tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-192467082012-02-01T20:04:44.218-05:00Social Security NewsYour source for news affecting the U.S. Social Security Administration
Copyright Charles T. HallSocial Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.comBlogger50351100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-78415122001161273232012-02-01T08:58:00.000-05:002012-02-01T08:58:24.821-05:00Changes At Appeals CouncilSome changes have been made at the Appeals Council. Effective January 9 Branches 11-19 were disbanded. Pending cases and staff were transferred. See below for the new Appeals Council lineup.
Branch Circuit Jurisdiction* Branch Chief Branch Telephone Number Branch Fax Number
1 9th & 10th (00-16) Ilselore Passalacqua (703) 605-7150 (703) 605-7151
2 9th & 10th (17-33) Merina Floyd (703) 605Social Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-6888062075530548352012-01-31T12:05:00.000-05:002012-01-31T12:06:27.115-05:00Autism Spectrum May Be Narrowed In New DSMFrom the New York Times:
Proposed changes in the definition of autism would sharply reduce the skyrocketing rate at which the disorder is diagnosed and might make it harder for many people who would no longer meet the criteria to get health, educational and social services, a new analysis suggests. The definition is now being reassessed by an expert panel appointed by the American Psychiatric Social Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-63374410089342598972012-01-31T09:20:00.000-05:002012-01-31T09:21:55.788-05:00Living In The Sticks Isn't Good For Your HealthFrom the Kansas City Star:
WARSAW, Mo. -- Around this rural county seat 100 miles southeast of Kansas City, 1 out of every 8 people of working age is home collecting disability checks from the Social Security Administration. That compares to about 1 in 20 for the Kansas City area ... [W]here are they most apt to collect [Social Security disability benefits] ? A recent tabulation of Social Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-91470518735284217432012-01-30T09:01:00.001-05:002012-01-31T09:23:37.755-05:00Must File Appeals Online Effective on March 16, anyone representing a Social Security claimant is supposed to file reconsideration requests and requests for hearing online, according to a new directive to be published in the Federal Register tomorrow. The directive states that "We may investigate to determine if a representative purposefully violated this duty or is attempting to circumvent our rules. We may Social Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-22068708816184908872012-01-29T10:20:00.000-05:002012-01-29T10:20:43.953-05:00Genealogists Fight Back! Genealogists plan to fight back against changes in Social Security's Death Master File. The Death Master File affects many interests who otherwise care little about what goes on at Social Security.Social Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-77499320066104906462012-01-28T06:00:00.003-05:002012-01-28T06:00:03.283-05:00Congressional Hearing Announced From a press release:
U.S. Congressman Sam Johnson (R-TX), Chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means Subcommittee on Social Security announced today that the Subcommittee will hold a hearing on the accuracy and uses of the Social Security Administration’s Death Master File. The hearing will take place on Thursday, February 2, 2012 in B-318 Rayburn House Office Building, Social Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-86986985209064898012012-01-27T06:00:00.012-05:002012-01-27T06:00:08.698-05:00Patty Duke Applies For Social Security Benefits And There's More Revealed Than You Would Expect -- Unscripted Social Security Number Wistfulness, A Few Real Tears And A Major Detail That Social Security Hopes You Don't Notice
Ms. Duke became wistful thinking about receiving a Social Security number at a very young age.At that time one received a Social Security number only when one began working. She received her Social Security number at such a young age because she started working as an actress at a very young age. The acting itself may not have been so bad for Ms. Duke but her life around the time she Social Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-341502968602205142012-01-26T06:00:00.000-05:002012-01-26T06:00:14.160-05:00I Feel So Bland And Colorless After Watching ThisSocial Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-21139127736662912132012-01-25T09:11:00.001-05:002012-01-25T09:15:07.771-05:00Social Security Releases Contractor Information Social Security has released its annual Service Contract Inventory, which shows how much was made to each of the agency's service contractors. If you go to the trouble, you can find how much was paid not only to Lockheed Martin but to each medical consultant or vocational expert. I did a quick review and came up with this list of the biggest contractors:Lockheed Martin $72 million
Computer Social Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-40532439364961971492012-01-24T11:56:00.000-05:002012-01-24T11:56:22.217-05:00Budget Cuts Mean Staff Cuts Which Means Less Work Gets DoneHere are a couple of tables from the testimony of Steve Clifton, the President of the National Council of Social Security Management Associations (NCSSMA) at today's Social Security Subcommitee hearing.
Just two acronyms to explain -- FY means Fiscal Year and TSC means Teleservice Center.Social Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-21036613505639921862012-01-24T11:41:00.000-05:002012-01-24T11:41:50.570-05:00Hearing Backlogs To Improve? From the testimony of Social Security Deputy Commissioner Carolyn Colvin at today's House Social Security Subcommittee hearing:Due to tight budgets in fiscal years (FY) 2011 and 2012, we have suspended or postponed lower priority activities so that we can continue to achieve our most important goals—eliminating the hearings backlog and focusing on program integrity work. Our available Social Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-70488909341910814292012-01-24T09:46:00.000-05:002012-01-24T09:46:06.214-05:00Some PEBES Mailings To Resume From the Associated Press:
Social Security benefits statements — which officials stopped mailing to cut costs — will again be sent out to selected age groups. Annual statements will begin being sent again next month to people 60 and older who are not yet receiving benefits, Social Security Commissioner Michael Astrue said in a letter obtained by The Associated Press. One-time mailings toSocial Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-66123040128004718632012-01-24T09:41:00.000-05:002012-01-24T09:41:21.173-05:00Burlington, NC Field Office To Close The Burlington, NC Social Security field office will be closing in March as a budget cutting measure. I am familiar with Burlington since it is about an hour by car from where I'm sitting. It is not losing population. Burlington and surrounding communities, such as Graham, Mebane and Elon, are all growing rapidly. This reduces service to tens of thousands of people and increases pressure on Social Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-30506468122198760812012-01-23T06:00:00.007-05:002012-01-23T06:00:11.274-05:0065 Year Old Arrested For Threatening Social Security Employees From CBS Chicago:
A 65-year-old man upset with reductions to his benefits allegedly threatened to kill employees at the Social Security Administration this week.The Department of Homeland Security took Frank Logan’s reported threats seriously enough to have local police obtain a warrant for Logan’s arrest, Joliet Cmdr. Brian Benton said.Logan has called the office in Wilkes Barre, Pa., Social Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-75559352160649649432012-01-22T10:23:00.003-05:002012-01-22T10:24:18.335-05:00Labor Contract Negotiations At An Impasse Social Security management has been in a protracted negotiation with the labor union that represents most of its employees, the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), over a new contract. The AFGE website reports that the union has requested the intervention of the Federal Service Impasses Panel (FSIP), which is a fairly obscure federal agency. The FSIP has directed the parties Social Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-79474148635202738782012-01-21T10:57:00.000-05:002012-01-21T10:58:48.627-05:00Office Closure In PittsburghOne of Pittsburgh's Social Security field offices is closing.Social Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-56668443299512996772012-01-20T08:40:00.002-05:002012-01-20T08:40:35.789-05:00Your Moment Of ZenSocial Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-30180770084221162182012-01-19T06:00:00.013-05:002012-01-19T06:00:01.744-05:00The Rest Doesn't Matter; Just Cut People Off Benefits The House Social Security Subcommittee has scheduled a hearing for January 24 on minimizing "improper payments and protect taxpayers’ dollars from waste, fraud, and abuse." I think one can read this hearing as an effort to make sure that Social Security's top priority in spending its limited operating funds is cutting people off disability benefits.Maintaining routine operations appears to Social Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-13701654411696527782012-01-18T08:46:00.000-05:002012-01-18T08:46:27.905-05:00Final Rules On Medicare Prescription Drug Subsidy Social Security has adopted final rules on eligibility for the Medicare prescription drug subsidy. These are the same as the interim final rules already in place.Social Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-89869014076256711262012-01-17T08:59:00.001-05:002012-01-18T08:38:11.378-05:00The Leninist Strategy For Social Security Hasn't Work Every scheme has to start somewhere. Michael Hiltzik at the Los Angeles Times points out that the right wing scheme to guarantee Social Security benefits to those who are already retired or who are about to retire while cutting or eliminating benefits for those who are further away from retirement started in 1983. Stuart Butler and Peter Germanis wrote Achieving a Leninist Strategy for the Social Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-53252703274785174992012-01-16T09:58:00.001-05:002012-01-16T10:00:07.804-05:00What Factors Predispose To Disability?From Science Daily(emphasis added):
Factors other than genetics and childhood environment affect the risk of going on medical leave or disability pension, reports a study in the January Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, official publication of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM). Led by Åsa Samuelsson, MSc, of Karolinska Institutet, Social Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-17072615526690229542012-01-15T10:35:00.001-05:002012-01-15T10:37:29.284-05:00Earnings Statements Still Not Available OnlineFrom Oregon Live:
Those Social Security statements you once got each year in the mail? They were supposed to be available online by now. They aren't, and it's not clear when they'll be there or whether they'll be mailed instead, as promise. The Social Security Administration continues to work to get annual statements online, a spokesman said, but has no plans to resume mailing them. . But the Social Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-22935830278302070762012-01-14T10:54:00.000-05:002012-01-14T10:54:29.264-05:00Contract Awarded For Data Center Construction The Frederick, Maryland News Post reports that a $191.5 million contract has been awarded to Hensel Phelps Construction to build a 300,000 square foot national data center for Social Security in Urbana, Maryland. Urbana is currently represented in the House by Roscoe Bartlett, a Republican.Social Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-37296564206512446652012-01-14T10:42:00.000-05:002012-01-14T10:42:48.071-05:00Field Office Closures The Norwalk Citizen reports that the local Social Security field office is closing. Local Congressmen are protesting.
Social Security is also closing its Monclair, NJ field office. In total, five offices in New York and New Jersey are being closed.Social Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-56244164252311405102012-01-13T06:00:00.000-05:002012-01-13T06:00:04.635-05:00In Case You Weren't Aware, Ohio Has A Republican GovernorFrom NBC4 in Ohio:
Inside a large building on the north side of Columbus is one of the most important offices in state government. "We have about 600 employees now and we do over 212,000 claims for Ohioans with disabilities now for Social Security," said Erik Williamson, deputy director of the Division of Disability Determination with the Rehabilitation Services Commission (RSC). It’s in the Social Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-45359732906205608112012-01-12T10:45:00.000-05:002012-01-12T10:45:07.376-05:00Social Security Requests Your InputSocial Security is seeking public comments "regarding the unique needs of homeless Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients, particularly those who live in public emergency shelters for the homeless, in an effort to better understand and address their needs."Social Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-91875635602228139682012-01-12T06:00:00.000-05:002012-01-12T06:00:09.193-05:00Green Card WoesFrom CBS News - Dallas Forth Worth:
Thumbing through old photos Tuesday, Henry Kamnick often stopped to point out some of his favorite ones with his family. The Azle father says he’s built a lifetime of memories in North Texas. His family moved to the area from Germany when he was 12-years-old. ...
The 65-year-old has even served his country. He was in the Army and stationed at Fort Hood, Social Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-17170587358086338392012-01-11T11:09:00.000-05:002012-01-11T11:09:01.972-05:00Death Master File Changes May Mean Multi-Billion Bonus For Life InsurersFrom Fox Business:
For years, the Death Master File of the Social Security Administration (SSA) was a valuable resource for life insurance companies when they needed it, and ignored when they did not. ... Insurers can use the list to find out if a life insurance policyholder has died, at which point they must pay the beneficiaries. According to Florida, California and New York regulators Social Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-67481900293645364092012-01-10T10:31:00.000-05:002012-01-10T10:31:41.261-05:00No Comment Department From a press release titled Kia Hampton, Miss Congeniality USA 2011, Joins Eric C. Conn Law Firm:
The Eric C. Conn Law Firm, a Social Security Disability Law Firm which focuses on spreading the understanding of Social Security Disability as well as hosting events for individuals in need, today announced the appointment of Kia Hampton as the official Public Information Director. HamptonSocial Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-71654717759488417802012-01-09T11:50:00.000-05:002012-01-09T11:50:05.887-05:00The Future?From the Huron Daily Tribune of Michigan:
BAD AXE — The Social Security Administration’s real-time video conference system is set to officially go online next week. ... It’s been about nine months since the SSA has had a representative available in Bad Axe to meet with local residents. ... The county entered into an agreement letting SSA set up a real-time video conference system that will be Social Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-68767774602265112422012-01-08T10:47:00.000-05:002012-01-08T10:47:02.889-05:00FPS To The Rescue According to one blogger, the Federal Protective Service (FPS) sent something like a SWAT team, with a semiautomatic weapon and a bomb sniffing dog, to the Leesburg, VA Social Security field office this past week with no advance warning and for no reason other than training.Social Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-3725126243195307152012-01-07T10:27:00.000-05:002012-01-07T10:27:47.174-05:00Is This How You Attract Republican Voters?From the Huffington Post:
Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum called Friday for immediate cuts to Social Security benefits ... "We can't wait 10 years," even though "everybody wants to," Santorum told a crowd while campaigning in New Hampshire and looking to set himself apart from his Republican rivals four days before the New Hampshire primary. ... He argued that he is being Social Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-40724786630294101012012-01-06T08:50:00.000-05:002012-01-06T08:50:01.081-05:00What Explains Variation In Disability Application Rates Across StatesFrom What Explains Variation In Disability Application Rates Across States, a report by the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College (see below for an illustration from the report): This brief has examined why SSDI [Social Security Disability Insurance] application rates vary so much between states. Not surprisingly, health, demographic, and employment characteristics are the major Social Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-32720415885221553002012-01-05T11:31:00.000-05:002012-01-05T11:31:12.244-05:00Updated Fee Payment StatsSocial Security has released the following final numbers for 2011 on payments of fees to attorneys and others who represent Social Security claimants:
Fee Payments
Month/Year Volume Amount
Jan-11 34,467 $113,459,847.04
Feb-11 33,305 $107,796,771.38
Social Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-5005001540102167722012-01-04T09:02:00.000-05:002012-01-04T09:02:06.247-05:00Not Out Of The Woods From Scott Hochberg writing in Huffington Post:
For Social Security’s advocates, this past year has been all about defense. Fortunately, the defense outplayed the offense. Those of us playing defense were backed by the overwhelming majority of the American people who across both party line and virtually every demographic are clear that they do not want to see Social Security benefits Social Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-19499381075205778832012-01-03T10:10:00.000-05:002012-01-03T10:10:28.887-05:00Separating Payment To The Attorney From Payment To The Claimant Quite a few years ago Social Security would authorize payment of back benefits to a claimant at one time and then later come back and authorize payment of the attorney fee. (This is so long ago there were no fees being paid to non-attorney representatives at the time.) This was felt to be necessary because the claimant had the right to object under the fee agreement process to the fee. Social Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-78434706539513061302012-01-02T06:00:00.001-05:002012-01-02T06:00:05.080-05:00The Truth "We can no longer do more with less. We will do less with less ..."
--Carolyn Colvin, Social Security's Deputy Commissioner, speaking to the National Council of Social Security Management Associations (NCSSMA)Social Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-85838672535333499032012-01-01T00:01:00.001-05:002012-01-01T00:01:02.939-05:00Happy New YearSocial Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-59843577763895525022011-12-31T10:51:00.000-05:002011-12-31T10:51:55.295-05:00Top Ten Most Read Posts Of 2011Below are this blog's top ten most read posts of 2011:
Encryption Of CDs
Can't Get A Social Security Statement Online Anymore
Will The August Social Security Checks Come Out On Time?
High Reversing ALJ Draws WSJ Attention
No Overtime At Payment Center
Shakeup Continues At Social Security
August 3 Social Security And SSI Checks At Risk
Will Social Security Checks Go Out In August?
Social Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-1017863815415448362011-12-30T06:00:00.000-05:002011-12-30T06:00:01.504-05:00Direct Deposit Fraud A television station in Tampa is reporting that there have been two dozen instances locally in recent months of Social Security direct deposits being diverted to bank accounts not controlled by the person who is supposed to be receiving the money. This is highly worrisome since it may be impossible to prevent under current practices and could spread quickly. I don't think this is the Social Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-56854459757359643692011-12-29T06:00:00.000-05:002011-12-29T06:00:00.343-05:00Not To Be Replaced From The Messenger of Fort Dodge, Iowa:
Ray Powell came with the wind, so to speak. Powell began his career at Fort Dodge's Social Security Administration office in June 1979 - shortly after tornadoes struck Manson and Algona. Powell's departure [from his job as office manager] is set to be somewhat less dramatic. After 32 years in Fort Dodge, Powell will retire on Friday. Yes, Social Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-83260941219143948732011-12-28T11:38:00.000-05:002011-12-28T11:38:04.585-05:0015,043 Died Waiting For Disability Determination From today's Wall Street Journal:
The backlog of applications for disability benefits is so big the Social Security Administration has a special code—DXDI—for appeals dismissed because the applicant died waiting. Since 2005, the agency has made 15,043 DXDI designations.Social Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-32520547253016547352011-12-28T09:01:00.000-05:002011-12-28T09:01:56.762-05:00A Race To The Bottom Garners Only A 6% Market Share For Binder And Binder That Wall Street Journal article on Binder and Binder indicates that they took in $88 million in fees for representing Social Security claimants last year which is a lot but that the total for everyone representing Social Security claimants was $1.4 billion. By my math, that means that Binder and Binder had only a 6% market share nationally despite spending $20 million on television ads and Social Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-18530297070117907692011-12-27T09:47:00.002-05:002011-12-27T09:47:58.879-05:00User Fee Stays At 6.3% The user fee imposed on those who receive direct payment of fees for representing Social Security claimants will remain at 6.3% in 2012.Social Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-80710397766661767242011-12-26T06:00:00.000-05:002011-12-26T06:00:02.824-05:00Paying For Referrals From a press release:
Freedom Disability, a national Social Security Disability Advocacy group, has launched Freedom Cash Rewards, a unique online referral program designed to connect those who need Disability benefits to a premier advocacy service. Through this program, both the referrer and the person being referred would have the opportunity to earn cash rewards starting at $50. ... Social Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-35402462662076144412011-12-25T06:00:00.001-05:002011-12-25T06:00:05.782-05:00Merry ChristmasSocial Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-35112371825766887282011-12-24T17:00:00.001-05:002011-12-24T17:00:05.273-05:00Merry ChristmasSocial Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-29328614904992090592011-12-24T10:08:00.001-05:002011-12-24T10:08:00.247-05:00Means Testing Social Security?Is means testing Social Security a good idea? Kevin Drum at Mother Jones gives some cogent supply side reasons why it would be a very bad idea.Social Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-84662073840305950952011-12-24T06:00:00.000-05:002011-12-24T06:00:06.636-05:00Merry ChristmasSocial Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-2428843299638344782011-12-23T15:06:00.002-05:002011-12-23T15:06:37.280-05:00Commissioner On BudgetFrom: ^Commissioner Broadcast
Sent: Friday, December 23, 2011 2:37 PM
Subject: COMMISSIONER'S BROADCAST--12/23/11
A Message To All SSA And DDS Employees
Subject: Budget Approved
Thank you for your patience during the latest budget negotiations and for handling the uncertainty professionally. I am pleased to report that President Obama today signed the Omnibus appropriations bill. Social Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-11025212933022763042011-12-23T10:00:00.005-05:002011-12-23T10:00:08.672-05:00Binder and Binder Advertising Expenses -- Off The Charts! The Wall Street Journal article yesterday contained some interesting information on Binder and Binder's operations. Their total revenues in 2010 were about $88 million, which is a stunning number, but almost as stunning to me was Binder and Binder's television advertising expenses, more than $20 million. As big as that number is, you must remember that television is only a part of their Social Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-21128012885487093622011-12-23T09:21:00.000-05:002011-12-23T09:21:19.922-05:00New Regulations From the new regulations published today in the Federal Register:
Sec. 404.903 Administrative actions that are not initial determinations. ...
(g) Refusing to recognize, disqualifying, or suspending a person from acting as your representative in a proceeding before us ...
Sec. 404.1740 Rules of conduct and standards of responsibility for representatives.
All attorneys or other personsSocial Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-2312936344502978122011-12-23T08:45:00.000-05:002011-12-23T08:45:10.308-05:00Senator Calls For Social Security To Scrutinize Binder And Binder Clients From UPI (they still exist?!):
U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., called on the Social Security Administration to examine cases of disability claimants represented by a high profile legal firm. Coburn Thursday called on SSA Commissioner Michael Astrue to look into the health status of people represented by Binder & Binder, a firm based in Hauppauge, N.Y., that advertises nationally. ...
Coburn,Social Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-9589121488116287522011-12-23T06:01:00.009-05:002011-12-23T06:01:01.278-05:00A Top Ten List Below are some numbers from yesterday's Wall Street Journal article. These are the top ten individual recipients of fees for representing Social Security claimants in 2010, the amount received and their headquarters location. These are individuals, not entities. Some fees are attributed to individual employees of larger entities and sometimes to just one individual at the head of such an Social Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-74630534854717164992011-12-23T06:00:00.000-05:002011-12-23T06:00:09.672-05:00Merry ChristmasSocial Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-81638730430691006512011-12-22T09:24:00.002-05:002011-12-23T08:59:28.230-05:00New Regs On Representatives TomorrowThe new regulations on representatives will appear in the Federal Register tomorrow. It seems clear that these are intended as a response to the Wall Street Journal story. Social Security used an old proposal on recognizing entities as the basis for this although I think there is little connection between the two.Social Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-15542576346280677982011-12-22T09:01:00.001-05:002011-12-22T13:05:01.938-05:00Binder And Binder Piece In Wall Street JournalThe Wall Street Journal is running its long anticipated story on Binder and Binder. I have not yet been able to read anything other than the blurb available so far online.
Here is a link to the full article.Social Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-83690105172049423072011-12-22T06:01:00.000-05:002011-12-22T06:01:02.447-05:00What Is Social Security Up To? I don't know what this means. Perhaps, it means little. However, Social Security sent over to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a proposed final regulation on November 14, 2011. The proposed regulation would alter the agency's "rules of conduct and standards of responsibility for representatives." The rules cleared OMB on December 20. We have no idea what is in this since there wasSocial Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-22766125447411166292011-12-22T06:00:00.000-05:002011-12-22T06:00:01.130-05:00Merry ChristmasSocial Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-72720415297353201772011-12-21T06:02:00.002-05:002011-12-21T06:02:00.429-05:00Hiring More ALJs? Decline In Disability Claims? There is a report at the ALJ Discussion Forum that Social Security intends to hire 107 Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) in September 2012. The same person also reports that there has been a decline in the number of disability claims filed in the last three months, particularly in October. I do not doubt that Social Security wants to hire more ALJs next year. I would be very surprised ifSocial Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-91856939009841089312011-12-21T06:00:00.002-05:002011-12-21T06:00:02.967-05:00Merry ChristmasSocial Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-84662768501426604922011-12-21T05:59:00.000-05:002011-12-21T05:59:00.510-05:00Quiz AnswerQuestion: Who is the current Inspector General of the Social Security Administration?
Possible Answers:
David Black
Carolyn Colvin
Stephen Goss
Patrick O'Carroll
Correct Answer: Patrick O'CarrollSocial Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-14353252652069387702011-12-20T10:28:00.000-05:002011-12-20T10:37:36.545-05:00Merry ChristmasSocial Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-12342193803435473572011-12-20T06:00:00.000-05:002011-12-20T06:00:12.478-05:00Quiz
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Social Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-29723984977215808302011-12-19T12:44:00.000-05:002011-12-19T12:44:40.304-05:00Republicans Balk At Extending FICA ReductionThat apparent agreement to extend the partial FICA tax holiday for two months is on hold now. Republicans in the House of Representatives have some demands they want to make. Democrats may be unwilling to accede to any of their demands. Stay tuned.Social Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-52306336799476627442011-12-19T09:18:00.000-05:002011-12-19T09:18:40.389-05:00Disability And Unemployment Again From the Wall Street Journal:
Many poor Americans seek Social Security disability payments as a financial life preserver when their unemployment benefits begin expiring, preliminary research by two economists shows. The findings, released by the Obama administration Thursday, are based on interviews with unemployed workers ... Their research found that close to 10% of Americans between Social Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-6920902968832823402011-12-18T06:00:00.000-05:002011-12-18T06:00:09.727-05:00What Do You Think? I think the following post on this blog is from a ringer:
I work for the agency and happen to be in a position to personally observe field office operations in multiple offices. Yes, there are some very hard working employees, but there are many more slackers. The constant use of cell phones for personal calls (even taking calls while in an interview) and texting, and the excessive Social Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-73853960627513387152011-12-17T10:15:00.000-05:002011-12-17T10:15:10.049-05:00FICA Reductions Extended For Two Months The reductions in the FICA tax that have been in effect since the beginning of this year have been extended for another two months. The FICA tax goes into Social Security's trust funds. The Treasury is making up the difference for the Social Security trust funds.Social Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-28964935959426187682011-12-17T10:06:00.000-05:002011-12-17T10:06:05.927-05:00PatheticFrom the New York Daily News:
Frank Lucas, who once ran a billion-dollar business smuggling heroin before going straight, could go to jail for bilking the U.S. government out of $17,300. Now 81 and ailing, Lucas was charged with theft by deception after he allegedly told the U.S. Treasury he lost a Social Security check with funds earmarked for his 15-year-old son and asked for a duplicate,Social Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-44009464479802666612011-12-16T09:24:00.000-05:002011-12-16T09:24:47.818-05:00Withholding ALJ Assignment Information Let me give a brief comment on Social Security's plan to withhold the identity of the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) to whom an appeal is assigned until the day of the hearing. As a general matter it does not matter much to me. I do not prepare cases any different depending upon which ALJ the case is assigned to. Any differences in the way I present a case are minor. I can easily adjust on Social Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-49097148824795287622011-12-15T09:07:00.001-05:002011-12-15T09:34:56.109-05:00Bad News On Appropriations Reportedly, Congressional leaders are close to agreement on an appropriations bill that will cover most federal agencies, including Social Security. The House Appropriations Committee has released a summary of the bill which says that "The bill funds SSA at $10.6 billion to administer SSA [Social Security Administration] activities, which is $74 million above FY [Fiscal Year] 2011 and $865 Social Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-72667754483494837692011-12-15T09:00:00.000-05:002011-12-15T09:00:14.132-05:00Wall Street Journal Article Damian Paletta has an article in the "Politics" section of the Wall Street Journal today. The article deals with two issues that have been discussed in this blog in the past:The Administrative Conference of the United States (ACUS) will do a study of Social Security's disability programs. This study will "focus" on Administrative Law Judges (ALJs). Harold Krent, dean of Chicago-Kent College Social Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-85190079899094296612011-12-15T06:00:00.002-05:002011-12-15T06:00:15.851-05:00Commissioner On Shutdown ThreatMessage:
From: ^Commissioner Broadcast
Sent: Wednesday, December 14, 2011 05:32 PM
Subject: COMMISSIONER'S BROADCAST--12/14/11
A Message To All SSA Employees
Subject: Important Message
While Congress continues to consider an omnibus appropriations bill along with extensions to the payroll tax cut and Unemployment Insurance benefits, there is no guarantee that it will finish its work Social Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-36181815103078135672011-12-14T17:19:00.000-05:002011-12-14T17:19:00.773-05:00I've Got A Secret I am hearing that beginning next Monday, Social Security will no longer notify a claimant or their attorney of the identity of the Administrative Law Judge who will hear the case until the day of the hearing.Social Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-23269163368682605892011-12-14T11:50:00.000-05:002011-12-14T11:50:47.419-05:00What Is Going On At The Payment Centers? Social Security has released numbers indicating that payments of fees to attorneys and others for representing Social Security claimants are down about 15% since the beginning of the fiscal year, October 1, 2011. This indicates about a 15% drop in payments of back benefits to claimants as well. From what I am seeing, this payment slowdown is not getting better. It may be getting worse. The Social Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-59256325520793336002011-12-14T06:00:00.000-05:002011-12-14T06:00:12.390-05:00Quiz AnswerQuestion: By how much are SSI benefits reduced if a recipient is living in the household of another and receiving free room and board throughout a month?
Possible Answers:
One-Third
One-Half
$250
The actual value of the room and board
Correct Answer: One-ThirdSocial Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-40335453769293947992011-12-13T06:00:00.000-05:002011-12-13T06:00:02.232-05:00Quiz
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Social Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-31227422452889548362011-12-12T08:55:00.000-05:002011-12-12T08:57:42.534-05:00What Happens If The Disability Trust Fund Runs Out Of Money? Most people think there is only one Social Security trust fund but there are two. The one most people don't know about is the Disability Insurance Trust Fund. It has much more immediate problems than the Retirement and Survivor's Insurance Trust Fund. The Disability Insurance Trust Fund is predicted to run out of money in 2018. Restoring the Disability Trust Fund to health isn't that big a Social Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-55524512303486037742011-12-11T11:25:00.000-05:002011-12-11T11:25:09.964-05:00Disability And Unemployment I said that I would have more on the testimony at the House Social Security Subcommittee hearing on December 2. Let me finally start getting around to it. The testimony of Stephen Goss, Social Security's Chief Actuary, included a statement that "Periodic economic recessions, as illustrated by the civilian unemployment rate in bright orange in the figure below, have been associated with Social Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-77574493078944812682011-12-10T06:00:00.000-05:002011-12-10T06:00:09.124-05:00Challenges For Social Security AdministrationHere are a couple of excerpts from Fiscal Year 2011 Inspector General Statement on the Social Security Administration’s Major Management and Performance Challenges, a report by Social Security's Office of Inspector General (OIG):As the end of FY [fiscal year] 2011, SSA’s [Social Security Administration's] hearings backlog was approximately 787,000 cases—about 82,000 cases higher than the backlog Social Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-79427476014488967812011-12-09T06:00:00.001-05:002011-12-09T12:42:25.418-05:00Windfall Elimination Provision Problems From a recent audit report by Social Security's Office of Inspector General (OIG):
Our objective was to identify Old-Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance (OASDI) beneficiaries whose payments may have been affected by State or local government pensions. We limited our review to those beneficiaries who may have been receiving State or local government pensions and for whom the Social Social Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-87475833671788530692011-12-08T10:50:00.000-05:002011-12-08T10:50:56.219-05:00Arizona Governor Investigated For Social Security Fraud There is a report that Arizona governor Jan Brewer has been under investigation for Social Security fraud. Let me hasten to say that the report suggests nothing more to me than an overpayment. The situation is that Governor Brewer's son, Ron, is severely mentally ill. Ron's father died. Ron started receiving disabled adult child benefits on his father's account. Governor Brewer was made his Social Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-14051180298916464402011-12-08T06:00:00.000-05:002011-12-08T06:00:10.310-05:00Union Objects To Plan To Stop Policing Questionable Retirements From a press release issued by the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the union which represents most Social Security employees:The American Federation of Government Employees cried foul today on the Social Security Administration’s plans to rescind Social Security Rulings 66-18c and 91-1c, which allow the agency to question retirement allegations made by corporate Social Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-62469040197089723582011-12-07T06:00:00.001-05:002011-12-07T06:00:11.260-05:00Quiz AnswerQuestion: Who was Social Security Commissioner on August 14, 1985, when Social Security celebrated its 50th birthday?
Possible Answers:
John Svahn
Martha McSteen
Dorcas Hardy
Louis Enoff
Correct answer: Martha McSteen was Acting CommissionerSocial Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-29340650238103693082011-12-06T11:54:00.000-05:002011-12-06T11:54:34.345-05:00Incident At Denver Office A local TV station in Denver is reporting on a report that a Social Security claimant at a local Social Security office was punched. Who did it and why are not reported.Social Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-15724964624141549672011-12-06T10:28:00.000-05:002011-12-06T10:28:29.838-05:00Payment Slowdown Social Security has released updated stats on payments of fees to attorneys and others who represent Social Security claimants. See below. They shows a stunning decline in payments made since the beginning of the fiscal year, October 1.
I am well aware that the Social Security Administration does not exist to provide me and other attorneys with a means of making a living. However, when Social Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-19839500616465370672011-12-06T06:00:00.003-05:002011-12-06T06:00:09.916-05:00Quiz
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Social Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-2850488318566935212011-12-05T08:54:00.000-05:002011-12-05T08:54:00.671-05:00Social Security Workforce Slowly Dwindling As Workload IncreasesThe Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has posted updated figures for the number of employees at Social Security. Here they are, with earlier numbers for comparison purposes.September 2011 67,136
June 2011 67,773
March 2011 68,700
December 2010 70,270
June 2010 69,600
March 2010 66,863
December 2009 67,486
September 2009 67,632
June 2009 66,614
March 2009 63,229
December 2008 Social Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-43059276195215790482011-12-04T10:12:00.000-05:002011-12-04T10:12:41.380-05:00Watch The Social Security Subcommittee Hearing Online The video of Friday's Social Security Subcommittee hearing on the future of Social Security's disability programs is now available online through C-SPAN.Social Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-81068987969899539162011-12-03T06:00:00.002-05:002011-12-07T09:57:05.772-05:00Don't Overreact; We're Already At The Peak Of Disability ClaimsI will have more on this in coming days but this is an excerpt from the written testimony of Steve Goss, Social Security's Chief Actuary, before the House Social Security Subcommittee yesterday:Sustainable solvency can be restored for the Disability Insurance program with a 16-percent reduction in benefits, a 20-percent increase in revenue, or some combination of these changes. Even in the Social Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-10585546214061846022011-12-02T06:00:00.000-05:002011-12-02T06:00:09.374-05:00Remand Assignment Policy DocumentsAs I come across them, I have been trying to upload to Scribd documents concerning Social Security policy over the years. Below are some documents showing Social Security policy on which Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) is assigned a case remanded by the Appeals Council or the federal courts. Should it be the same ALJ who heard the case the first time or a different one? This policy has changed Social Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-11047769035553137012011-12-01T06:00:00.000-05:002011-12-01T06:00:01.427-05:00Windfall Offsets Remain A QuagmireFrom a recent audit report of Social Security's Office of Inspector General (OIG):
Our objective was to determine whether the Social Security Administration (SSA) had adequate controls to ensure Old-Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance (OASDI) benefits that had been withheld pending a Supplemental Security Income (SSI) windfall offset determination were paid accurately and timely. ... Based onSocial Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-61357543726122447952011-11-30T06:00:00.002-05:002011-11-30T06:00:11.897-05:00Quiz AnswerQuestion: Mrs. R is a widow of a man who died currently but not fully insured. What sort of benefits does the currently insured status make possible at various points in her life her assuming she meets other requirements (a child under 16 in her care or being 60 or older, for instance)?
Possible Answers:
Mothers benefits but not widows benefits
Widows benefits but not mothers benefits
Both Social Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-67201222384434423072011-11-29T06:00:00.001-05:002011-11-29T06:00:05.744-05:00Quiz
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Social Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-42641884939988946762011-11-28T09:22:00.001-05:002011-11-28T09:23:16.192-05:00Will FICA Tax Cut Be Continued? The FICA tax that supports the Social Security trust funds has been reduced from 6.2% to 4.2% for the past year as a means of stimulating the economy. The difference has been made up by general revenues. President Obama has proposed that the reduction be continued for another year. The number two Republican in the Senate, Jon Kyl, has expressed opposition to the President's proposal saying Social Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-47074518471205296842011-11-28T06:00:00.000-05:002011-11-28T06:00:05.998-05:00An Astroturfer Comes To Social Security News? Below is a post made by Obshellums in response to a post I had made about Congressional Republicans who were expressing concern after the horrendous report of mentally disabled individuals being locked in a basement while their representative payees stole their Social Security disability checks:SSA's hearing offices or at least mgmt at the one I worked at was annoyed if an employee pressed Social Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-80717340029247874692011-11-27T10:40:00.000-05:002011-11-27T10:40:26.526-05:00Hearing Backlog Increases From the Fort Wayne Journal:
Anyone filing for Social Security disability benefits expects a wait. Hoosiers appealing their cases in the Fort Wayne office have been waiting shorter amounts of time since the start of 2010, but an analysis by a Syracuse University research center suggests that might not be true much longer. Data through September show the backlog nationally has risen 9.3 Social Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-41076363059213986322011-11-26T10:53:00.001-05:002011-11-26T10:54:52.523-05:00Fourth Volume Of Caro's Biography Of LBJ Due Out In May 2012Lyndon Johnson is a major figure in Social Security history -- probably the most important figure apart from Roosevelt. Under his presidency:
Medicare was added to the Social Security Act. Social Security was responsible for the initial implementation of Medicare.
Social Security was added to the unified federal budget setting the stage for the administrative funding problems that the agency Social Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-66555477757974312362011-11-25T14:56:00.004-05:002011-11-25T15:53:22.377-05:00Grand Jury Investigation in West Virginia The Wall Street Journal is reporting that a federal grand jury is investigating whether former Social Security Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) David Daughtry received improper payments in exchange for awarding disability benefits. According to the report, Social Security's Inspector General is looking into a "series" of ALJs who award benefits in a high number of cases.
Daughtry awarded Social Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-16574662443458990922011-11-24T06:00:00.001-05:002011-11-24T06:00:02.067-05:00Happy Thanksgiving
And let me once again give a link to Art Buchwald's classic explanation of Le jour de Merci Donnant.
Social Security Newshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00164000691557220539noreply@blogger.com0