Give Them A Piece Of Your Mind!

A press release from Social Security:

Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, today announced a new way for members of the public to participate in open and transparent government. In response to President Obama’s executive order on improving regulations and regulatory review, Social Security is inviting people to provide direct feedback on its rules and regulations. Ideas and comments may be emailed to RegsReview@ssa.gov.

“Social Security values the public’s input and wants to provide a meaningful opportunity for people to participate in the regulatory process,” Commissioner Astrue said. “I invite the public to share their thoughts and I am excited to hear their ideas.”

Social Security’s program rules are available online and may be accessed at www.socialsecurity.gov/regulations. There, you will find complete information about Social Security’s laws, regulations, rulings, and employee operating instructions.

For information about what Social Security is doing to improve its regulations and how the agency will implement the President’s executive order, go to the Open Government website: www.socialsecurity.gov/open/regsreview/.

Let me make a suggestion. The Social Security Act says that the agency may "prescribe the maximum fees which may be charged for services performed [by an attorney or other person representing a Social Security claimant] in connection with any claim." Social Security wastes a lot of time now on petitions for approval of attorney fees in matters such as overpayments and disability benefits terminations where the fee agreement process cannot be used. The statutory language gives the agency the authority it needs to just set maximum fees for this sort of thing. Just have the attorney notify Social Security of the fee that he or she is charging. No approval required for individual cases. This would save a lot of time.