摘要: The Social Security Administration (SSA) is responsible for administering the Social Security Disability Insurance (DI) and the Supplement Security Income (SSI) programs--the nation's two largest disability programs. In calendar y... 展开 The Social Security Administration (SSA) is responsible for administering the Social Security Disability Insurance (DI) and the Supplement Security Income (SSI) programs--the nation's two largest disability programs. In calendar year 2001, SSA provided cash assistance through these two programs to 8.8 million working-age beneficiaries with qualifying disabilities, and about 3.4 million people applied for benefits. SSA is required to administer its disability programs in a fair and unbiased manner. Nevertheless, the proportion of African American applicants allowed benefits has been historically lower than the proportion of white applicants. These allowance rate differences have occurred with respect to disability determinations made by state Disability Determination Service (DDS) offices and in decisions made at the hearings level by Administrative Law Judges (ALJs). This report examines: (1) SSA's efforts to study potential racial disparities in ALJ decisions and (2) steps SSA has taken at the hearings level to address possible racial and ethnic bias in ALJ decision making. 收起