WJLA reports that Franklin Thomas, a 35 year former SSA benefits authorizer, has been sentenced to one and a half years in prison for stealing more than $250,000 from SSA.
Dec 20, 2005
Profs Say They Have A Plan
Three professors have come up with what they call a non-partisan plan to "save" Social Security. The plan calls for benefit cuts, tax hikes -- and small private accounts, meaning that the plan will please no one and have no chance of adoption under current political circumstances. The curious thing about this document is that it can be accessed from SSA's Chief Actuary's website. No other plan is accessible from the Chief Actuary's website.
Dec 19, 2005
Social Security Website for Children
The Social Security Administration has produced a website designed for children they call the Kids' Place. Below is an excerpt. The layout is changed significantly by the transition to this format. This is a surprising way for SSA to use its scarce administrative budget when there are dramatic staff shortages throughout SSA and it is taking over two years in some areas of the country for a disabled person to get a hearing on their Social Security disability claim.
Dec 18, 2005
NJ CEs Superficial
The pressofAtlanticcity.com reports that consultative examinations (CEs) are often superficial in Southern New Jersey. CEs are examinations by physicians arranged by Social Security for purposes of evaluating Social Security disability claims.
Dec 17, 2005
Preliminary Injunction Sought in California LTD Litigation
The East Bay Business Times reports that an insurance industry coalition has sought a preliminary injunction to block California Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi from implementing an order that would require insurance companies selling long term disability (LTD) insurance in California from reducing LTD payments by Social Security disability benefits.
Dec 16, 2005
Clay Shaw To Have Cancer Surgery
The Miami Herald reports that Clay Shaw, former chairman of the House Social Security Subcommittee, will have surgery on January 4, 2006 to remove a cancerous tumor in his left lung. This is a recurrence of a cancer that was first removed in 2003.
Washington Post on ALJ Changes
The Washington Post reports on the recent changes in the rules concerning Administrative Law Judges (ALJs). The major change is to remove provisions from the regulations detailing how ALJ applicants are considered and tested. This will allow greater flexibility in hiring accordirg to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), since the details could be announced in the job posting.
New Limits on Replacement Social Security Cards
Social Security has published new rules to limit the number of replacement Social Security cards that may be ussued to an individual to three in a year and ten over a lifetime, with exceptions for unusual circumstances.
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