My firm has recently started receiving calls from clients informing us that their My SSA account is showing that work on their case pending at the initial or reconsideration level is 31% or 90% or some other percentage complete. This is nuts. The work at DDS doesn't translate into percentages like this. Where are they coming up with these numbers? Is there any point other than to try to get the claimants to hold off a little longer before they call to ask what's going on with their cases? If so, I don't think this is going to help for long. What are they going to do about claimants whose cases have supposedly been pending at "31% complete" for six months?
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It's nonsense. The idiots in management at SSA thought this was a good idea.
ReplyDeleteIt can be 100% complete but if there’s no staff to process it, does it matter?
ReplyDeleteThis is amazing! Finally claimants will be able to track their disability applications in real time!
ReplyDeleteNo longer will they be wondering how far along their case is in the process. Now, every day they can look up their claim and watch the progress that DDS is making.
If the case is only 30% complete, they can make sure that their attorney is doing everything to make sure that the case is proceeding.
Soon, claimants will have real time video access to the DDS examiners in their offices. They will be notified when the examiner or physician reviewer is working on THEIR claim, and they will be able to WATCH the progress itself.
The future is here!
I’d love to see a live feed of the MC’s who can process a case in single digit minutes in my state. Not shockingly, the fastest of the bunch seems like the most prolific to see at hearing level. He’s like that late night casino dealer that comes in and empties a hot table. A convicted felon i might add.
DeleteActually better than the black hole of information before, at least it is a little something that shows somebody at least touched it. Save a screen shot when they check status so they can show that the claim was on hold at a certain level for an exceptionally long time.
ReplyDeleteWould you rather no written accountability or expectations of where a claim is and how long it could be there?
ReplyDeleteAt least they know where the claim is pending and what step in the process is taking place.
All the claimants I encounter swear they don’t know anything about the internet or how to use a computer or smartphone so I don’t see this being an issue. They’ll never see it!
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ReplyDeleteSome information is better than none and this will be reassuring to claimants to see that their case is worked on and progressing. Hopefully as they see the progression increasing incrementally, from 31% to 52% to 94%, they will not feel the need to contact SSA every few days.
Now if we could only get a similar system to provide percentage completion updates to attorneys, regarding their unpaid fees.
Seems it would be better to say what steps and component in the adjudicative process have been completed along with the %.
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ReplyDeleteThis is exactly what I am talking about.
Accountability.
Let them see real time video of their claims being processed. Let them virtually experience their processing of the claim. Meta can help! The Metaverse will enable them to virtually stand beside their claims examiner and EXPERIENCE the examination process itself. As the geriatric physician reviewer passes his/her/its hand over the claim file to determine eligibility, the claimant will BE THERE TOO!
This is where we are going. Soon, the claimants will understand EVERYTHING.
The future is here.
Oh look! SSA does something, and this blog finds a way to complain about it. It must be a day that ends in ‘y.’
ReplyDeleteSSA management likely spent more time and money on creating the system that it does on actually processing claims. And those who participated in the "workgroups" to create it are going to be well rewarded with monetary awards and promotions.
ReplyDeleteI do not personally mind this system. Gives some level of transparency to claimants. And our office has also used this when the local FO was unreachable for months on end--or when they fail to send out denial notices, which is still happening.
ReplyDeleteWhen I place an Order at Panera's they also have a cute little board showing me how my sandwich order is coming along.
ReplyDeleteThis is something from Social Security following the paradigm
We must do something
This is something,
Therefore, we must do this.
It accomplishes nothing other than put some strange number out there to give the illusion of work being done without meaning anything at all.
@1:11pm Another example of useless additions by SSA that do nothing to improve services to the public.
ReplyDeleteUnless the agency publishes a definitive guide describing in detail exactly how they are deriving these numbers, the numbers themselves are worthless (i.e. red herrings, to give the claimants something shiny to distract their attentions on to try and keep them from calling).
ReplyDeleteCharles, maybe one of the NADR or NOSSCR should do a FOIA request on how the agency is deriving these numbers. Would be an interesting, if not futile, diversion.
I don't mind SSA becoming more tech-friendly but this is a joke. I've rec'd fees but SSA site says claim is 90% complete. Client wants to know what's up. Clients call because site says 100% complete but they have not rec'd benes; they want to know what's up.
ReplyDeleteUgh!
One of my clients, who is computer savvy, says that this system is just a counter dressed up to be something special. It really provides no information.
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