The Social Security Administration (SSA) published final rules in the Federal Register on July 1, 2016 for evaluating neurological disorders. The rules take effect on September 29, 2016 and will remain in effect for 5 years unless the effective date is extended.
SSA revised the criteria in the Listing of Impairments (listings) that is used to evaluate disability claims involving neurological disorders in adults and children under titles II and XVI of the Social Security Act (Act). The final rules are:
- Change the name of the body system from "Neurological" to "Neurological Disorders”
- Revise and reorganize the introductory text to reflect the order of the listings and clarify how to use the listings
- Add new listings and remove some current listings for children and adults
- Add introductory text for the new listings
- Change the name of some listings to reflect current medical terminology
- Clarify our requirements for evaluating disorganization of motor function
- Add bulbar and neuromuscular criteria
- Add criteria to evaluate functional limitations in adults