Mar 30, 2013

About Time

     I have heard multiple reports that the policy that has kept the identity of the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) assigned to hear a Social Security appeal a secret is to end in the near future. It's about time.

7 comments:

Sandy Fambrough said...

Yes, it's true. I'm part of the ARS pilot group. We had a meeting with SSA on 3/28 and at that time we were notified there will be an ERE upgrade the weekend of 4/20; once the upgrade is complete the Hearing Office Status Report will include the ALJ name (once assigned). Also, Notice of Hearings printed and mailed after the upgrade (presumably starting on 4/22) will have the ALJ name.

Anonymous said...

I hope you don't get in trouble for posting this, Sandy. SSA has kicked many a butt for posting "insider" information on the internet. Let's hope they have seen the light and your post is a sign of that.

Sandy Fambrough said...

I'm not an inside, I'm a rep. The ARS pilot group consists of 9 reps who have worked with SSA since about 2007 on rep access to the electronic file. And I have it IN WRITING in an email from an SSA employee. It was also mentioned in the meeting that SSA would be making an announcement, probably after the upgrade is completed.

Anonymous said...

Is this along the same lines as the notices that go out no longer have the manager's name on them, although they insist on having the Claims Rep's name on the notices?

Anonymous said...

As a Claims Rep, I avoid putting my name on notices whenever possible. I find it quite revealing that the agency has taken the manager's name off notices for safety reasons, but apparently it's OK for the rank and file to have our names on the notices!!

Anonymous said...

Well, as a counterpoint to anon 2:27PM, I'm a claims rep too, and I make it a point to make sure my name and phone number appears in every single letter I personally prepare and send out as a result of something I do.

If I sent that letter, the fact that my name appears in it shows that I stand by the contents of the letter and the work that produced it, right or wrong. Period.

There are too many people in the agency these days doing shoddy, substandard work. The entire focus of their day is to move things off their lists so as to avoid being responsible for actually accomplishing anything in a correct manner while still looking like they are accomplishing something. Removing their names from the letters are just one more step that allows these people (both in management and members of the general staff) to avoid taking any responsibility with the public related to the quality of work they produce and the things they do.

Anonymous said...

Now you know who you are loosing to, again.