Ready to get back in the office again? How's your productivity? What are the problems? What does Social Security need to do differently?
12 comments:
Anonymous
said...
The sheer amount of paper needed to do work is the most common obstacle in our firm. Spent years trying to be as paperless as possible. However, once it became necessary to work from home the issue showed just how prominent it is. Just can't get away from it all. Mail/faxes/med records, etc.
Digital signatures on SSA forms anyone!?
Almost impossible to go totally virtual in this line of work.
Our firm went digital last year with everyone working from home already, so it didn't change much. There were some hiccups due to technology issues (mainly ISP-related). Lots of benefits to the change also. No more office rent/utilities, no more commute, etc.
As to what Social Security needs to do differently, I imagine they would be experiencing the same issues but on a bigger scale. Infrastructure needs to be developed, which takes time.
I work for a national firm whose attorneys have always worked remotely. We haven't skipped a beat. I have actually enjoyed doing hearings from home! I don't miss traffic, commutes, travel time, etc. Makes the workload much more manageable.
Working from home has been pretty successful for our office.
It would be nice if SSA allowed more paperwork to be done online. Glad to see a ton of SSA offices around the country switching to e-fax. Hearing that the offices that still have manual fax machines are running out of paper, toner, and memory pretty quickly since there are not as many employees in office to check the old school fax machines.
Fingers crossed that SSA lets us upload docs to the end of the online application sometime soon like they allow at the end of online appeals so not as much paperwork needs to be snail mailed or faxed to their office.
SSA employees have been GREAT! Very nice and understanding at this time. So pleasant for the most part. SSA has been pretty great about answering their calls and returning voicemails. Really impressed with SSA employees at this time.
Commissioner Saul sent an email today to reassure employees that the agency will be continuing to operate under its current telework structure while executives look at the federal guidance to reopen. He said to “rest assured” that we will continue current operations and to “disregard other sources of information regarding the status of our offices.”
What other information is he talking about? I actually haven’t found anything specific to SSA offices as I’ve been trying to see when they will open again.
While rolling out of bed and immediately getting to work is nice, I miss the office very much. I'm able to work from home easily, but feel distracted and less productive than being in an office setting. Having the kids homeschooling and husband at home also working remotely just doesn't feel as professional as the office setting. I'm reminding myself how fortunate I am to be able to continue working while staying safe, but I'm looking forward to being back in the office when that can occur safely.
I agree completely with the prior comment about SSA employees. Everyone I've spoken with has been so kind, understanding, and helpful. I am grateful for the SSA employees during this time.
Too many connectivity issues at SSA, especially in the more rural areas. The VPN network was never intended to handle 55000+ users. I understand we can't go back to the office structure for quite a while, but the current model is only working at about 70% (my opinion only).
I have been working from home since 2010. So that is not a big difference.
The hearings can mostly gone smooth. There has been a few technical delays. It is kind of hard to know if hearings are running late because you are not there at the OHO to ask anyone. I have seen a lot more no-shows or claimants being late. Have saved a lot of money on commutes and dry cleaning. So overall it has been good. I feel blessed to still being able to work and knowing the claimants can get their hearings done in a timely manner.
I wonder if the SSA may find this is a more efficient way to do business.
The phone hearings work for some hearings and with some judges, but I'm not sure we're really getting fair hearings all the time. I still go to my office which is very near where I live, and we're already doing lots online, but I still think that you have to have some personal dealing with disability clients. It's not all about what's easy or convenient for me.
I have been in my office every day. My office and practice is much more humbler then in the past. A little more than 15 years ago I had 14 employees. That number included three other attorneys. There wasn't as much competition for SSD cases in my area at that time. Over the years people left my office or in several cases (including my wife) died. They were always replaced. I gradually down-sized. Today, my office involves me and one other employee.
Our state determined that professionals like attorneys and accountants were essential services and did not force us to close. We have handled the situation as follows: there are only two of us in the office, I am at one end and the other employee is at the other end of the office suite; we lock our front door; we do not see any clients in person; we deal with our clients by phone and mail exclusively with the exception of a few e-=-mails and text messages; I have done a number of telephone hearings without a problem except one last week; the Federal Court work is all done by electronic filing; I have oral arguments at the Circuit Court of Appeals in two weeks, the arguments involve Lucia issue cases that I won at the District Court level. The oral arguments are going to be done by phone.
The issue with the hearing involved what I call a "Double Secret Probation" Judge. These are Judges who want to keep the hearing to 30 minutes but don't tell anyone about it until 29 minutes are up. There is nothing in the Notice of Hearing about being limited to 30 minutes, there is no warning at the beginning of the hearing and the ALJ spends about 27 minutes questioning the claimant before allowing me to ask questions. A few years ago I had to travel 100 miles one way 4 times to do a hearing in a case like this. Last week I was interrupted by an ALJ who said she wanted to go to the V.E. Sometimes that is a message that I have heard enough. That was not the case in this matter. It seemed ridiculous to begrudge me 10 minutes. That is what happened. The case will be rescheduled for a Supplemental Hearing.
4:03 PM I am curious what circuit you are in. The 3rd has ruled for one case, in January. I am in the 8th Circuit and haven't heard anything since November... I filed my reply brief last June. In addition to the Lucia challenge, among others...I requested a Subpoena for a Physical Therapist who did an FCE. ALJ didn't tell me she wasn't coming until 15 minutes ito hearing. His only response, "We don't do those."
5:58 PM I am in the 10th Circuit. There are two cases for oral argument plus four more appeals filed by SSA. I also have several more Remands that SSA will appeal. There are two district courts involved in my cases, but only one district is involved in the appeals. In the other district I received five Reports and Recommendation from the Magistrate Judge. Those cases are before the District Judge on SSA's objections.
I am aware of the 3rd Circuit Decision. There are also appeals pending in the 4th, 8th and 11th Circuits that I am aware of. Have you already had oral arguments?
I have handled many Social Security appeals. This is the first time I am representing the Appellee(s).
12 comments:
The sheer amount of paper needed to do work is the most common obstacle in our firm. Spent years trying to be as paperless as possible. However, once it became necessary to work from home the issue showed just how prominent it is. Just can't get away from it all. Mail/faxes/med records, etc.
Digital signatures on SSA forms anyone!?
Almost impossible to go totally virtual in this line of work.
Our firm went digital last year with everyone working from home already, so it didn't change much. There were some hiccups due to technology issues (mainly ISP-related). Lots of benefits to the change also. No more office rent/utilities, no more commute, etc.
As to what Social Security needs to do differently, I imagine they would be experiencing the same issues but on a bigger scale. Infrastructure needs to be developed, which takes time.
I work for a national firm whose attorneys have always worked remotely. We haven't skipped a beat. I have actually enjoyed doing hearings from home! I don't miss traffic, commutes, travel time, etc. Makes the workload much more manageable.
Working from home has been pretty successful for our office.
It would be nice if SSA allowed more paperwork to be done online. Glad to see a ton of SSA offices around the country switching to e-fax. Hearing that the offices that still have manual fax machines are running out of paper, toner, and memory pretty quickly since there are not as many employees in office to check the old school fax machines.
Fingers crossed that SSA lets us upload docs to the end of the online application sometime soon like they allow at the end of online appeals so not as much paperwork needs to be snail mailed or faxed to their office.
SSA employees have been GREAT! Very nice and understanding at this time. So pleasant for the most part. SSA has been pretty great about answering their calls and returning voicemails. Really impressed with SSA employees at this time.
Commissioner Saul sent an email today to reassure employees that the agency will be continuing to operate under its current telework structure while executives look at the federal guidance to reopen. He said to “rest assured” that we will continue current operations and to “disregard other sources of information regarding the status of our offices.”
What other information is he talking about? I actually haven’t found anything specific to SSA offices as I’ve been trying to see when they will open again.
While rolling out of bed and immediately getting to work is nice, I miss the office very much. I'm able to work from home easily, but feel distracted and less productive than being in an office setting. Having the kids homeschooling and husband at home also working remotely just doesn't feel as professional as the office setting. I'm reminding myself how fortunate I am to be able to continue working while staying safe, but I'm looking forward to being back in the office when that can occur safely.
I agree completely with the prior comment about SSA employees. Everyone I've spoken with has been so kind, understanding, and helpful. I am grateful for the SSA employees during this time.
Too many connectivity issues at SSA, especially in the more rural areas. The VPN network was never intended to handle 55000+ users. I understand we can't go back to the office structure for quite a while, but the current model is only working at about 70% (my opinion only).
I have been working from home since 2010. So that is not a big difference.
The hearings can mostly gone smooth. There has been a few technical delays. It is kind of hard to know if hearings are running late because you are not there at the OHO to ask anyone. I have seen a lot more no-shows or claimants being late. Have saved a lot of money on commutes and dry cleaning. So overall it has been good. I feel blessed to still being able to work and knowing the claimants can get their hearings done in a timely manner.
I wonder if the SSA may find this is a more efficient way to do business.
The phone hearings work for some hearings and with some judges, but I'm not sure we're really getting fair hearings all the time. I still go to my office which is very near where I live, and we're already doing lots online, but I still think that you have to have some personal dealing with disability clients. It's not all about what's easy or convenient for me.
I have been in my office every day. My office and practice is much more humbler then in the past. A little more than 15 years ago I had 14 employees. That number included three other attorneys. There wasn't as much competition for SSD cases in my area at that time. Over the years people left my office or in several cases (including my wife) died. They were always replaced. I gradually down-sized. Today, my office involves me and one other employee.
Our state determined that professionals like attorneys and accountants were essential services and did not force us to close. We have handled the situation as follows: there are only two of us in the office, I am at one end and the other employee is at the other end of the office suite; we lock our front door; we do not see any clients in person; we deal with our clients by phone and mail exclusively with the exception of a few e-=-mails and text messages; I have done a number of telephone hearings without a problem except one last week; the Federal Court work is all done by electronic filing; I have oral arguments at the Circuit Court of Appeals in two weeks, the arguments involve Lucia issue cases that I won at the District Court level. The oral arguments are going to be done by phone.
The issue with the hearing involved what I call a "Double Secret Probation" Judge. These are Judges who want to keep the hearing to 30 minutes but don't tell anyone about it until 29 minutes are up. There is nothing in the Notice of Hearing about being limited to 30 minutes, there is no warning at the beginning of the hearing and the ALJ spends about 27 minutes questioning the claimant before allowing me to ask questions. A few years ago I had to travel 100 miles one way 4 times to do a hearing in a case like this. Last week I was interrupted by an ALJ who said she wanted to go to the V.E. Sometimes that is a message that I have heard enough. That was not the case in this matter. It seemed ridiculous to begrudge me 10 minutes. That is what happened. The case will be rescheduled for a Supplemental Hearing.
4:03 PM I am curious what circuit you are in. The 3rd has ruled for one case, in January. I am in the 8th Circuit and haven't heard anything since November... I filed my reply brief last June. In addition to the Lucia challenge, among others...I requested a Subpoena for a Physical Therapist who did an FCE. ALJ didn't tell me she wasn't coming until 15 minutes ito hearing. His only response, "We don't do those."
5:58 PM I am in the 10th Circuit. There are two cases for oral argument plus four more appeals filed by SSA. I also have several more Remands that SSA will appeal. There are two district courts involved in my cases, but only one district is involved in the appeals. In the other district I received five Reports and Recommendation from the Magistrate Judge. Those cases are before the District Judge on SSA's objections.
I am aware of the 3rd Circuit Decision. There are also appeals pending in the 4th, 8th and 11th Circuits that I am aware of. Have you already had oral arguments?
I have handled many Social Security appeals. This is the first time I am representing the Appellee(s).
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