Rumors

According to people posting on the ALJ Improvement board, rumors are circulating within SSA that budget problems mean that no new ALJs will be hired this year and that there may be no Reviewing Officers hired either. If these rumors are true, backlogs will worsen at OHA and the Commissioner of Social Security's plan to revise Social Security's appeals process can make little progress, if any. With Barnhart's term ending in January 2007, this could be the death knell for her plan, if she is not reappointed for a second term as Commissioner.