On March 31, 2006, the Social Security Administration changed its regulations that govern how disability claims will be decided. The government claims that these new procedures are designed to assure that the correct decision is reached more quickly. Critics of the program say that the regulations make it harder for disabled people to win their claims. The regulations become effective in August of 2006, but at first, they will only effect people who live in the region of the country around Boston, Massachusetts. After the new procedures are tested in the Boston region, then they will steadily become applicable to more parts of the country. To see the new procedures, click here.