Council 220 of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), a labor union which represents most Social Security employees, has posted its March 2009 newsletter. It contains articles about::
- The union's hopes for the Obama Administration
- The union's problems with some Social Security managers and policies,
- A dinner in honor of the 50th year of service of Jim Marshall, who is head of AFGE Council 215 which represents most employees of Social Security's Office of Disability Adjudication and Review (ODAR)
- Bonuses paid to Social Security management.
You seemed to have overlooked this article
ReplyDeleteShe might as well have said, ‘Clean up, you slobs!’
By Pam Baca President, Local 1802
"And why should our clients use attorneys when they can get better and more accurate service from a highly experienced CR? Also, Americans who have paid their FICA taxes shouldn’t be forced to pay again (this time to lawyers, who can receive thousands of dollars based on back pay). We also have to remember that attorneys and other “third parties” have an interest in getting their clients approved for disability benefits and this increases the likelihood of fraud. Some will say or do anything just to get paid, even if they have to falsify medical documentation or coach their clients into giving the “right” answers."
We also have to remember that attorneys and other “third parties” have an interest in getting their clients approved for disability benefits and this increases the likelihood of fraud.
ReplyDeleteI find that statement interesting when all social security staff are paid under law and the ssa's attorneies,judges are recieving enormous salaries.This is not a non profit organization.Some of these employees must be forgetful.
I have always been irritated by the anti-attorney bias shown by many SSA employees. I am not inclined to excuse this attitude as being the result of lack of knowledge nor do I agree with the implication that attny reps lead their clients into fraud. I consider such statements irresponsible, inaccurate, and bordering on actionable libel.
ReplyDeleteBear in mind that the CR's job is to insure the accurate and timely payment of benefits due but does not require the CR to have any particular knowledge of disabiling medical conditions or their vocational implications. Conscientious and responsive as they are, CR's are in no position to provide counsel and guidance through the hearings process. There's just too much work for that.
Consequently, I strongly disagree with Ms. Baca's statements and would encourage any claimant who reads this blog not to delay seeking appropriate legal representation whenever s/he believes it necessary. As to Ms. Baca's allegations regarding fraud, the many cases of employee program fraud with which I and many other managers are familiar argue against the notion that only claimant representatives have an interest in somehow gaming the system. And, of course, as A#3 observes, people in SSA aren't unpaid volunteers. We do get paid and do have a responsibility to represent the claims process fairly and accurately.