Analyzing Language within Social Security Disability Insurance Denial Notices Público

Abstract

This thesis examines the construction and content of Social Security Disability Insurance
(SSDI) denial notices in order to gain a better understanding of the culture of the Social Security
Administration (SSA) and the government's conception of disability. I approach this study from
a rhetorical standpoint and combine a close textual analysis with a review of the creation of the
SSDI program. By breaking down the notices into a series of speech acts through genre analysis,
I have studied why each portion was incorporated into the text. Understanding why certain
phrases and sentences were included or omitted from the notices reveals that the work aspect of
the SSDI definition of disability is most important to the government. I conclude that the flaws
within the language of the correspondence result from problems in the creation and
implementation of the disability insurance program. Claimants have often complained about the
correspondence from the SSA due to the confusing information conveyed, and this study reveals
that this is because the government uses a definition of disability that has not been updated since
the 1950's. My analysis shows that while the government successfully defends its definition of
disability in the notices, the letters justify a meaning that no longer corresponds with today's
understanding of the term. The disconnect between the current and past ideas of disability are a
source of the problems in the language of the notices. While these notices were supposed to be
useful tools for prospective beneficiaries, over time this intention has been waylaid by other
problems in the SSDI system, like controlling approval rates or using an outdated conception of
disability.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents
Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 7
Creation of the Social Security Disability Insurance Program ....................................................... 9
Applying for Disability Benefits ................................................................................................... 14
Writing the Denial Notices ........................................................................................................... 17
Applying Genre Analysis to Disability Notices ............................................................................ 24
Breakdown of the Components of the Letters. ............................................................................. 26
Move 1: Discussion of the Medical Conditions ............................................................................ 27
Move 2: Residual Functional Capacity ......................................................................................... 35
Move Three: Analysis of Work Capacity ..................................................................................... 38
Move Four: Mental Health............................................................................................................ 41
Additional Moves .......................................................................................................................... 45
Overall Examination of the Notices .............................................................................................. 46
What the Notices Reflect About SSDI.......................................................................................... 50
What the Notices Reflect about Disability .................................................................................... 53
Conclusion .................................................................................................................................... 55
Bibliography ................................................................................................................................. 57

About this Honors Thesis

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School	Emory College
Department	English
Degree	BA
Submission	Honors Thesis
Language	English
Research Field	Language, Rhetoric and Composition Language, General
Palabra Clave	Social Security Disability Insurance Language Social Security Disability Genre Analysis
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Otis, Laura, Emory University
Committee Members	Gilman, Sander L, Emory University Reiss, Benjamin, Emory University

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