tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post1155928515236067484..comments2024-03-27T20:39:24.337-04:00Comments on Social Security News: Merry Christmas?Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-23963548765294237732012-12-13T22:05:59.371-05:002012-12-13T22:05:59.371-05:00The delays are awful for people trying to get bene...The delays are awful for people trying to get benefits just to pay their everyday bills. Unfortunately, there are a lot of people that are gaming the system, and this is causing a backlog of cases that should be fast-tracked, such as people on oxygen or with life-threatening disorders. Something needs to be done.nickhttp://socialsecurityrights.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-53214138738838597142012-12-13T21:22:21.847-05:002012-12-13T21:22:21.847-05:00SSI huh? Figures. SSI huh? Figures. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-28561751177797436572012-12-13T19:18:43.266-05:002012-12-13T19:18:43.266-05:00Get used to it, federal EEs are paid to show up, n...Get used to it, federal EEs are paid to show up, not to be productive. After two or more decades of hiring for reasons other than getting the best and the brightest, we now have that group as the executives, managers and supervisors who hired and lead a staff that cannot do half the job SSA employees did 20 years ago. Computers do most of the work to insure appropriate questions are asked and answered and benefits are correctly calculated. Phones will be answered when they figure out how to provide an automated system where actions are taken when the caller keys in a response from a list of options. It is a bright future when you reap what you sow.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-11613538844891490482012-12-13T11:02:44.375-05:002012-12-13T11:02:44.375-05:00Congressional inquiries, at least during my time i...Congressional inquiries, at least during my time in an FO (retired a couple of years ago) were so numerous that they were treated pretty much the same as any other "priority" workload, though as DM I reviewed all responses to those offices. Depending on the office and staffing, Congressional input isn't necessarilyy a miracle cure for delayed cases, sadly.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-30774830829346696672012-12-12T17:10:20.526-05:002012-12-12T17:10:20.526-05:00Have the client contact their Congressman or Congr...Have the client contact their Congressman or Congresswoman. It will immediately be brought to the attention of the DM and likely, everything possible to get the client paid, will be made. It may not be fair, but in most cases, it works. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-26356871927684432972012-12-12T16:44:11.984-05:002012-12-12T16:44:11.984-05:00In North Carolina, it is a violation of the ethica...In North Carolina, it is a violation of the ethical rules for a lawyer to lend a client money. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-83098275224805898962012-12-12T15:53:32.689-05:002012-12-12T15:53:32.689-05:00If i don't have time to answer the phone, you ...If i don't have time to answer the phone, you can bet i'm not responding to a fax.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-21070974715778846382012-12-12T14:43:19.460-05:002012-12-12T14:43:19.460-05:00Anon at 1:49pm...
You sound like an SSA employee....Anon at 1:49pm...<br /><br />You sound like an SSA employee. This is a great idea in a perfect world but the likelihood of recouping the full amount from the claimant once they finally get their check unfortunately is not great. And if reps were going to do that for one of their clients, then why shouldn't they do it for all of them? For those who practice solely in SSD law, that's a lot of money to be putting out there with no guarantee of getting it back. Geez, talk about pointing fingers!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-2225566212507513432012-12-12T13:49:20.170-05:002012-12-12T13:49:20.170-05:00Here's a radical idea. Since you are her atto...Here's a radical idea. Since you are her attorney, and have a fiduciary duty to act in her best interest, why don't you just give her an advance on her payment. You know she's been approved. Instead of pointing fingers, just make it happen.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-76147015199248641222012-12-12T13:41:22.313-05:002012-12-12T13:41:22.313-05:00This is the norm in our office as we are six bodie...This is the norm in our office as we are six bodies down. She will be lucky to be paid by Feb. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-74288335055577926112012-12-12T13:17:40.783-05:002012-12-12T13:17:40.783-05:00It will just get worse the closer we get to the ho...It will just get worse the closer we get to the holidays. That's when people take off for extended periods to use their "use-or-lose" leave balances. December is a lost month for SSA.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-66659469596249378532012-12-12T12:22:16.850-05:002012-12-12T12:22:16.850-05:00Has your client actually submitted all the necessa...Has your client actually submitted all the necessary financial paperwork so that benefits can be properly computed? When was this paperwork submitted?<br /><br />Since your office is in NC, is this a NC DO that might have been affected by Hurricane Sandy, thereby slowing things down and causing the staff to fall further behind?<br /><br />The delay in payment might be a result of an overburdened staff, but it could also be the result of a claimant/beneficiary being slow to provide (or failing to yet provide) necessary information.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-4485440333804276852012-12-12T11:21:24.589-05:002012-12-12T11:21:24.589-05:00ALJ decision 10/26 - the field office goal is to h...ALJ decision 10/26 - the field office goal is to have them paid within 60 days. Yes, we wok to get that done faster, but sometimes there are reasons for delays and that is why the goal is 60 days.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-21922311861507409262012-12-12T11:09:21.226-05:002012-12-12T11:09:21.226-05:00Been there, done that. I find it easier, actually,...Been there, done that. I find it easier, actually, to go to the office, take a number, and wait to talk to someone face to face. Not everyone can do that, though.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com