I had posted skepticism about shutting down Social Security hearings while the Supreme Court is still holding oral arguments. Well, the Supreme Court has just cancelled oral arguments for the time being.
I still think that if it's time to stop holding hearings, it's time to close the offices.
And by the way, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, you're ordered to stay home and see no one for the foreseeable future.
9 comments:
Your apology for the anti-ALJ bias in the previous post is accepted.
Still nothing from Saul. His lack of leadership, as well as lack of concern for the safety of SSA front line employees, claimants, and representatives that appear before the agency are unconscionable. I've never thought this about any Commissioner, either acting or confirmed, but he should be removed/impeached (I don't know if there is a process to remove him other than the POTUS replacing him) for dereliction of duty.
Was thinking this is important work. But the SSA needs to be smarter.
People aren't understanding that if this spread is not slowed our healthcare system will be overrun. People will be treated in tents and in cars on hospital parking lots. Frontline healthcare workers will get sick and put out of action and people will die in hospital parking lots and at their homes infecting their entire families. I would encourage everyone to set up twitter accounts and start following the top doctors and infectious disease experts in the country and get your information first hand. This is our greatest peril since the Second World War.
I agree with all of the above everyone has said here. Many of the SS claimants are in high risk categories for increase mortality rates or severe symptoms due to corona, for example, for people with heart disease and/or diabetes. Suspend hearings for at least the next 2 weeks now!
Hearings in Covington, GA OHO cancelled for next 2 weeks. Finally someone did something.
Mr. Ginsberg, maybe your individual judge cancelled hearings, but that isn't agency policy. OHO just clarified that hearings will go on.
#WhereisSaul
Maybe we should start a Twitter campaign.
I have practiced in this field for over 40 years. From time to time, weather problems, snow, ice, tornadoes, floods have occurred. The local Hearing offices have never acted like they knew who was on first, second or third relating to closing because of the weather. I once asked the Chief ALJ in one of the offices about the protocol for closing because of weather. He stated that they will keep open if the buses are running. We had a severe ice storm once. So severe that the buses were not running. My office called the hearing office and they asked if we wanted a postponement. I did not want to fall into that trap and we said no. I actually picked up my client and took her to the hearing. I believe that we were one of three claimants out of 20 that were able to get there.
Someone needs to exercise quicker, more decisive judgment in these situations. The local people are afraid to act so they go up the chain of command. There are too many links on the chain in my opinion.
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