Pages

Aug 22, 2018

We Can't Answer Our Phones But We're Up To Date In Cutting People Off Benefits


From: ^Commissioner Broadcast
Sent: Wednesday, August 22, 2018 12:50 PM
Subject: Achievement of Medical CDR Currency

A Message To All SSA and DDS Employees  

Subject: Achievement of Medical CDR Currency

I am pleased to announce that in August 2018, we achieved currency with the release of all available medical Continuing Disability Reviews (CDR) for fiscal year 2018.  This is a major achievement as it is the first time we’ve reached this milestone since 2002, and only the second time in Social Security history!

From the Disability Determination Services and their staff, to the Office of Budget and Office of Systems, and the regional and field offices across the country, reaching this monumental achievement truly was a team effort.  Our pledge going forward will be to maintain currency with the CDR workload, which is an important part of our program integrity workloads and our stewardship responsibilities.

As part of our program integrity and stewardship responsibilities, we need to ensure that only those who continue to meet our eligibility requirements for disability receive benefits.  I want to express my sincere appreciation to all of you for helping us stay mission-focused for the public we serve.


Nancy A. Berryhill
Acting Commissioner

15 comments:

  1. I think Berryhill's use of the term "currency" may have been a poor choice. I get her intended usage, but I would bet there are better synonyms out there.

    Anyone know if CDRs are being conducted by NPs and PAs now?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Where are the CDR cutoffs? This ALJ had not seen an adult CDR claim at hearing level in over two years.

    ReplyDelete
  3. My CDR was suppose to be 18 months. My first one was 2 1/2 years and has been 3 years since that one. I am not complaining, but does anyone know if they change as you get older? I am 57 now.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Cutting them all off is what it's about in the age of little Mick Mulvany baby! Screw the g d phones! Somebody call the Heritage Foundation baby! Oh shit I just read their agency mission statement! We need to start a bonfire and throw the mission statement in it! Better burn all prints of it. This agency is supposed to be about helping the disabled not making their lives hell. Oh shit!

    ReplyDelete
  5. i'd like to see the stats for CDRs. Similar to ALJ above, I work in a hearing office and can't remember the last adult CDR i've seen. I have a feeling most disabilities are affirmed at CDR.

    ReplyDelete
  6. My son with an IQ below 50 got the CDR questionnaire this month not quite 7 years after getting allowed. I had to annotate it that barring something miraculous, his IQ likely hasn't changed very much. But I'm glad sending that out "on time" (thinking a 7 year diary on it) made Nancy so happy.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Most cessations I see are for FTC or age 18 when medical improvement standards aren't used.

    ReplyDelete
  8. It isn't an automatic lifetime payment, nor was it ever intended. Those that recover, no longer seek medical treatment, go against medical recommendation or RTW without telling anyone should be removed from the program. So now it appears we are supposed to be outraged because the system is working properly?

    ReplyDelete
  9. This ALJ has seen three adult CDRs in the last 2 years but many child CDRs and even more age 18 redets.

    ReplyDelete
  10. your title is fun. Here, I have another phrase in the same vein:

    "Reps Can't Submit Years Old MER They Say is Crucial to the Case After Months but Send that Missing 1696 in to Get Paid Within Minutes of us Calling"

    ReplyDelete
  11. You have become so biased it's laughable.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I don’t have to wait several weeks for some hospital to send me the 1696 before I cand send it to you

    ReplyDelete
  13. I have represented 4 clients in CDRs at the hearing or AC level in the past 4 years and a couple other at the State agency level. In 3 of 4 at hearing or AC level, SSA did not even have the prior folder to review in conducting the CDR. This did not stop them, however, from terminating benefits without any attempt to reconstruct the prior folder evidence. In one case, it took 2 AC remands and assignment to a different ALJ before they realized they could not cease benefits without the prior folder or reconstructing. I obtained an AC remand in another claim and am waiting for the AC to remand the 3rd one as well. In the 4th we were able to show that there had not in fact been any medical improvement. The same holds true for the ones resolved at the State agency level.

    It easy for the State agency to get current on CDRs if they don't follow their own regulations and just push a cessation through. One can only wonder how many people are improperly ceased without the prior folder or reconstruction of same. My guess is whatever number you are thinking, double it.

    ReplyDelete
  14. It is way easier to continue than to cease

    ReplyDelete
  15. Many attorney offices have an even worse phone answering problem. Yesterday I waited on hold for 25 minutes only to be told by the person answering that their staff was busy but they would take a message. Then my very next case
    I had to call had the very same attorney group.

    ReplyDelete