From Emergency Message EM-10092:
The purpose of this message is to inform all technicians in the field office (FO) and program service center (PSC) that, without exception, we must make a determination on the reconsideration issue when we receive an SSA-561-U2 (Request for Reconsideration) for a Title II or Title XVI overpayment (OP).
3 comments:
I routinely find that FO's dont take action on reconsiderations filed on non-medical issues like overpayments or w.c. offset issues. When they do finally take an action it can take over a year or more to resolve it.
ok--here's what this is about--People call the 800# to question something--overpayments, earnings, whatever. Teleservice reps blindly mail the bene an ssa-561, whether appropriate or not. It gets to the fo, Cr works the issue and resolves, if it is routine. often, it is really an overpayment waiver, so a waiver determ is made. Recon of the fact or amount is rarely an issue. Now the agency wants all SSA-561's worked as legitimate appeals, whether they are or not. Result--increase in backlogs, instead of addressing the root of the problem--800#. another example of gross imcompetence of SSA management. and don't even get me started on E-path.
The issue is that the legitimate appeals need to be worked. The appeals of issues that aren't initial determinations subject to appeal need to be dismissed with a proper letter - a simple thing to do.
I agree, though, that the TSCs cause more trouble than they are worth. They never seem to fail to live down to my official moniker for them:
1-800-Dial-An-Idiot
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