Rapport 2017-09

Summary 14 In order for the SSIA to be able to assess claimants according to the rehabilitation chain, the agency needs to conduct an investigation to clarify the circumstances that are relevant in each individual case. Good quality assessments are a prerequisite for ensuring that persons who are entitled to sickness benefit receive it. Objectives The objective of this study is to examine how the SSIA makes the assessments to meet the legislative requirements for sickness benefit after 90 days and 180 days. Methods 200 case files were requested from the SSIA for review. 100 case files for the 90-day assessment and 100 case files for the 180-day assessment. Of these 184 case files were complete and could be reviewed. Findings and conclusions The study shows that an assessment is made for both 90 and 180 days in a majority of cases. However, many of these assessments are of unsatisfactory quality. For the 90-day assessment two thirds are of unsatisfactory quality, the corresponding number for the 180-day assessments is one third. There is a lack of basic information in many of the reviewed cases. Information from the employer is often missing or incomplete. It is important that the SSIA focuses on the circumstances that need to be explored when the agency makes an investigation. It is a challenge to make sure each case receives the processing needed to clarify the individual's needs, rather than performing an investigation and assessment that formally meets the requirements of the law, but does not provide sufficient information for the continued investigation and planning of the individual case.