The notices that we send out, I have described them as Mad Libs written by mad lawyers that confuse, they scare, and most people have a difficult time understanding what many of these notices even say.
From WFTV:
Dozens of people waited in line for hours outside the newly opened Social Security Administration Office on Orange Avenue in downtown Orlando.
It’s been a daily occurrence since the new office opened on Monday, June 17.
Social Security Administration told Eyewitness News Tuesday evening that the long lines were due to recently implemented security screening requirements.
“We are working on a long-term security screening solution for the building, potentially including an additional magnetometer,” the agency said. ...
Eyewitness News spoke to people in line Tuesday who reported up to 3 hours to get in and out of the office. Some toward the end of the line said they had been there an hour and a half.
This was as dozens were fighting Orlando’s 90-degree heat in the line, including the elderly, the disabled bound by wheelchairs, and children. No overhang or shelter was covering most of the line.
“It’s super hot! I can’t even take it,” said 7-year-old Marly, waiting to go into the office with her dad. ...
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| Kristy Strong |
Kristy Strong, a 45-year-old disabled woman in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, was shocked when her Supplemental Security Income benefits were stopped in January. ...
"They claim I was overpaid," Strong told Newsweek. "I was sleeping behind dumpsters [and] eating out of trash cans, so I had nothing."
When Strong received the letter saying she owed the money, she immediately appealed and contacted legal counsel, but she said she has been waiting for a court date for more than six months, even though her lawyer told her the case has been expedited, she said. ...
Strong didn't even know what assets the SSA had been referring to but was informed the agency was under the impression that Strong had inherited property when her grandmother died in November 2021.
"I told them I did not," Strong said. "My grandma left everything to my aunt, who didn't have money to probate her will, and had asked me to sign a paper agreeing not to have to probate it. I never inherited anything."
She was told by Social Security she would have to prove she didn't own the property, despite it never being in her name. ...
"I wish people knew that real peoples' lives are at stake, and this isn't just a debate in an election year," Strong said. "So much more is at risk than votes."
The President's proposed bill for FY 2025 contains $15.4 billion for Social Security.
This can't get passed without the agreement of the Senate and the White House. Also, nothing is likely to be passed until after the new Congress begins just after New Year's Day in 2025. The new Congress may have different opinions about this appropriations bill.
From Emergency Message EM-24028:
... We will not apply res judicata to bar readjudication of a previously adjudicated period when the prior final determination or decision finding the claimant not disabled is dated prior to June 22, 2024, if the prior adverse determination or decision found the individual could do:
1. PRW [Past Relevant Work] at step four of the sequential evaluation process (SEP) and the PRW cited is not PRW under the PRW rule; OR
2. Other work at step five of the SEP, work experience was material to the decision, and the individual’s work experience is different under the PRW rule.
When these criteria are met, we will not apply res judicata to deny a subsequent claim or dismiss a request for hearing on that claim. ...
OK, now what about cases pending at the Appeals Council or federal court where there were denials based upon ability to perform other "jobs" that are now considered off limits because they don't really exist any more?
It was a busy Saturday for Social Security. Yes, a busy Saturday!
First, Social Security has added significantly more data to the online reports available to attorneys representing claimants at the initial and reconsideration levels. I have not tried it yet but early reports I have heard indicate that it’s a work in progress. Still, this holds out the prospect of two advantages. It gives attorneys easier access to information on the status of their clients’ cases. It cuts down on the number of calls to Social Security asking about case status.
Second, Social Security issued two Emergency Messages on which jobs can be considered as alternative work a claimant can perform if he or she is unable to perform their past relevant work. In the more important of the Emergency Messages there is a list of jobs that cannot be considered absent “additional evidence” from a Vocational Expert:
| DOT Code | DOT Occupational Title | DOT Industry Designation |
| 209.587-010 | Addresser | clerical |
| 249.587-018 | Document Preparer, Microfilming | business services |
| 249.587-014 | Cutter-and-Paster, Press Clippings | business services |
| 239.687-014 | Tube Operator | clerical |
| 318.687-018 | Silver Wrapper | hotel and restaurant |
| 349.667-010 | Host/Hostess, Dance Hall | amusement and recreation |
| 349.667-014 | Host/Hostess, Head | amusement and recreation |
| 379.367-010 | Surveillance-System Monitor | government services |
| 521.687-010 | Almond Blancher, Hand | canning and preserving |
| 521-687-086 | Nut Sorter | canning and preserving |
| 726.685-010 | Magnetic-Tape Winder | recording |
| 782.687-030 | Puller-Through | glove and mitten |
| 976.385-010 | Microfilm Processor | business services |
In another Emergency Messages there’s this list of jobs that can no longer be considered at all:
| DOT Code | DOT Occupational Title | DOT Industry Designation(s) |
| 013.061-010 | AGRICULTURAL ENGINEER | professional and kindred occupations |
| 013.061-014 | AGRICULTURAL-RESEARCH ENGINEER | professional and kindred occupations |
| 013.061-018 | DESIGN-ENGINEER, AGRICULTURAL EQUIPMENT | professional and kindred occupations |
| 013.061-022 | TEST ENGINEER, AGRICULTURAL EQUIPMENT | professional and kindred occupations |
| 021.067-010 | ASTRONOMER | professional and kindred occupations |
| 029.067-010 | GEOGRAPHER | professional and kindred occupations |
| 029.067-014 | GEOGRAPHER, PHYSICAL | professional and kindred occupations |
| 045.061-014 | PSYCHOLOGIST, ENGINEERING | professional and kindred occupations |
| 045.107-030 | PSYCHOLOGIST, INDUSTRIAL-ORGANIZATIONAL | professional and kindred occupations |
| 052.067-014 | DIRECTOR, STATE-HISTORICAL SOCIETY | professional and kindred occupations |
| 052.067-018 | GENEALOGIST | professional and kindred occupations |
| 052.067-022 | HISTORIAN | professional and kindred occupations |
| 052.067-026 | HISTORIAN, DRAMATIC ARTS | professional and kindred occupations |
| 052.167-010 | DIRECTOR, RESEARCH | motion picture; radio and television broadcasting |
| 072.101-018 | ORAL AND MAXILLOFACIAL SURGEON | medical services |
| 072.101-034 | PROSTHODONTIST | medical services |
| 193.162-022 | AIRLINE-RADIO OPERATOR, CHIEF | air transportation; business services |
| 193.262-010 | AIRLINE-RADIO OPERATOR | air transportation; business services |
| 193.262-014 | DISPATCHER | government services |
| 193.262-022 | RADIO OFFICER | water transportation |
| 193.262-026 | RADIO STATION OPERATOR | aircraft manufacturing |
| 193.262-030 | RADIOTELEGRAPH OPERATOR | telephone and telegraph |
| 193.262-034 | RADIOTELEPHONE OPERATOR | any industry |
| 193.362-010 | PHOTORADIO OPERATOR | printing and publishing; telephone and telegraph |
| 193.362-014 | RADIO-INTELLIGENCE OPERATOR | government services |
| 193.382-010 | ELECTRONIC INTELLIGENCE OPERATIONS SPECIALIST | military services |
| 203.562-010 | WIRE-TRANSFER CLERK | financial institutions |
| 235.462-010 | CENTRAL-OFFICE OPERATOR | telephone and telegraph |
| 235.562-010 | CLERK, ROUTE | telephone and telegraph |
| 235.662-018 | DIRECTORY-ASSISTANCE OPERATOR | telephone and telegraph |
| 236.562-010 | TELEGRAPHER | railroad transportation |
| 236.562-014 | TELEGRAPHER AGENT | railroad transportation |
| 237.367-034 | PAY-STATION ATTENDANT | telephone and telegraph |
| 239.382-010 | WIRE-PHOTO OPERATOR, NEWS | printing and publishing |
| 297.667-014 | MODEL | garment; retail trade; wholesale trade |
| 299.647-010 | IMPERSONATOR, CHARACTER | any industry |
| 305.281-010 | COOK | domestic service |
| 338.371-010 | EMBALMER APPRENTICE | personal service |
| 338.371-014 | EMBALMER | personal service |
| 379.384-010 | SCUBA DIVER | any industry |
| 410.161-010 | ANIMAL BREEDER | agriculture and agricultural service |
| 410.161-014 | FUR FARMER | agriculture and agricultural service |
| 410.161-018 | LIVESTOCK RANCHER | agriculture and agricultural service |
| 410.161-022 | HOG-CONFINEMENT-SYSTEM MANAGER | agriculture and agricultural service |
| 411.161-010 | CANARY BREEDER | agriculture and agricultural service |
| 411.161-014 | POULTRY BREEDER | agriculture and agricultural service |
| 413.161-014 | REPTILE FARMER | agriculture and agricultural service |
| 452.167-010 | FIRE WARDEN | forestry |
| 452.367-010 | FIRE LOOKOUT | forestry |
| 452.367-014 | FIRE RANGER | forestry |
| 455.367-010 | LOG GRADER | logging; sawmill and planing mill |
| 455.487-010 | LOG SCALER | logging; millwork, veneer, plywood, and structural wood members; paper and pulp; sawmill and planing mill |
| 519.684-010 | LADLE LINER | foundry; smelting and refining |
| 519.684-022 | STOPPER MAKER | blast furnace, steel work, and rolling and finishing mill |
| 579.664-010 | CLAY-STRUCTURE BUILDER AND SERVICER | glass manufacturing |
| 661.281-010 | LOFT WORKER | ship and boat manufacturing and repairing |
| 661.281-018 | PATTERNMAKER APPRENTICE, WOOD | foundry |
| 661.281-022 | PATTERNMAKER, WOOD | foundry |
| 661.380-010 | MODEL MAKER, WOOD | any industry |
| 690.682-078 | STITCHER, SPECIAL MACHINE | boot and shoe |
| 690.682-082 | STITCHER, STANDARD MACHINE | boot and shoe |
| 690.685-494 | STITCHER, TAPE-CONTROLLED MACHINE | boot and shoe |
| 693.261-018 | MODEL MAKER | aircraft-aerospace manufacturing |
| 714.281-010 | AIRCRAFT-PHOTOGRAPHIC-EQUIPMENT MECHANIC | photographic apparatus and materials |
| 714.281-014 | CAMERA REPAIRER | photographic apparatus and materials |
| 714.281-018 | MACHINIST, MOTION-PICTURE EQUIPMENT | motion picture; photographic apparatus and materials |
| 714.281-022 | PHOTOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENT TECHNICIAN | photographic apparatus and materials |
| 714.281-026 | PHOTOGRAPHIC-EQUIPMENT-MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN | photographic apparatus and materials |
| 714.281-030 | SERVICE TECHNICIAN, COMPUTERIZED-PHOTOFINISHING EQUIPMENT | photofinishing |
| 715.281-010 | WATCH REPAIRER | clocks watches, and allied products |
| 715.281-014 | WATCH REPAIRER APPRENTICE | clocks, watches, and allied products |
| 715.381-010 | ASSEMBLER | clocks, watches, and allied products |
| 715.381-014 | ASSEMBLER, WATCH TRAIN | clocks, watches, and allied products |
| 715.381-018 | BANKING PIN ADJUSTER | clocks watches, and allied products |
| 715.381-022 | BARREL ASSEMBLER | clocks, watches, and allied products |
| 715.381-026 | BARREL-BRIDGE ASSEMBLER | clocks, watches, and allied products |
| 715.381-030 | BARREL-ENDSHAKE ADJUSTER | clocks, watches, and allied products |
| 715.381-038 | CHRONOMETER ASSEMBLER AND ADJUSTER | clocks, watches, and allied products |
| 715.381-042 | CHRONOMETER-BALANCE-AND-HAIRSPRING ASSEMBLER | clocks, watches, and allied products |
| 715.381-054 | HAIRSPRING ASSEMBLER | clocks, watches, and allied products |
| 715.381-062 | HAIRSPRING VIBRATOR | clocks, watches, and allied products |
| 715.381-082 | PALLET-STONE INSERTER | clocks, watches, and allied products |
| 715.381-086 | PALLET-STONE POSITIONER | clocks, watches, and allied products |
| 715.381-094 | WATCH ASSEMBLER | clocks, watches, and allied products |
| 715.584-014 | REPAIRER, AUTO CLOCKS | clocks, watches, and allied products |
| 715.681-010 | TIMING ADJUSTER | clocks, watches, and allied products |
| 761.381-014 | JIG BUILDER | wooden container |
| 788.684-114 | THREAD LASTER | boot and shoe |
| 826.261-010 | FIELD-SERVICE ENGINEER | photographic apparatus and materials |
| 841.381-010 | PAPERHANGER | construction |
| 841.684-010 | BILLPOSTER | business services |
| 849.484-010 | BOILER RELINER, PLASTIC BLOCK | foundry |
| 850.663-010 | DREDGE OPERATOR | construction; coal, metal, and nonmetal mining and quarrying |
| 861.381-046 | TERRAZZO WORKER | construction |
| 861.381-050 | TERRAZZO-WORKER APPRENTICE | construction |
| 861.664-014 | TERRAZZO FINISHER | construction |
| 899.261-010 | DIVER | any industry |
| 899.684-010 | BONDACTOR-MACHINE OPERATOR | foundry |
| 910.362-010 | TOWER OPERATOR | railroad transportation |
| 910.363-018 | YARD ENGINEER | railroad transportation |
| 910.382-010 | CAR-RETARDER OPERATOR | railroad transportation |
| 910.583-010 | LABORER, CAR BARN | railroad transportation |
| 910.683-010 | HOSTLER | railroad transportation |
| 910.683-022 | TRANSFER-TABLE OPERATOR | railroad equipment building and repairing; railroad transportation |
| 911.663-010 | MOTORBOAT OPERATOR | any industry |
| 919.663-014 | DINKEY OPERATOR | any industry |
| 919.683-010 | DOCK HAND | air transportation |
| 919.683-026 | TRACKMOBILE OPERATOR | any industry |
| 930.683-026 | ROOF BOLTER | coal, metal, and nonmetal mining and quarrying |
| 952.362-022 | POWER-REACTOR OPERATOR | utilities |
| 960.362-010 | MOTION-PICTURE PROJECTIONIST | amusement and recreation; motion picture |
| 960.382-010 | AUDIOVISUAL TECHNICIAN | any industry |
| 961.367-010 | MODEL, PHOTOGRAPHERS' | any industry |
| 961.667-010 | MODEL, ARTISTS' | any industry |
Have you decided what days you're going to take off around Christmas?
Is it just me or does this seem bizarre, almost abusive? It's certainly unnecessary.
Below is an illustration from the testimony of Katherine
Zuleger of Wausau
, WI. President, Chicago Social Security Management Association, Executive Committee Member, National Council of Social Security Management Associations to the Senate Finance Committee on June 18, 2024 on Work and Social Security Disability Benefits (I can't help thinking that some of this looks like an illustration from a sex education textbook!):
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| Click on image to view full size |
Government Executive has out a piece titled Martin O’Malley is on a one-year sprint to save Social Security. The title comes from Government Executive, not O'Malley. I'm sure that O'Malley hasn't claimed that he can "save" Social Security in any time frame, much less in a year.
The primary thrust of the piece is O'Malley's call for additional budget resources for his agency. However, there's also crowing about O'Malley's accomplishments as Commissioner. O'Malley has certainly changed the tone at the agency and has some important accomplishments in his first six months as Commissioner but I'm pretty sure that the main accomplishment claimed in this piece -- improvement in 800 number answering -- isn't much of an accomplishment.
Those on the inside can confirm or deny this but I think that the improvement in 800 number answering has been achieved by calling upon additional backup for the agency's Teleservice Centers (TSC's). The backup comes from the Program Service Centers (PSC's) whose primary responsibility is computing and paying benefits under Title II of the Social Security Act. This has gone on to some extent for many years. I've heard it referred to as "spiking," as in asking the PSC's to step in to handle overflow when there's a spike in call volume. It's not hard to improve 800 number phone answering if all you have to do is to shift the boundary for what's considered a "spike." Of course, the problem is that this causes degradation in the primary PSC workload of computing and paying benefits, which I have seen. Doing a better job of answering the phones is great but asking claimants who have already been approved to wait an extra month for the benefits they are owed isn't so great. Also, changing the spiking policies so that the PSC's give more help to the TSC's isn't sustainable. The payment backlogs will eventually become their own crisis.
Finding ways to make yourself look better comes naturally to a seasoned politician like O'Malley. It's not a bad thing for the agency. At the least, it gives members of Congress confidence that if they give the Social Security Administration additional operating funds that they will be well spent. There is another side to the coin, however. Some members of Congress can say "Look, it's what we've been telling you. Social Security doesn't need more operating funds. It just needs better management."
The Senate Finance Committee is holding a hearing at 10:00 today (June 18) on Work and Social Security Disability Benefits: Addressing Challenges and Creating Opportunities. You can watch it online. Here's the witness list:
From Job Incidence Numbers in Social Security Disability Claims: A Case Study and Analysis by Kevin Liebkemann, 44 J. Nat’l Ass’n Admin. L. Judiciary 15 (2024) .
... The case survey results suggest that the SSA’s current vocational evidence system is broken in ways that can hurt disability claimants. Some variance in VE [Vocational Expert] job incidence number testimony may be reasonable. However, survey results document that VEs frequently gave markedly different national job incidence numbers for the same job around the same time, which indicates that the VE’s methodologies employed were inconsistent and thus unreliable. Further, study of cases involving other frequently cited DOT job titles could help determine how widespread this problem is. Some courts have already taken notice of such discrepancies regarding VE testimony of job incidence for other DOT titles. ...
SSA does not currently have adequate rules or enforcement in place to protect the public from the problem documented in the study data, namely VEs giving extremely disparate job incidence numbers for the same DOT title. The study data and case review found that SSA ALJs accepted those disparate numbers. The SSA’s Office of Inspector General that is charged with searching for and reporting systemic weaknesses in SSA programs has not yet issued any investigation reports on the reliability of VE methodologies for determining job incidence numbers. ...
Talk about being elite and out of touch! Most people don't wait until full retirement age now to start their Social Security benefits. There's no sign that's changing. Blue collar workers can rarely go on working until they're 70. Their health won't permit it. I think that Mr. Tammy hasn't yet experienced any of the ill effects of the aging process. It's coming for you too, buddy, whether you believe it or not. The odds are high that even highly motivated white collar workers don't make it until 70. Private savings? Does Mr. Tammy know anyone with an annual income below $100,000? Apart from their homes, if they're lucky enough to have them, most Americans near retirement age have only modest savings at best.
Right wing "thinkers" keep telling us that the key to all retirement problems in the U.S. is lowering the tax bills paid by wealthy Americans. It's what they're paid to write.
A statistical report from Social Security on performance at its Office of Hearings Operations:
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| Click on image to view full size |
