One Thing Astrue Did Not Mention

When Social Security's Commissioner, Michael Astrue, spoke at the conference of the National Organization of Social Security Claimants Representatives (NOSSCR) in St. Louis this week one subject that I hoped would come up was the cap on fees that may be paid for representing Social Security claimants. This has remained at $5,300 for more than five years. Social Security is allowed, but not required, to increase the fee cap for inflation. If the fee cap were adjusted for inflation, it would now be about $6,100. Astrue did not mention this subject.