History of SSA 1993-2000

This is narrative administrative history of the Social Security Administration during the years 1993-2000. It was completed by SSA in December 2000.

The custom of collecting narrative histories was systematized in a formal way at the end of the administration of Lyndon Johnson. President Johnson directed each federal agency to prepare a formal administrative history of its operations. These Johnson Administrative Histories have come to be prized by historians as one of the most accessible sources of documentation regarding this period.

At the end of the Clinton Administration, using the Johnson narratives as a conscious precedent, all federal agencies were directed to develop an administrative history of their agency during the period of the Clinton presidency. In July 2000 White House Chief of Staff, John Podesta formally asked the major agencies to create administrative histories of their organizations on the model of the Johnson histories. The purpose of this effort was to have a set of administrative histories that would eventually become part of the collections of the Clinton Presidential Library.

In September, the Agency brought together a team of six SSA employees from around the organization, under the direction of SSA Chief of Staff Brian Coyne, and gave them the assignment of writing a complete narrative history of the last eight years. This document is the result of their extraordinary efforts. Although it was originally designed to be part of the collections of the Clinton Presidential Library, this 369-page book is the best summary available of the administrative history of SSA during the years 1993-2000, and as such, it takes its place here alongside other materials related to SSA's history.

Table of Contents
BACKGROUND MATERIAL
Memo from White House Chief of Staff

SSA Staff Who Developed the Narrative History
THE NARRATIVE HISTORY

COVER

PREFACE


CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
PROGRAM IMPACT
EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP
PROGRAM MANAGEMENT
SSA FACES SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES
SSA ENTERS THE 21ST CENTURY
2010 VISION
POLICY DEBATE
PROGRAM SOLVENCY
IMPROVEMENTS TO THE DISABILITY CLAIMS PROCESS
TICKET TO WORK AND WORK INCENTIVES IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 1999
MANAGEMENT OF THE SSI PROGRAM
MAJOR LEGISLATIVE CHANGES
A WELL-RUN AGENCY
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICERS ACT (CFO) OF 1990 AND THE GOVERNMENT MANAGEMENT REFORM ACT (GMRA) OF 1994
GOVERNMENT PERFORMANCE AND RESULTS ACT (GPRA) OF 1993
NATIONAL PERFORMANCE REVIEW (NPR)
HAMMER AWARDS
MAXWELL SCHOOL RECOGNITION
SSA'S NATIONAL 800-NUMBER
CIO MAGAZINE
Y2K
TRAGEDY
GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN
THE GIFT ENDURES
EXHIBIT 1: CHRONOLOGY OF SSA EVENTS 1993-2000

CHAPTER TWO: INDEPENDENT AGENCY
THE EARLY YEARS
THE INDEPENDENT AGENCY PROCESS
OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER: 1993-2000
OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER
INSPECTOR GENERAL
OTHER EXECUTIVE APPOINTMENTS
SOCIAL SECURITY ADVISORY BOARD
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
EXHIBIT 1: NON-CAREER SSA APPOINTEES

CHAPTER THREE: PROGRAM SOLVENCY
FABRIC OF AMERICA
DEMOGRAPHIC CHALLENGES
FINANCIAL CHALLENGES
SOCIAL SECURITY TRUSTEES' REPORTS
ADVISORY COUNCIL ON SOCIAL SECURITY
CONGRESSIONAL INTEREST AND SOLVENCY PROPOSALS
THE PRESIDENT'S SOCIAL SECURITY PROPOSALS AND
THE NATIONAL DIALOGUE
THE AGENCY'S EDUCATION, POLICY, AND RESEARCH EFFORTS
REPEAL OF THE RETIREMENT EARNINGS TEST (RET)
CONCLUSION
EXHIBIT 1: EXAMPLES OF OPTIONS FROM THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADVISORY BOARD

CHAPTER FOUR: PROGRAM CHANGES
THE CHALLENGE OF THE DISABILITY PROGRAM
THE CASE FOR PROCESS CHANGE
DISABILITY REDESIGN
1993 PROCESS
REENGINEERING CONCEPT
DEVELOPMENT AND RELEASE OF THE PLAN
KEY FEATURES OF THE PROPOSED REDESIGN PLAN
ENABLERS TO SUPPORT THE REDESIGN VISION
TESTING FLEXIBILITY
1997 REDESIGN FOCUS NARROWED TO MOST CRITICAL AREAS
THE FULL PROCESS MODEL
REDESIGN DECISIONS INCORPORATED INTO THE AGENCY'S BROADER PLAN
THE PROTOTYPES
TESTING OF THE DISABILITY CLAIM MANAGER (DCM)
RETEST OF THE ELIMINATION OF REQUEST FOR REVIEW
PROTOTYPE PROCESS COMBINED WITH IMPROVEMENTS TO THE HEARING PROCESS
THE HEARING PROCESS IMPROVEMENT PLAN
THE APPEALS COUNCIL IMPROVEMENT PLAN
THE CASE FOR DISABILITY PROGRAM CHANGE
TICKET TO WORK/WORK INCENTIVES
ARTICULATING THE PROBLEMS AND THE SOLUTIONS: DEVELOPING CONSENSUS
WITHIN THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
OTHER STUDIES AND REPORTS
REACHING CONSENSUS
THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS
FORMULATING THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION'S BILL
ACTION IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE
PROVISIONS IN THE FINAL BILL
SIGNING THE BILL INTO LAW
THE LEGACY OF THE LAW
INCREASE IN THE SUBSTANTIAL GAINFUL ACTIVITY LEVEL
OTHER REGULATORY CHANGES TO ENCOURAGE BENEFICIARIES TO WORK
ONGOING RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT IN THE DISABILITY PROGRAM
TREATMENT OF PEOPLE WITH AFFECTIVE DISORDER DISABILITIES
EVALUATION OF TICKET TO WORK AND SELF SUFFICIENCY PROVISIONS
EVALUATION OF STATE PARTNERSHIPS IN EMPLOYING INDIVIDUALS WITH SEVERE DISABILITIES
DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS REQUIRED UNDER THE TICKET TO WORK AND WORK INCENTIVES IMPROVEMENT ACT
INTERNATIONAL STUDY OF WORK INCAPACITY AND REINTEGRATION
NATIONAL STUDY ON HEALTH AND ACTIVITY (NSHA)
DISABILITY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
THE CHALLENGE OF THE SSI PROGRAM
DRUG ADDICTION & ALCOHOLISM (DA&A)
WELFARE REFORM
CHILDHOOD DISABILITY
SSI ELIGIBILITY FOR NONCITIZENS
SPONSOR-TO-ALIEN DEEMING-SSI ELIGIBILITY
SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS FOR NONCITIZENS
SSI OUTREACH
OTHER PROGRAM CHALLENGES
CHANGES IN COVERAGE THRESHOLDS FOR DOMESTIC EMPLOYEES: "THE NANNY TAX"
TITLE VIII
QUALIFYING FOR SPECIAL VETERANS BENEFITS (SVB)
SVB BENEFICIARIES
SVB PAYMENT INITIATION
THE CHALLENGE OF THE FUTURE
STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT
THE SOCIAL SECURITY STRATEGIC PLAN: A FRAMEWORK FOR THE FUTURE
1993: THE WATERSHED YEAR
1994: PILOTING PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT
1995: PLANNING IN AN INDEPENDENT AGENCY
SSA'S GENERAL BUSINESS PLAN: FISCAL YEARS 1996-1999
1996: MOVING TOWARD GPRA IMPLEMENTATION
SSA'S BUSINESS PLAN: FISCAL YEARS 1997-2001
1997: "KEEPING THE PROMISE"
BUSINESS PLAN: FISCAL YEARS 1998-2002
1998: INSTITUTIONALIZING THE ASP
SSA PLANNING GUIDE
SSA PLANNING GUIDANCE-PROCESS REVISED
1999 ANNUAL PERFORMANCE PLAN (APP)
INITIAL PERFORMANCE PLAN - FISCAL YEAR 2000
1999: PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT EVOLVES TO A NEW LEVEL/FIRST STEPS TO A NEW VISION
ANNUAL PERFORMANCE PLAN FISCAL YEAR 2000
2000: A NEW STRATEGIC DRIVER: SSA'S 2010 VISION
SSA'S 2010 VISION
"MASTERING THE CHALLENGE:" STRATEGIC PLAN FY 2000-2005
STRATEGIC PLANNING 1993-2000: FROM GPRA TO THE 2010 VISION
RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT: THE IMPROVED POLICY PROCESS
EARLY CLINTON YEARS
POLICY RESEARCH
POVERTY
DEVELOPMENTS IN PENSIONS
COHORT-SPECIFIC MEASURES OF LIFETIME NET SOCIAL SECURITY TRANSFERS
SHORT-TERM MICROSIMULATION MODELING
WOMEN, WORK, AND SOCIAL SECURITY
DISABILITY STUDIES
DATA LINKAGES
LINKED DATA FOR INTERNAL RESEARCH
MARCH 31, 1995 (INDEPENDENT AGENCY) TO SPRING 1998 (THE NEW OP)
NEW COMMISSIONER
DISABILITY STUDIES
THE NEW OFFICE OF POLICY (SPRING 1998 TO PRESENT)
EXPANDED RESEARCH AND POLICY BUDGET
POLICY DEVELOPMENT
OP/ORES'S PUBLISHING AND STATISTICAL PROGRAM
ORES STATISTICAL DATA

CHAPTER FIVE: CUSTOMER-RESPONSIVE WORLD-CLASS SERVICE
NATIONAL PARTNERSHIP FOR REINVENTING GOVERNMENT
SURVEY FRONT-LINE EMPLOYEES ON BARRIERS
SURVEY CUSTOMERS
POST SERVICE STANDARDS
PROVIDE A MEANS TO ADDRESS CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS
BENCHMARK CUSTOMER SERVICE STANDARDS AGAINST THE BEST IN BUSINESS
PROCESS CHANGE AND TECHNOLOGICAL ENHANCEMENTS
NATIONAL 800 NUMBER NETWORK
REMISSIONING
PAYMENT CYCLING
IMMEDIATE CLAIM TAKING UNITS (ICT)
TOTALIZATION AGREEMENTS
DIRECT DEPOSIT OF BENEFIT PAYMENTS - DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL
INTERNATIONAL DIRECT DEPOSIT
DATA EXCHANGE BETWEEN AGENCIES
NOTICES
RESPONSIVE SERVICE TO CUSTOMERS
DIVERSE CUSTOMERS
NON-ENGLISH SPEAKING/LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENT (NES/LEP)
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
TRAGEDIES AND NATURAL DISASTERS
GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN
YEAR 2000 TRANSITION (Y2K)
ELECTRONIC SERVICE DELIVERY
INTERNET SERVICES
ELECTRONIC WAGE REPORTING
CONCLUSION
EXHIBIT 1: STATUS OF TOTALIZATION AGREEMENTS

CHAPTER SIX: PROGRAM INTEGRITY
STEWARDSHIP
OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL
FRAUD INITIATIVES/PROGRAM INTEGRITY
EMPLOYEE FRAUD
SERVICE PROVIDER FRAUD
SSI ELIGIBILITY PROJECT
SSN MISUSE
FOREIGN ANTI-FRAUD ACTIVITIES
PRISONERS
DISABILITY PROGRAM INTEGRITY
CONTINUING DISABILITY REVIEWS AND REDETERMINATIONS
SSI HIGH RISK PROGRAM
IMPROVING PAYMENT ACCURACY
COMBATING PROGRAM FRAUD
NONAGENARIANS
PRIVACY AND SECURITY
ENHANCING THE SOCIAL SECURITY CARD
INTERNET SECURITY
INFORMATION SYSTEMS SECURITY PLAN
MOVING AWAY FROM MAINFRAME SYSTEMS
NEW EMERGING CONCERNS

CHAPTER SEVEN: PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING
INDEPENDENT AGENCY
1993-1995: PRE-INDEPENDENT AGENCY
1995: SSA BECOMES AN INDEPENDENT AGENCY
MAJOR INITIATIVES
MEASURING COMMUNICATIONS PERFORMANCE
THE SOCIAL SECURITY STATEMENT
TECHNOLOGY
COMMUNICATIONS STAFF AND TRAINING
CHALLENGES
EXHIBIT 1: SUMMARY OF PUMS-II NATIONAL RESULTS

CHAPTER EIGHT: WORKFORCE INVESTMENTS

DIVERSITY
PROGRAMS AND POLICIES
PARTNERSHIP
TECHNOLOGY: IWS/LAN AND THE INTRANET
INTELLIGENT WORKSTATION/LOCAL AREA NETWORK (IWS/LAN) INSTALLATION
THE INTRANET
OTHER ADVANCES IN TECHNOLOGY
SUCCESSION PLANNING & TRAINING
SUCCESSION PLANNING
TRAINING
PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE & SECURITY
UPGRADE OF THE HEADQUARTERS COMPLEX
FIRE PROTECTION INITIATIVES
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS
RECYCLING AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY
EMPLOYEE WORKSTATION IMPROVEMENTS
PHYSICAL SECURITY
INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS
EXHIBIT 1: 2000 SSA/AFGE RATIFICATION AGREEMENT

CONCLUSION


GLOSSARY

REFERENCES