Yesterday the Office of Inspector General of the Social Security Administration (SSA) released a report which evaluated the caseload performance of Administrative Law Judges (ALJs). The report found that SSA's efforts to reduce the growing backlog will be negatively impacted by the under-performance of many existing ALJs. Social Security Subcommittee Ranking Member, Sam Johnson (R-TX), released the following statement:
"The report by the Inspector General sends a clear message that no meaningful reform of the disability process can be complete without addressing the inability of certain ALJs to perform at an acceptable level. Not only does this report show that certain judges are under-performing, it also points out that the SSA has no process to hold them accountable. This is simply unacceptable.
"Last December, Chairman McNulty (D-NY) and I asked the Inspector General to dig deeper into this issue and provide the Congress with a full report on ALJ performance. I am confident that a complete investigation will better inform Commissioner Astrue and the Congress on how to best address this issue. The American people must know that their tax dollars are spent wisely and efficiently.
"American citizens should not have to wait years to learn whether they are eligible to obtain a benefit they have earned. I look forward to receiving the additional findings of the Inspector General's review, and continuing to work with the Commissioner to better serve those in need."
Administrative Law Judges hold impartial hearings and review on appeal determinations involving retirement, survivors, disability, and supplemental security income benefits
Feb 14, 2008
Representative Johnson On ALJ Accountability
A press release from Representative Sam Johnson, the ranking Republican on the House Ways and Means Subcommittee:
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
The OIG Report is correct. ALJs have little if any accountability and they are where the buck stops in a hearing office - if they don't get the decisions out the door, no matter what the support staff does won't make any difference...
According to Commissioner Astrue, GW ordered SSA to replace only 1 admin staff person for every 8 that quit, died, etc. Our problem in Miami was not the judges, it was the lack of staff to coordinate and set hearings, etc.
You can't run a McDonald's restaurant if you don't have staff making the hamburgers.
At one point, we went down from 12 ALJs to 4, yet our population in Miami is growing by 10,000 new people PER MONTH!
Somebody has to coordinate availability of the VE, the ME, the hearing monitor, the Spanish interpreter, and the attorney and claimant, then prepare notices, burn CDs, etc.
Can't run a business without staff, even if you have the officers of the corporation, it's the little people who get the work done.
Post a Comment