HALLEX Chapter I-2-8-1 General has been revised to only permit an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) to sign a decision and all official copies with his/her "wet" signature or verified electronic signature, unless a "wet" signature or verified electronic signature entered by another person is authorized. A rubber stamp or other mechanical signature is not authorized under any circumstances.
But another new HALLEX release says "that Hearing Office Chief Administrative Law Judge (HOCALJ) [may be authorized] to sign a decision or order for the ALJ if the ALJ is temporarily unavailable to sign the decision."
By the way, last year I commented upon the lack of HALLEX updating in a long time. Shortly thereafter there was a minor HALLEX updating. Almost a year later, I again commented upon the lack of HALLEX updating in almost a year. Again, shortly thereafter this minor updating of HALLEX. I am not claiming to be responsible for anything, but this is an interesting coincidence.
By the way, would you not think that HALLEX should be updated for all the changes affecting the way Social Security disability files are being set up -- without exhibits being numbered and on the eDIB system? I do not see modifications for HALLEX for all these changes.
By the way, last year I commented upon the lack of HALLEX updating in a long time. Shortly thereafter there was a minor HALLEX updating. Almost a year later, I again commented upon the lack of HALLEX updating in almost a year. Again, shortly thereafter this minor updating of HALLEX. I am not claiming to be responsible for anything, but this is an interesting coincidence.
By the way, would you not think that HALLEX should be updated for all the changes affecting the way Social Security disability files are being set up -- without exhibits being numbered and on the eDIB system? I do not see modifications for HALLEX for all these changes.
I agree heartily with you about HALLEX needing to be updated far more often and consistently than it has been. The Agency seems to pick and choose rather subjectively in what they update in HALLEX. Makes you wonder why...
ReplyDeleteWhen they are sufficiently well grounded, regular and predictable patterns in experience can be reduced to something called a rule. I propose these two rules:
ReplyDelete1. Incompetence is almost always a better explanation that conspiracy.
2. Explanations grounded in self-reference tend to be weak.
I'll translate the second proposed rule: anytime you think it's all about you, probably you're wrong.
JOA
And don't forget just plain stupidity, JOA. E.g., abolishing the office that was responsible for overseeing the development and maintenance of HALLEX. "We don't need no freaking policy office in OHA/ODAR." And this is what you get. Not that DeSoto and her cronies care one iota.
ReplyDelete