Today is the final day for Medicare recipients to sign up for Medicare Part D, the prescription drug benefit, without penalty. Efforts, primarily by Democrats in Congress, to extend the deadline have been unsuccessful. There are signs that there is interest among Republicans in Congress in reopening the signup period, but it is unclear whether this will go forward. President Bush has strongly opposed any extension of the deadline and many Republicans want to put this behind them as quickly as possible. Any Medicare recipient who has not already signed up should carefully consider signing up before midnight.
May 15, 2006
May 14, 2006
Monthly Social Security Stats and More
Social Security's Office of Policy (OP) has released the monthly statistical reports on Title II and Title XVI of the Social Security Act. OP has also released selected statistics on children receiving SSI.
May 13, 2006
Most Popular Baby Names
Social Security has released its list of most popular baby names for 2005. The top 1,000 names for each gender are given as well as lists of the most popular names for each state. Here are the national top ten for each gender:
| Boys: | Girls: |
|---|---|
| Jacob Michael Joshua Matthew Ethan Andrew Daniel Anthony Christopher Joseph | Emily Emma Madison Abigail Olivia Isabella Hannah Samantha Ava Ashley |
May 12, 2006
New ALJs at Social Security
An anonymous source on the ALJ Improvement Board has posted the following list of new Administrative Law Judges recently hired by the Social Security Administration along with the offices where they will end up:
- Mayaguez, PR McNamee-Alemany, John
- San Juan, PR Grippo, Theodore
- Ponce, PR Colon, Rafael
- San Juan, PR Lebron, Roberto
- Albany, NY Pickett, John
- Buffalo, NY Trost, Timothy
- Brooklyn, NY Weinberg, Maryellen
- Newark, NJ Ferrie, Brian
- Newark, NJ Krappa, Donna
- Pittsburg, PA Cohen, Douglas
- Birmingham, AL Lang, jerry
- Florence, SC Digby, Patrick
- Greenville, SC Swank, Drew
- Charlotte, NC Jacobson, Todd
- Charlotte, NC Hicks, Clinton
- Atlanta, GA Auerbach, Larry
- Atlanta, GA Cornick, Karen
- Nashville, TN Graves, Carmen
- Jackson, MS Schwartz, Phillip declined
- Tupelo, MS Fraiser, John
- Kingsport, TN Schwartzberg, Sherman
- Jackson, MS Rose, Deborah
- Tupelo, MS Davis, Harold
- Evansville, IN Jacobs, George
- Ft. Wayne, IN Miller, Terry
- Detroit, MI D’Amato, Donald
- Detroit, MI Roulhac, Roy
- Columbus, OH Shailer, John
- Evansville, IN Vaughn, Jacqueline
- Peoria, IL Jordan, Alice
- Milwaukee, WI Dombai, Les Nicholas
- Lansing, MI Matulewicz, Dennis
- Detroit, MI Neumann, David
- Flint, MI Fina, Joel
- Milwaukee, WI Moore, Ayrie
- Albuquerque, NM Willner, Israel
- Dallas, TX Shilling, Ralph
- Shreveport, LA Haigler, Dave
- Shreveport, LA Rodriguez, Leslie John
- Kansas city, MO Cooke, Christine
- Wichita, KS Werre, Edmund
- Wichita, KS Burbank, Robert
- Seattle, WA Sampson, Victor
Ticket to Work Newsletter
Maximus, the prime contractor for Social Security's Ticket to Work program, has released its Spring/Summer Ticket to Work Newsletter. At least they are no longer referring to it as the "Maximus Ticket to Work Program", as they did in the past, a name which suggested what many suspect, that the Ticket to Work program is mainly providing work for Maximus rather than Social Security disability recipients.
May 11, 2006
Barnhart Statement to Social Security Subcommittee
Commissioner Barnhart's written statement to the Social Security Subcommittee has been posted. The Subcommittee's website indicates that it is possible to watch the hearing live over the internet, but this may be in error. Every time I have checked, there was nothing to watch.
Watch Barnhart's Testimony Live
Jo Anne Barnhart, Commissioner of Social Security, will be testifying before the House Social Security Subcommittee today (May 11) at 10:00 on "Service Delivery Challenges." The Subcommittee's website has a link allowing anyone to watch and listen to the proceedings live.
Ticket to Work Meeting
The Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Advisory Panel has scheduled a meeting in Arlington, VA from June 7 through June 9. No agenda is available at this time.
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