as to coverage under the Social Security 
Act, as amended, of services performed by employees or self-employed 
individuals in earnings disagreement cases, if a claim for benefits has 
not been filed.
    5. Maintains files of microfilmed employer wage reports, self-
employed income reports, detailed earnings listings and a file of 
earnings reported incorrectly or incompletely by employers or by self-
employed individuals.
    b. The Division of Employer Services (S2RB2):
    1. Corresponds with employers and the Internal Revenue Service 
about the correction and processing of employer wage reports and self-
employment income reports.
    2. Investigates and corrects improperly reported earnings items.
    3. Receives, converts and processes Annual Wage Reporting (AWR) 
data submitted on magnetic media for input to SSA headquarters 
computers. Investigates and resolves magnetic media AWR exception 
output.
    4. Maintains pre-tax-year 1987 agreements with State and interstate 
entities and modifications of these agreements. Reviews wage statements 
submitted for State and interstate entity employees.
    5. Ensures that SSI payment data is exchanged with various external 
payment programs such as those administered by the Veterans 
Administration, Railroad Retirement Board, Office of Personnel 
Management and Department of Defense.
    c. The Wilkes-Barre Data Operations Center (S2RB-F3):
    1. Receives, examines and processes paper annual wage reports and 
other SSA program data through image-based data capturing and 
telecommunications systems for input to SSA headquarters computers.
    2. Electronically edits, validates and balances source data, and 
transmits products timely to the SSA headquarters computer complex.
    3. Contacts beneficiaries, representative payees, field office 
personnel and/or program service center personnel to resolve post-
eligibility systems exception output.
    4. Is the central repository for SSI folders.
    4. The Assistant Associate Commissioner for Management and 
Operations Support (S2RC) is responsible for the direction of four 
centers which perform systems, management, program, and material 
support functions for OCO.
    a. The Center for Systems and Logistics Support (S2RC1):
    1. Provides ADP hardware and software support for OCO. Conducts 
analyses relating to user software application development, contract 
maintenance and equipment use.
    2. Serves as SSA liaison with the Department of the Treasury to 
ensure timely benefit payments.
    3. Integrates and controls benefit payment processing operations.
    4. Tests and validates systems enhancements.
    5. Directs the development of long-range OCO systems planning and 
evaluates ongoing systems requirements.
    6. Oversees procurement of ADP hardware and software for OCO.
    7. Provides technical advice and information to managers and 
employees in OCO about systems development and changes that affect 
operations.
    8. Provides programming, scheduling and operating support for 
automated operational, administrative, managerial and statistical 
computer programs for OCO and other SSA components.
    9. Develops technical requirements for information reporting 
systems. Maintains the OCO magnetic tape library.
    10. Coordinates systems support services, health and safety 
matters, laborer services, transportation, projects concerning the 
maintenance and performance of capitalized equipment and other property 
inventories, and provides input to budget submittals for equipment, 
furniture and supplies.
    b. The Center for Management Support (S2RC2):
    1. Provides administrative support to the Associate Commissioner, 
OCO; and the OCO Assistant Associate Commissioners in such areas as:

--Personnel management.
--Labor relations.
--Budget development and management.
--Management information and analysis.
--Organization planning.

    2. Develops and conducts OCO-wide operational training and employee 
development activities. Analyzes and evaluates training needs and 
effectiveness. Ensures that required Agency-level, other Government 
agency, and private vendor training is provided.
    3. Performs independent reviews to detect and prevent employee and 
beneficiary fraud. Plans, develops and implements the OCO security 
program and conducts security reviews. Reviews beneficiary fraud cases 
and determines whether cases will be referred for consideration for 
prosecution.
    c. The Center for Program Support (S2RC3):
    1. Conducts operations analyses and provides support to the 
Associate Commissioner of OCO to resolve operational and procedural 
problems.
    2. Reviews existing and proposed operating procedures to determine 
their effectiveness. Modifies or devises interim instructions, as 
necessary.
    3. Monitors legislative activities, Commissioner decisions and 
other sources to determine their potential impact on OCO organizations 
and/or operations.
    4. Identifies and determines the impact of existing or new 
workloads to be processed.
    5. Develops comprehensive programs designed to assess and evaluate 
the impact of systems modernization plans on OCO functions, components 
and positions.
    6. Designs and conducts studies to analyze programmatic office 
automation activities, technology needs and systems operations in order 
to recommend enhancements to capabilities. Evaluates systems changes 
prior to implementation and conducts post-implementation analyses.
    d. The Center for Material Resources Support (S2RC4):
    1. Delivers, distributes and dispatches mail for OCO. Provides 
internal mail and central microfilm storage and retrieval services to 
OCO.
    2. Develops and maintains contracts for microphotographic services 
for SSA. Maintains master copies of basic systems and microfilm records 
to ensure continuous operations should records be destroyed. 
Reproduces, on film, a variety of employer and employee records for 
current use and for preservation.
    3. Oversees and maintains the OCO folder and record control 
operations.

[[Page 32278]]

Identifies and resolves folder and record control problems and 
coordinates case location activities.
    4. Retrieves claims folders of denied or terminated Title II and 
Title XVI claims pursuant to the provisions of various class action 
lawsuits and determines if individuals are members of the specified 
classes.
    5. Sorts incoming correspondence to identify all actionable and 
prong-file material. Actionable material is processed, or forwarded for 
substantive review and action.
    6. Develops and manages contracts for services to maintain folder 
storage and file maintenance activities in a variety of geographically 
dispersed locations.

    Dated: May 27, 1998.
Kenneth S. Apfel,
Commissioner of Social Security.
[FR Doc. 98-15695 Filed 6-11-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4190-29-P