Upcoming Meetings and CLE

• July 10, 2006 National Organization of Social Security Claimants Representatives and Disability Law Center Disability Service Improvement Training, Boston, MA
  
• July 12, 2006 Social Security Advisory Board meeting, Washington, DC
  
• July 14, 2006 Minnesota Legal Services Coalition CLE, Somewhere in Minnesota, but the sponsor did not bother to give the information
  
• July 18, 2006 ATLA Social Security Disability Section and Health Care and Disability Litigation Group CLE program, Seattle, WA
• July 27, 2006, National Association of Elder Law Attorneys Telephonic Staff Training Program
  
• August 4-5, Philadelphia Regional Management Association Annual Meeting, Williamsburg, VA
  
• August 10-11, 2006 Retirement Research Consortium, Washington, DC
• August 9-11, 2006 8th Circuit Social Security CLE, Omaha, NE
• September 8, 2006 Louisiana State Bar CLE, New Orleans, LA
• september 11-13, 2006 NADE Regional Training Conference, Jefferson City, MO
  
• September 16-21, 2006 National Association of Disability Examiners, San Diego, CA
  
• October 11-14, 2006 National Organization of Social Security Claimants Representatives (NOSSCR) CLE, Phoenix, AZ
• October 16-19, 2006 National Council of Social Security Management Association Meeting, Milwaukee, WI
• May 20-23, 2007, National Association of Disability Examiners Meeting, Stowe, VE
  

If you know of others, please e-mail me.

Senator Baucus Promises Disability Benefits For Asbestos Exposure

In the wake of achieving a Social Security Ruling on asbestosis caused by exposure to tremolite, an uncommon form of asbestos that may have been mined only in Montana, Senator Max Baucus is promising large amounts of back Social Security disability benefits to locals suffering from the disease, as much as $40,000 to $70,000, according to the Billings Gazette.

Ticket to Work Newsletter

Maximus, the prime contractor for the Ticket to Work program, has issued its Spring/Summer 2006 Ticket To Work Newsletter.

Boxing While Disabled

The Times (London) reports that Keith Jones, fought in 100 professional boxing matches and held the Welsh Welterweight title while drawing Social Security disability benefits for asthma.

Bush Not Done With Social Security Reform -- Democrats Celebrate

From a speech by President Bush on June 27:

As you might recall, I addressed that issue last year, focusing on Social Security reform. I'm not through talking about the issue. I spent some time today in the Oval Office with the United States senators, and they're not through talking about the issue either. It's important for this country -- (applause) -- I know it's hard politically to address these issues. Sometimes it just seems easier for people to say, we'll deal with it later on. Now is the time for the Congress and the President to work together to reform Medicare and reform Social Security so we can leave behind a solvent balance sheet for our next generation of Americans. (Applause.)

If we can't get it done this year, I'm going to try next year. And if we can't get it done next year, I'm going to try the year after that, because it is the right thing to do. It's just so easy to say, let somebody else deal with it. Now is the time to solve the problems of Medicare and Social Security, and I want your help. I need the Manhattan Institute to continue to agitate for change and reform. You've got a big voice. You got creative thinkers, and if you don't mind, I'd like to put this on your agenda, and let you know the White House and members of the Senate and the House are anxious to deal with this issue and get it done once and for all.

Electronic Records Express

Posted yesterday on a Social Security website:

Electronic Records Express is an initiative by Social Security and state Disability Determination Services (DDS) to increase use of electronic options for submitting health or school records related to disability claims. An Electronic Records Express website will soon be available.

You can use electronic processes now. Contact your state DDS Professional Relations Officer to learn how.

Flooding in Baltimore

The Baltimore Sun reports that heavy rains have caused flooding in the Baltimore area, where Social Security's headquarters are located. There is no report of flooding at any Social Security office, but it is inevitable that central office operations will be disrupted to at least a modest degree because some employees will be unable to get to work because of damage to their homes or because of travel difficulties.

OIG Report on CPMS

Social Security's Office of Inspector General (OIG) has produced a report on Social Security's Case Processing and Management System (CPMS), a major part of the EDIB paperless file plan. Here is a brief summary from the report:

The CPMS management reports we tested were accurate, though ODAR managers did not always use the CPMS reports in their workload management. For instance, we found that claims were not being processed timely because the hearing offices were waiting extended periods of time for the claim folder to be sent from the FOs. Although the CPMS management reports noted the delays, hearing office managers were not taking action on these claims. Hearing office employees told us they received adequate CPMS training, and we observed that they were skilled at using CPMS to manage their workloads. However, we found that hearing office staff need training in using the appropriate codes for tracking potentially violent claimants. Moreover, CPMS does not have an electronic indicator on the scheduling sheet that would allow hearing office employees to readily identify potentially violent claimants prior to their hearing. Finally, SCTs told us they need additional training in extracting pertinent claim information from SSA’s systems related to incoming claims

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