The focal point of the pilot will be the Disability Claim Manager (DCM) who will be responsible for shepherding disability claims through initial processing. The DCM will be well versed in both medical and non medical aspects of the disability program and will conduct personal interviews with claimants, develop medical records and adjudicate disability claims through to payment. The pilot will provide Social Security with information needed to develop the new position and support functions.

Test sites will be located in Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, New Jersey, Utah and Wisconsin.

In the ultimate vision of the new position-

• disability applicants will have a single point of contact, the DCM, throughout development of their claims;
  
• the DCM will be able to make final decisions on both the medical and nonmedical aspects of the claims, greatly speeding the time it takes applicants to get their first payments; and
  
• applicants will have an opportunity to talk about their claims before any less-than-favorable decision is made to ensure that all evidence is in their file and that they fully understand the requirements for disability benefits.