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).
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.
ReplyDeleteok--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.
ReplyDeleteThe 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.
ReplyDeleteI 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