The report shown below was obtained from Social Security by the National Organization of Social Security Claimants Representatives
(NOSSCR) and published in its newsletter, which is not available online
to non-members. It contains basic operating statistics for Social Security's
Office of Hearings Operations (OHO).
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| Click on image to view full size |
I am trying to understand the need for 205,000 hrs of overtime in FY 2021. It appeared that throughout most of FY 2021 a lot of hearing offices were looking for things to do with ALJs not being able to fill their dockets and decision writers pumping out decisions within a few days of receiving instructions. Any insiders care to share their knowledge on what workload the overtime was directed toward?
ReplyDeleteAre there O//T hours in OHO and none in the field !!!!
ReplyDeleteThe very limited OT in the hearing office I work in is always assigned as wkup to exhibit files and prepare them for scheduled hearings.
ReplyDeleteI don’t “know” where the OT went, but I’m assuming a chunk of it was directed at HCSRs that we’re pulling double duty of being hearing monitors on top of trying to do their regular job duties.
ReplyDelete@7:18 AM. That would appear to be a fair use of OT.
ReplyDeleteyeah even though receipts plummeted you can't discount the fact that HCSRs/HCSSs (clerks) were suddenly required to hold all OHO hearings once COVID hit. Even at reduced hearing capacity, that's a few bodies in each office out of action for half a day or a full day every single workday. Now that hearings are being held closer to the old/full level, and without the contractor VHRs being back in action yet, there's even more a crunch on the clerks as development, working up cases, etc. are all getting bigger while the hearing reporting is getting bigger. Probably need more OT.
ReplyDeleteIn terms of the 30,000 foot prioritization of OT hours throughout SSA? I guess getting OHO's process to 270 days or less on average was more important to leadership than improving the quality/amount/service for all the tasks FO/DO/PSC employees do. That's the more interesting discussion.