Four Nuggets From The "Plan To Eliminate The Hearing Backlog And Prevent Its Recurrence"

Here is a nugget from the recently released "Plan To Eliminate The Hearing Backlog And Prevent Its Recurrence."

A Steering Committee at the Senior Executive Level of the Social Security Administration was formed to facilitate implementation of the Commissioner’s plan to address the hearing backlog. The first meeting was held on June 7, 2007 with weekly meetings through August and bi-weekly meetings since August. Committee members include:

• Frank A. Cristaudo, Chief Administrative Law Judge (co-chair)
• Mary Glenn-Croft, Assistant Deputy Commissioner for Operations (co-chair)
• Jim Winn, Acting Deputy General Counsel, OGC
• Jerry Berson, Assistant Deputy Commissioner, OS
• Diane B. Garro, Assistant Deputy Commissioner, OLCA
• Phil Gambino, Assistant Deputy Commissioner, OCOMM
• Alan Lane, Assistant Deputy Commissioner, OQP
• Milt Beever, Associate Commissioner, OLMER
• Glen Sklar, Associate Commissioner, ODP, ODISP
• Eileen McDaniel, Associate Commissioner for Management, ODAR
• Bill Taylor, Executive Director, OAO, ODAR
• Nancy Griswold, Deputy Chief Administrative Law Judge
• Larry Miller, Director, OBFM, OB
• Bill Newton, Senior Advisor, OQP
• Marilyn Hull, Project Director

Because of changes in Executive personnel responsibilities in late June, Ron Raborg, Deputy Chief Quality Officer, OQP, replaced Alan Lane, and in August, Roger McDonnell, Assistant Deputy Commissioner for Operations, replaced Mary Glenn-Croft.

And a second nugget:

It was estimated that approximately 20% of the remanded cases [under the informal remand or "re-recon" process] would be reversed by the DDS. By the close of FY 07, 8,714 favorable determinations had been returned by the DDSs and 7,413 cases were returned as “No Decision” by the DDS. This was a 54% reversal rate.

And a third nugget:

Traditionally, management information for the hearing operation has been reported on a monthly basis. While reasons exist for this approach, it may result in delays in case processing as employees process more cases at the end of the month to meet monthly goals. In FY 07, the Chief Judge has been strongly encouraging managers to monitor workload processing data on a weekly basis and ODAR continues to develop workload reports to monitor hearing office performance this way.

And a final nugget:

The Office of the General Counsel, Office of the Chief Administrative Law Judge, Office of Appellate Operations, and Office of Labor Management and Employee Relations have been meeting regularly to make immediate improvements under current rules and to clarify the complaint process for claimants. The group has completed changes to current notices, posters, associated pamphlets, and the website that outlines how to file an unfair treatment complaint. The group continues to study the process and to consider improvements that will involve regulatory changes. The goal is to make the ALJ complaint process both fair and effective for SSA, the ALJs and the American people. In FY 07, the Office of the Chief Administrative Law Judge took a more pro-active stance in pursuing disciplinary actions based on ALJ misconduct.