Submit All The Evidence Proposed Regs Clear OMB.

     The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has now cleared Social Security's proposal:

... to require claimants to inform us about or submit all evidence known to them that relates to their disability claim, subject generally to two exceptions for privileged communications and work product. This requirement would include the duty to submit all relevant evidence obtained from any source in its entirety, unless subject to an exception. We also propose to require a representative to help the claimant obtain the information or evidence that the claimant must submit under our regulations. 

     Some unspecified "change" was made while this was at OMB.
     Expect to see this in the Federal Register in the near future. It went through OMB on a fast track.
    Social Security must first publish this proposal in the Federal Register, allow comments, consider those comments and then publish final regulations, a process likely to take at least a year.

Why Wealthy People Think That Cuts To Social Security Aren't A Big Deal

The Hearing Backlogs Haven't Gone Away

     A Buffalo television station reports on Social Security's long hearing backlogs. I still can't believe that the United States has come to accept hearing backlogs of over a year.

Social Security Administration Lost 3.9% Of Its Workforce Between September 2012 and September 2013

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has posted updated figures for the number of employees at the Social Security Administration.

• September 2013 62,543
• June 2013 62,877
• March 2013 63,777
• December 2012 64,538
• September 2012 65,113
• September 2011 67,136
• December 2010 70,270
• December 2009 67,486
• September 2009 67,632
• December 2008 63,733
• September 2008 63,990
• September 2007 62,407
• September 2006 63,647
• September 2005 66,147
• September 2004 65,258
• September 2003 64,903
• September 2002 64,648
• September 2001 65,377
• September 2000 64,521

     That's a 3.9% decline in employment over the last year and an 11% drop since the 2010 election that put Republicans in control of the House of Representatives.

Baucus To China; Wyden Likely To Become Senate Finance Chair

     Max Baucus, who has been the Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, has been confirmed as United States Ambassador to China. Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon is expected to succeed Baucus as Senate Finance Committee Chairman. The Senate Finance Committee has jurisdiction over Social Security. Wyden is far more liberal than Baucus.

"Inefficient, Mean And Certainly Not 'For The People'"

     Liz Wainger didn't think much of her visit to a Social Security field office. She writes about it for Huffington Post.

Death Stalks Social Security Disability Recipients

How Is The National Computer Center Project Coming Along?

     Social Security is building a new national computer center. It's been quite some time since I've heard anything about this big project. How is it going? Are budget problems slowing it down? What is the expected completion date?

Why Are Central Offices Opening Late Today?

     Social Security's offices in the Baltimore area, where the agency's headquarters are located, are opening two hours late today. Uh, why? I didn't think it had been snowing in the area.

Does The President Still Support Chained CPI?

     A White House aid is refusing to say whether the President still supports chained CPI.