I have heard from multiple sources that most employees of the Office of Disability Adjudication and Review (ODAR) will be returning to work tomorrow. To this point during the shutdown almost all ODAR employees other than the Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) have been furloughed. This meant that hearings were going forward but few decisions could be issued. Also, there was no way to prepare cases for future scheduling. The Appeals Council, which has been completely shut down, is also reopening for business tomorrow.
There are still problems with federal court work on Social Security cases. While the federal courts are open, Social Security's attorneys and other employees who work on these cases are furloughed. This will cause delays but, at least, it affects a much smaller number of people.
And those of us excepted employees (the essential ones in the field offices) will at least have WORKED for our paychecks the same as those who did not produce any work. Geez.
ReplyDeleteI love my job but this just went to everyone but essential staff now getting paid vacation
ReplyDeleteMathew 20:1-16
ReplyDeleteyes, paid vacation!!
ReplyDeletePlease shut the government down every 3 months!!!! I love getting paid while not working and seeing how the common people suffer by closing the parks and making the taxpayer (the person paying the bills) be denied services, all the while keeping the free phones, food stamps, welfare benefits, free health care, rent subsidies, etc. flowing to the non-workers. How does it feel, federal chumps who still had to work during the "shut down"? Played like a fool? Enjoy it and ask for another. This is the USA of today, supported by the takers and enabled by the corrupt media. For those federal employees who had to stay on the job, will you be fooled again during the next "shut down"? You can fool some of the people all of the time, all of the people some of the time, but you can't fool all of the people, all of the time. Or can you today?
ReplyDeleteThis bill sets the groundwork for calling federal employees back to work without pay until the budget impasse is settled. Basically, employees will work based on a promissory note to pay them eventually. Get ready to go back to work folks.
ReplyDeleteWhile I respect the comment referencing Matthew 20, this alone doesn't address the whole picture. Yes, those at work should be tickled they were able to work and assured pay even if late. The government taking role of god and enforcing presumably godly standards is where I struggle. If the government is going to apply godly principles, then we ought to apply ALL godly ways. This is not the case. I find it hard to believe that our government is simply playing out the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard. This is nothing but political gamesmanship. This has nothing to do with doing right by all.
ReplyDeleteAlso, the real test is before us. How those AT work respond come Monday will be the true test. Since, those on the job (excepted) can ask for time off (also furlough time), we'll find out quickly which civil servants are willing to continue to work knowing they could be home and still be paid. Those coming up with excuses not to be at work will be just like the complainers in the cited parable. I hope we have few of these complainers, but fear we will see many.
There are some people who would rather work than stay home. They are the ones who don't know what to do with themselves when they have too much time on their hands. SSA should ask for volunteers or rotate staff and ask everyone to do their share.
ReplyDeletestill having a hard time figuring out how anyone at SSA (especially ODAR) is "essential".
ReplyDeleteThis is just a political trick to lessen the disruption caused by the so-called "shutdown" and therefore negate the need for politicians to negotiate a compromise.
Try asking the 50-60% of the disabled that aren't paid at the lower level but are at the ODAR level how "essential" ODAR is..
ReplyDeleteYes, it's all just a trick to get money into the hands of those that need it to survive on. What kind of schmuck are you??
Why would you even begin to blame employees in furlough status for being on "paid vacation?" This is the fault of YOUR elected "leaders," and they've been on paid vacation for most of their respective careers. Use your brains, sheep.
ReplyDeleteI am offended that anyone would think I'm on a paid vacation or that I am somehow better off than essential employees who have to work. Being out of work and expecting only half a paycheck this Friday is no vacation. At least I am fortunate to have savings to tide me over, but it is frustrating that I have to use my savings for this. Savings should be for true emergencies, not because our elected leaders are too polarized to do their jobs! I hope EVERY member of congress is replaced in the next election.
ReplyDeleteI am an ODAR attorney. I've been happily on "vacation" since last Tuesday.
ReplyDeleteI do not think that I should be paid for the time I did not work. Seems silly to get paid for staying home.
However, I do wish that the furlough would last a little longer, I still have a few things to get done around the house.
Appeals Council is going back on Wednesday. They don't want to appear irrelevant after having hired hundreds of new attorneys over the past couple of years so they've declared them all "essential."
ReplyDeleteUntil the Senate votes approval and the president signs the bill, no one should assume any kind of payment if you are exempt. Just because the House passed a bill doesn't mean squat.
ReplyDelete10:02 Our primary job in the FO's is to make sure checks are paid (even if they are wrong), change addresses and take new claims. No stewardship work - no CDR's, SSI redeterminations, making sure anyone is still even eligible for the check they are receiving. Paying checks makes us essential, apparently.
ReplyDeleteOthers have it much worse than the "poor federal" employees. The mom and pop sandwich shop that serves lunch to them everyday does not get back pay, or the tour bus driver who has no one to take on tour because the parks are closed, the waitress, bartender, and on and on. I see no one standing in line to give them a handout. If you dont like working for no pay or being laid off for a bit join the real wrold.
ReplyDeleteI quit SSA 5 years ago, could not stomach giving minimal information to people.
The contact number for the Appeals Council (The Congressional and Public Affairs line) still has a message indicating that the Appeals Council is closed due to furloughs. Did all Appeals Council employees also have their status changed to "excepted"?
ReplyDelete@3:06 - AAJs, AOs, branch chiefs, analysts, and support staff have returned to work at the AC. Apparently the person who updates the phone message is still on furlough. I think HR and others who don't directly handle cases are still out.
ReplyDeleteOAO's Congressional and Public Affairs Branch staff will remain on furlough as there work is statutorily not essential.
ReplyDelete