12:30 - I'm confused as to what you think that explains. Average daily receipts is 1.23. Average daily dispositions is 1.25. Apparently more cases are being closed than are being opened.
What number do you think would be more sufficient? And where are these cases going to come from in order to have more hearings scheduled for more dispositions?
Or perhaps you're just sour on the idea that there are ALJs getting paid to do this job, in which case keep on cherry-picking numbers to explain whatever it is that you think needs explaining.
In normal times, ALJs were expected to dispose of 2.0 cases per day or about 500 per year. 1.2 is almost half that. With claimants no longer having qualms about phone hearings, it's now easier than ever for ALJs to hold hearings. As the numbers show, ALJs are holding as many hearings as needed to dispose of the cases that are coming in. The issue here, however, is not ALJ productivity but the number of receipts, which are way down.
Since COVID, field offices can't reach people if staff are working from home. There're long lines at the service center. And if you don't have a computer or phone to access services, or don't want to wait forever on the phone line, then you're not getting help. The state DDS offices appear to be understaffed and overworked causing delays in processing initial claims.
So, are receipts down primarily because the field offices aren't providing adequate service or is it because fewer people actually need SSI/SSDI because jobs are now more readily available and employers are willing to work with people with disabilities?
10:08, the bigger issue is that anything pending over 365 days (perhaps even 270 days) cannot be scheduled unless VTC/in-person. I’ve had several claimants and reps say they prefer OVH or phone hearings, particularly those in areas where they are expected to travel 50+ miles to their closest hearing offices.
However, they must consent to that type of a hearing to be scheduled. Anyone in excess of those pending times above either wants a live hearing, which is fine, or can’t be located to ask if they would accept that type of hearing.
I started doing live hearings (meaning VTC or in-person) in July. I’ve had over 40 such hearings scheduled, every one of them with hearing request dates over 1,000 days for people we simply cannot locate. 8 people have shown up and only half of those hearings went forward (3 were repped and had refused in-person). I’m guessing my dispositions will jump up once 30 days run on the NTSCs for those who didn’t show up and aren’t incarcerated and didn’t have documented address changes.
So, ALJs are only issuing about 1.2 decisions per day? And getting paid over $170,000/year to do that? This explains so much.
ReplyDelete12:30 - I'm confused as to what you think that explains. Average daily receipts is 1.23. Average daily dispositions is 1.25. Apparently more cases are being closed than are being opened.
ReplyDeleteWhat number do you think would be more sufficient? And where are these cases going to come from in order to have more hearings scheduled for more dispositions?
Or perhaps you're just sour on the idea that there are ALJs getting paid to do this job, in which case keep on cherry-picking numbers to explain whatever it is that you think needs explaining.
In normal times, ALJs were expected to dispose of 2.0 cases per day or about 500 per year. 1.2 is almost half that. With claimants no longer having qualms about phone hearings, it's now easier than ever for ALJs to hold hearings. As the numbers show, ALJs are holding as many hearings as needed to dispose of the cases that are coming in. The issue here, however, is not ALJ productivity but the number of receipts, which are way down.
ReplyDeleteSince COVID, field offices can't reach people if staff are working from home. There're long lines at the service center. And if you don't have a computer or phone to access services, or don't want to wait forever on the phone line, then you're not getting help. The state DDS offices appear to be understaffed and overworked causing delays in processing initial claims.
So, are receipts down primarily because the field offices aren't providing adequate service or is it because fewer people actually need SSI/SSDI because jobs are now more readily available and employers are willing to work with people with disabilities?
Why can’t you reach someone if you’re working from home? That’s seems like an odd mention.
Deletehas nothing to do with the fact that unemployment is 3.7% with over 11M job openings
ReplyDelete10:08, the bigger issue is that anything pending over 365 days (perhaps even 270 days) cannot be scheduled unless VTC/in-person. I’ve had several claimants and reps say they prefer OVH or phone hearings, particularly those in areas where they are expected to travel 50+ miles to their closest hearing offices.
ReplyDeleteHowever, they must consent to that type of a hearing to be scheduled. Anyone in excess of those pending times above either wants a live hearing, which is fine, or can’t be located to ask if they would accept that type of hearing.
I started doing live hearings (meaning VTC or in-person) in July. I’ve had over 40 such hearings scheduled, every one of them with hearing request dates over 1,000 days for people we simply cannot locate. 8 people have shown up and only half of those hearings went forward (3 were repped and had refused in-person). I’m guessing my dispositions will jump up once 30 days run on the NTSCs for those who didn’t show up and aren’t incarcerated and didn’t have documented address changes.