The National Organization of Social Security Claimants Representatives (NOSSCR) conference is underway in Baltimore. Michael Astrue, the Commissioner of Social Security, is not scheduled to speak. Glenn Sklar, Associate Commissioner for the Office of Disability Programs is scheduled to give a "Medical Policy Update" on Thursday morning.
Apr 18, 2007
AFGE Criticizes Biggs Recess Appointment
The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), which represents 28,000 Social Security employees, has issued a press release criticizing President Bush's recess appointment of Andrew Biggs as Deputy Commissioner of Social Security.
Apr 17, 2007
Disabled Population Grows
I had not noticed this previously. Social Security's budget proposal for fiscal year (FY) 2008 includes figures for the projected growth in the number of people receiving Social Security benefits in FY 2008. The expected growth in the number of disability beneficiaries is 327,000, which compares to a projected growth of only 575,000 in old age and survivors benefits. The people now going on old age and survivor benefits are primarily from the baby bust generation, born during the Great Depression and World War II, while the people going on disability benefits are primarily from the baby boom generation. This demographic difference shows up in these numbers may be even more dramatically expressed in the SSI projections, which actually show a tiny decline in the number of people expected to draw SSI benefits on account of age, while showing a big increase in those drawing SSI benefits on account of disability.
Apr 16, 2007
Results Of Last Week's Unscientific Poll
What is the earliest level of review at which you normally take on clients?
| Initial (32) | 49% |
| |
| Reconsideration (22) | 34% |
| |
| Hearing (9) | 14% |
| |
| Appeals Council or District Court (2) | 3% |
|
Total Votes: 65
Apr 15, 2007
Fraud Allegation Against Social Security Employee
From KCAL:
A former Social Security Administration worker from the Los Angeles area faces federal charges for allegedly providing information to people who used it to steal identities and rack up about $2.5 million in credit card charges, prosecutors said Thursday.
Jennifer Batiste, 45, allegedly took $20 bribes each time she accessed a government database that lists Social Security numbers, mothers' maiden names and dates of birth.
Apr 14, 2007
But Is It Fraud?
From WZZW13 in Grand Rapids, MI:
Dozens of people are facing misdemeanor fraud charges after cashing too many Social Security checks. They are accused of obtaining money under false pretenses. It's all part of a crackdown by the Social Security Administration. ...
In Dipippo's case [she is one of those accused], when she didn't receive her monthly disability check, she asked for a new one. When it came in the mail, she cashed it. Soon after that, another one showed up. "I got in trouble for cashing both", says Dipippo.
The Social Security Administration has been cracking down on what they call "double check negotiations". It started with an audit by The Office of the Inspector General.
Are they going to be able to get criminal convictions without proving that these people were lying when they said their check had not arrived?
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