Development of new methods to determine work disability in the United States.

The development of new methods to determine work disability for the United States Social Security Administration is described, including the fiscal and administrative background to the current and proposed methods. An introduction to the current disability determination process and description of its status is followed by a description of the original proposed plan for redesign of the process. In response to this plan, the authors participated in several research projects. An overview of some of the key research projects performed to improve the Social Security Administration disability determination process is provided.