Notice2026-01006
Rescission of Social Security Ruling 64-13, 74-8c, 78-24, and 79-38
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
January 21, 2026
Issuing agencies
Social Security Administration
Abstract
We are providing notice of the rescission of SSR 64-13; SSR 74-8c; SSR 78-24; and SSR 79-38.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 13 (Wednesday, January 21, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 13 (Wednesday, January 21, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2581-2582]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-01006]
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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
[Docket No. SSA-2025-0038]
Rescission of Social Security Ruling 64-13, 74-8c, 78-24, and 79-
38
AGENCY: Social Security Administration.
ACTION: Notice of Rescission of Social Security Ruling (SSR).
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SUMMARY: We are providing notice of the rescission of SSR 64-13; SSR
74-8c; SSR 78-24; and SSR 79-38.
DATES: We will apply this rescission on January 21, 2026.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeffrey Hemmeter, Disability Policy,
Social Security Administration, 6401 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD
21235-6401, (410) 597-1815.
For information on eligibility or filing for benefits, call our
national toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213 or visit our internet site,
Social Security Online, at <a href="http://www.socialsecurity.gov">http://www.socialsecurity.gov</a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Although 5 U.S.C. 552(a)(1) and (a)(2) do
not require us to publish SSRs, we publish SSRs in accordance with 20
CFR 402.160(b)(1).
SSRs represent precedential final opinions, orders, and statements
of policy and interpretations that we have adopted relating to the
Federal Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance program, and
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program. We may base SSRs on
determinations or decisions made in our administrative review process,
Federal court decisions, decisions of our Commissioner, opinions from
our Office of the General Counsel, or other interpretations of law and
regulations. Although SSRs do not have the same force and effect as
law, they are binding on all SSA components in accordance with 20 CFR
402.160(b)(1).
By this notice we are rescinding the following SSRs:
[ssquf] SSR 64-13: Section 222(b).--Disability--Deduction For
Refusal to Accept Vocational Rehabilitation Services.
[ssquf] SSR 74-8c: Sections 216(i) and 223 (42 U.S.C. 416(i) and
423)--Disability--Expiration of Insured Status--Onset of Disability
Subsequent Thereto.
[ssquf] SSR 78-24: Disability--Refusal to Accept Vocational
Rehabilitation Services.
[ssquf] SSR 79-38: Title II and Title XVI--Increase in the Amount
of Earnings Used in Determining When Work Activity is Excluded as
``Services'' for Trial Work Period Purposes.
These SSRs were published in the 1960s and 1970s as policy
interpretations binding on all components of the agency. We are
rescinding these SSRs which address vocational rehabilitation (VR)
services, insured status, and trial work periods (TWP), which have
become obsolete either because Congress has amended the Social Security
Act (Act) or because we have incorporated the relevant policy into our
regulations.
[ssquf] SSR 64-13 and SSR 78-24 were based on Section 222(b) of the
Act, which required individuals entitled to disability insurance
benefits or child's, widow's, or widower's insurance benefits based on
disability to cooperate with VR services unless they could demonstrate
good cause not to do so.\1\ However, Section 222(b) of the Act has been
repealed \2\ and thus these SSRs are obsolete.
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\1\ 42 U.S.C 422(b) authorized deductions from payments up to
the amount of an individual's benefit on account of refusal without
good cause to accept rehabilitation services, and authorized
deductions from payments to husbands, wives, or children of
individuals who refused to accept such services with an exception
for children between 18 and 22 who were full-time students.
\2\ Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999,
Public Law 106-170, 101(b)(1)(C); 113 Stat. 1860, 1873 (1999).
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[ssquf] SSR 74-8c is obsolete because its policy was incorporated
into the regulations at 20 CFR 404.131(a).\3\
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\3\ Federal Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance, 45 FR
25383 (Apr. 15, 1980).
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[ssquf] SSR 79-38 is obsolete because its policy was incorporated
into the regulations at 20 CFR 404.1592 for title II disability
cases,\4\ and because the TWP period no longer applies in SSI
disability cases.\5\
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\4\ Federal Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance
Benefits; Supplemental Security Income Benefits for the Aged, Blind,
and Disabled, 45 FR 55566 (Aug. 20, 1980).
\5\ Employment Opportunities for Disabled Americans Act, Public
Law 99-643, 4, 100 Stat 3574, 3575-77 (1986); see also Determining
Disability and Blindness; Substantial Gainful Activity Guides, 65 FR
42772, 42775 (July 11, 2000).
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As such, these SSRs are outdated or obsolete.
We are also rescinding these SSRs as part of the agency's
compliance with Executive Order 14192, Unleashing Prosperity through
Deregulation, which directs agencies to rescind sub-
[[Page 2582]]
regulatory guidance documents as appropriate.
Mark A. Steffensen,
General Counsel, Social Security Administration.
[FR Doc. 2026-01006 Filed 1-20-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4191-02-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on January 21, 2026.
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