ALJ Hiring

      Social Security has posted an announcement that it is accepting applications for Administrative Law Judge positions. The announcement is only open until Wednesday.

OGC Is Hiring

     Social Security's Office of General Counsel is hiring. They're accepting the first 1,000 applications.

You Snooze, You Lose

     Social Security got 1,000 applications for the position of Administrative Law Judge by midnight last night and closed the window to new applications.

    I wonder about a couple of things. First, is a process that requires an immediate response a good idea? I know that there are practical reasons for limiting the number of applications but the current process prioritizes those who follow these things closely, often for many years, and most of those are insiders. Second, how many applications would there have been by now if the same job bore the title of "Hearing Examiner"? Is it a good thing if the inclusion of the word "judge" in the job title is the biggest attraction of the job? The word "judge" helps attract qualified applicants and it helps the agency fill positions in areas of the country that aren't generally so attractive to job applicants, but I've always been a bit uncomfortable with the idea of dangling the word "judge" to attract applicants, even though my experience is that the vast majority of Social Security's ALJs try hard to live up to all the good things that the word "judge" implies.

Wanna Be An ALJ?

     Social Security has just announced that it is taking applications for the Administrative Law Judge position (ALJ) with the agency. 

    Act fast. They're only going to consider the first 1,000 applications.

Job Opening

      My law firm is seeking to hire an associate attorney to replace an attorney who is leaving. (We're definitely not expanding!) The job is in Raleigh but the person hired could start from elsewhere since we're all working from home at the moment due to Covid-19. Social Security experience required.

    To apply, send a resume to charles@hall-rouse.com.

Job Opening

     Social Security has posted a job opening for the Deputy Associate Commissioner for Disability Policy position.  This is in the Senior Executive Service (SES) which means that while the position doesn’t require Senate confirmation, it can be filled on a political basis. Most SES positions, however,  are not political. Here’s the job description:

As full deputy and alter ego to the Associate Commissioner (AC) for Disability Policy, the Deputy Associate Commissioner (DAC) for Disability Policy oversees the development of broad medical concepts and disability program policies for medical issues governing the administration of the Title II and Title XVI programs. Included in this responsibility is the formulation of medical evaluation policies, interpretive guidance, and development of training programs for personnel involved in disability adjudication and decision-making.   

In consultation with the AC for Disability Policy, the DAC leads development, coordination and oversight of disability policies, procedures, and process requirements in support of the creation of an effective and efficient disability claims processing system consistent with policy. S/he oversees development and oversight of claimant representative policies and program integrity reporting requirements for the administration of Title II and Title XVI disability programs. The DAC leads the development and oversight of a vocational policy framework supporting accurate and consistent application of disability program policy through all levels of disability claims adjudication and the quality assurance process. The incumbent also ensures development of clear guidance for non-attorney representatives and requirements for sufficient training, as well of disability program fraud and similar fault policy. 

S/he oversees case analysis, studies, research and data analysis to provide an evidence base for proposed policy modernization, e.g., impairment severity and other medical disability issues, vocational and other non-medical disability issues, and studies on the disabled population relative to specific operational program issues. Accordingly, the incumbent develops automated data tools and maintains statistical databases.

     Which are the other current political SES positions at Social Security? What kind of people fill them?

ALJ Register Open!

     The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has posted the job announcement for the position of Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) at Social Security. If you are interested in applying, you need to start making your application immediately. The announcement will close on April 8.

Social Security To Hire 27 Administrative Appeals Judges -- Act Quick If You Want A Job, But Only If You Already Work For SSA

     From a job posting by Social Security:

Job Title:  Attorney-Examiner (General) (Administrative Appeals Judge)

SALARY RANGE: $133,515.00 to $170,400.00 / Per Year

OPEN PERIOD: Monday, March 14, 2016 to Friday, March 25, 2016 ...

DUTY LOCATIONS: 27 vacancies ...

WHO MAY APPLY: Agency Employees Only ...

ALJ Register Open

     The federal Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is now taking applications for the position of Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). This will only last until March 15.  Everyone should understand that taking applications and hiring are two different things. Under current budget conditions, actual hiring is very uncertain. However, the notice does indicate job openings in Santa Barbara, Denver, Hartford, Miami and Tampa. I would also caution that if there is hiring there's a good chance that the new ALJs will go to less desirable locations. Still, if you want to be an ALJ, submit your application now. Social Security may be hiring ALJs off this register for  years, meaning that it may be years before you have another chance to apply.

Budget Postions Open At ODAR

Social Security's Office of Disability Adjudication and Review (ODAR) is currently advertising openings for Associate Commissioner and Deputy Associate Commissioner for Budget, Facilities & Security.

ALJ Register Open

The register for the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) position is open. It will only stay open until midnight on the day upon which the 900th application is filed. Probably, the register will either close tomorrow night or Thursday night. Wednesday is a federal holiday. Apply as quickly as possible if you are interested in an ALJ position.

Social Security Advertises Chief Of Staff Position

The Social Security Administration is advertising an opening in the position of Chief of Staff. Here is the description of the job from the notice:

The Chief of Staff to the Commissioner of Social Security acts as personal advisor to the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner of Social Security covering the full range of the agency's mission. S/He is a key leader in setting and articulating the Commissioner's vision and strategic direction for the agency. Internally, the Chief of Staff oversees the tactical execution of the Commissioner's strategic vision among the agency's executive leadership. S/He represents the Commissioner in discussions with the White House, Members of Congress, the Office of Management and Budget, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Office of Personnel Management, other Federal agencies, executives of State and local governments, and others who are interested in the policies and programs of the Social Security Administration.

A Warning On The ALJ Register

As I reported last week, the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) register will reopen in the near future. This means the federal government will soon start taking applications to become ALJs. The register is likely to stay open only a day or two. Those who want to apply will have to act quickly. There will be no advance notice on exactly when the register will open. It might open today or maybe it will not open for another week or two. If you fail to get your application filed in time, you will have to wait until the register reopens and who knows when that will be.

My warning is that I am very tied up with hearings this week, many of them out of town. If you want to apply for an ALJ job, please do not rely upon this blog to give you prompt notice that the ALJ register has opened. Check for yourself on USA Jobs and do so frequently. You will not have long to act once it does reopen.

ALJ Register To Reopen

An announcement from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM):

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management today announced it will open the Administrative Law Judge Examination to interested applicants in the near future by posting a notice on USAJOBS (www.usajobs.gov).

Due to the overwhelming volume of applications OPM expects to receive, the number of applications the agency will accept for processing will be determined on the basis of projected government-wide hiring needs. OPM will announce the limit at the time the examination opens to applicants. Completed applications will be accepted in the order they are received until 11:59 p.m. (EST) the day in which the limit has been reached.

Individuals who are interested in applying are urged to closely monitor the USAJOBS web site in the coming weeks. When OPM last opened the ALJ Examination in July 2008, it received its target of 600 completed applications within two days.

I urge those who want to become Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) to study this notice carefully and to monitor the OPM website closely. The last time the register was opened, it only stayed open for a few days. Many who were interested in becoming ALJs failed to apply in time. Many people were bitter because they thought the system was set up to exclude them since they did not hear about the register opening in time to apply.

SSA Hiring Disabled

From an article by Reginald Wells, Social Security's Deputy Commissioner for Human Resources and Chief Human Capital Officer in Federal Times:

There is a clear business case for the federal workforce, charged with the responsibility of public service, to reflect the diverse tapestry of America. People with disabilities are part of that tapestry and arguably constitute one of the most diverse groups in our society. ...

The Social Security Administration currently has the third-highest percentage of employees with targeted disabilities among large agencies. ...

SSA Commissioner Michael Astrue established in March an initiative to formalize a continual process through which people with disabilities remain an integral part of our diversity mosaic. Branded “SSA AccessAbility: Recruiting Individuals with Disabilities,” this initiative capitalizes on opportunities for hiring as well as agencywide coordination through an established national recruitment structure. ...

As a result of increased fiscal 2009 budget appropriations as well as funds received through the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act, SSA had the opportunity to hire about 7,000 employees through August. Preliminary figures show the agency hired more than 650 people with disabilities, including more than 100 individuals receiving federal disability benefits.

Many Applicants For Attorney Jobs At Social Security

The New York Times had an article yesterday on the tough job market for recent law school graduates which reported that applications for attorney positions at Social Security had gone up from 800 last year to 2,000 this year.

Senior Attorney Job Openings

From the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) which represents staff attorneys at Social Security:

I am pleased to announce that the Commissioner has decided to substantially increase the staffing of the Senior Attorney positions over the next 15 months. The Agency plans on initially re-promoting most of those employees that held senior attorney positions in the 1995 Senior Attorney Program and then doing at least four series of vacancy announcements starting with the end of this fiscal year. I have already requested specifics regarding the number and exact time frame of the promotions.

I emphasize that these are all permanent positions. It has always been my “number one” priority to obtain permanent GS-13 positions for those attorneys unfairly demoted in 1998 and to give promotional opportunities to the deserving attorneys unfairly stagnated at the GS-12 level. This is a giant step toward reaching that goal as we more than double the number of NTEU represented Senior Attorneys.

This is all very good news. It is the result of many years work by the Union. Why has it finally come to fruition? The answer is simple: The administration of Commissioner Michael Astrue. As you are aware, since becoming Commissioner, Mr. Astrue has addressed the many needs of SSA and particularly the disability program with a great deal of vigor. He is determined to eliminate the backlog and is prepared to take whatever steps are necessary. There have been massive hires of ALJs and supporting staff. The level of these hires is far in excess of any in the past. Additionally, many new hearing offices will be created and staffed during the next year. The list of other changes and initiatives launched by Commissioner Astrue is extensive.

NTEU does not agree with all of the Commissioner’s initiatives. However, when it comes to improving service, the Commissioner has demonstrated an interest in working cooperatively with NTEU. The Commissioner is an attorney, and he recognizes the unique skills that attorneys bring to the Social Security Administration. He also recognizes that NTEU has a long history of working cooperatively with the Agency to improve the service we provide the public. We approached him in such a mode and he has responded favorably. He listened to our presentation regarding the benefits of attorney adjudication, and despite his initial skepticism, reviewed the facts we presented and decided it was in the best interest of the Agency’s goals to launch the Attorney Adjudicator Program. During the last year we have advocated a substantial increase in the Attorney Adjudicator Program and have discussed the matter with the Commissioner and his senior advisers on multiple occasions. The Commissioner has determined that it is in the best interest of the Agency’s goals to significantly increase the staffing of the Senior Attorney position. The Commissioner’s decision to promote many GS-12 attorneys into the GS-13 Senior Attorney position demonstrates a major commitment to Senior Attorney adjudication.

Eligibility for these promotions for the first slots is limited to those with 3 years experience as an attorney adviser in ODAR with at least one year at the GS-12 level. Eligibility for the remainder of the promotions is predicated on one year at the GS-12 level in ODAR. In addition to the promotions, the Agency will charter a high level workgroup with NTEU having a prominent role. The charter will be to improve the current Attorney Adjudicator program and study the need for GS-14 supervisor and bargaining unit positions.

These promotions are the result of a long series of discussions based on cooperation between the Union and Management for the purpose of better serving the public. We intend, and I believe the Commissioner intends, to continue the policy of cooperation with those who seek to improve the disability process.

Finally, congratulations to all those who will be promoted.


-- Jim Hill

You note the distinctly different tone of this message from what you read from the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the union that represents most Social Security employees. I am not trying to explain what is cause and what is effect, just noting the difference.

Associate Commissioner For Disability Programs Job Open

Social Security is advertising the position of Associate Commissioner For Disability Programs. According to the announcement the occupant of this position:

... is the senior executive responsible for the development and promulgation of Agency policy and guidelines in the administration of its disability programs including medical, evaluation, disability process, and administrative appeals process policy. Additionally, the incumbent is responsible for analyzing legislative and regulatory specifications and budgetary impacts of legislation on programs administered by SSA.

Glenn Sklar, pictured above, had this job. I understand that Sklar is now the Assistant Deputy Commissioner to the Deputy Commissioner of the Office of Quality Performance.

Is This Misleading?

The Chicago Daily Herald is reporting on how to look for employment at Social Security. The article says that non-disabled job applicants should check Social Security Careers regularly, but does that website list the Federal Career Intern positions at Social Security? That is the knock on Social Security's hiring. Are many, perhaps most, job openings at Social Security filled without public notice of a job opening? Is that appropriate?

How Much Hiring Is Social Security Doing?

The Social Security Administration currently has 26 job openings listed on USAJobs. Alyssa Rosenburg on Fedblog reports that as of Friday 46,990 job openings were listed on USAJobs for all federal agencies. USAJobs is not the only way that the Social Security Administration or other agencies announces job openings. Still, it looks like there may be some differences in approach between Social Security and other agencies. How much hiring is Social Security doing? How many job openings does Social Security have? Does anyone know?