Monthly Statistical Packages Released

Social Security's Office of Policy has issued its monthly statistical packages for Title II and Title XVI of the Social Security Act.

Baucus: "Don't Waste Our Time"

From the Helena Independent Record, in the home state of Max Baucus, the incoming chairman of the Senate Finance Committee:

The incoming chairman of the Senate Finance Committee said Thursday he wants to hold hearings on looming insolvencies in the Medicare and Social Security programs but said President Bush’s plan to partially privatize Social Security is dead.

‘‘Don’t waste our time,’’ said Democratic Sen. Max Baucus of Montana. ‘‘It’s off the table.’’

New Regs Exempting Work Activity As Basis For Continuing Disabilty Review

The Social Security Administration has published new final rules on "Exemption of Work Activity as a Basis for a Continuing Disability Review" and another set of new final rules on issuance of work report receipts.

Annual Statistical Report On Social Security Disability Programs

A month and a half into the 2007 fiscal year, Social Security's Office of Policy has just issued its annual statistical report on the Social Security disability programs for 2005. Despite being late, the report contains a wealth of information.

Michigan State Bar Social Security Newsletter

The State Bar of Michigan Social Security Section has issued its Fall 2006 Newsletter. The Newsletter gives information on the Disability Service Improvement (DSI) plan, among other topics.

Marsha Katz Nominated To SSAB

Marsha Katz, of Montana, has been nominated by President Bush, to the Social Security Advisory Board (SSAB), upon the recommendation of Senator Max Baucus, who will soon become the Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, which oversees Social Security. The Press Release says that this is an "appointment", but my understanding is that one has to be confirmed by the Senate to sit on the SSAB. Katz is identified by the Press Release as an advocate for the disabled. She wrote a manual on advocating for SSI and Social Security disability benefits for the disabled which was published by the Association for Retarded Citizens (ARC) of Michigan. She currently works for the University of Montana Rural Institute.

SSI Coalition Newsletter -- DSI Information

The SSI Coalition has published its September-October Newsletter. Despite the name, this excellent newsletter covers all of Social Security disability benefits. Since the SSI Coalition is based in Massachusetts, the Newsletter has extensive coverage of the Disability Service Improvement (DSI) project currently underway in Social Security's Boston Region. A few highlights:

• As of October 12 there were already 15,000 DSI cases.
• As of September 29, there were only 15 Federal Reviewing Officer claims pending. That will certainly change dramatically in the near future. Indeed, it has probably already changed dramatically.
• Only 30 Federal Reviewing Officers have been hired as of last report, but that number should already be up to 70.
• Only 5 nurse case managers have been hired.
• Commissioner Barnhart believes that Denver will be the next region for DSI, but, of course, Barnhart will not be around to decide whether DSI will be expanded to any region, much less the Denver Region.
  

More Social Security Fraud In Oklahoma

I had posted recently about an Oklahoma woman who pled guilty to fraud for cashing her late mother's Social Security checks for ten years. The Tulsa World reports on two other Oklahoma cases of Social Security fraud. One was for cashing Social Security checks issued to a deceased relative and the other involved creating a fictitious identity as well as taking Social Security money intended for a disabled relative.