I have posted on the separate Social Security Perspectives blog the complaint filed by Binder and Binder seeking to force the Social Security Administration to allow Binder and Binder employees to appear at hearings before Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) solely by video. The ALJ would be in one location, the claimant in another and the Binder and Binder employee in a third location. So far, Social Security has refused to allow this as a general matter.
And your point is? BTW, isn't Ms. Shor, longtime NOSSCR director, married to Mr. Binder? What's NOSSCR's position on the 3-way video conference?
ReplyDeleteAs if they needed another way to distance themselves from their clients. As if not returning their phone calls, not communicating with them, and not reviewing their files until the night before the hearing wasn't enough. They should prove that they can competently handle their enormous caseload (instead of just reaping the wealth of claimants who don't need their help and win at IA in spite of B & B) before they can be allowed to represent claimants from their office without getting their hands dirty. VTCs are fine, but for God's sakes, why don't you actually go and personally sit next to your claimant instead of letting them sweat through a hearing with their attorney (or "advocate") appearing as a small square in the corner of a TV screen?
ReplyDeleteThey really are unbelievable. And it's not like they want to use this technology once in a while, or for cases where their clients are in prison (because a lot of them are). They want to use this technology constantly so they don't have to leave the office!
Anon #2, the claimant can insist on personal appearance by their rep. doesn't mean they'll get it, but you talk as if the client has absolutely no say in this. ssa would likely notify the claimant of this right and make sure that is what the claimant wants, just like having a rep/attorney in the first place.
ReplyDelete