AN ACT FOR THE STATE DEPARTMENT FOR SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION DISABILITY DETERMINATION APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR.

Funding and staffing for Arkansas disability decisions

From July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, Arkansas provides about $77.82 million in federal funds for disability determination operations. The office can employ up to 594 regular workers and 20 temporary or part-time workers; hiring is not required. Temporary workers' pay cannot exceed the rates allowed for their job classifications. Funding includes about $40.68 million for regular salaries, $450,000 for temporary help, and $14.47 million for employer matching costs. It also includes $2 million for overtime, about $6.18 million for operating expenses, and $13.93 million for professional fees. Travel and conferences receive $26,500, equipment and other capital purchases receive $75,000, and data processing receives no separate allocation. During that same year, the director can create up to 250 additional full-time jobs funded with federal money. These jobs must serve department goals or meet federal requirements for new or expanded programs. They require Office of Personnel Management approval and prior review by the Arkansas Legislative Council or Joint Budget Committee. Keeping these jobs requires requesting them as new positions in the department's budget. Spending must follow purchasing, budgeting, and financial-control rules and the stated budget purposes. This law funds agency operations; it does not change household benefit amounts or eligibility.