SSAB Meeting Agenda

The Social Security Advisory Board (SSAB) has announced the following agenda for its meeting on April 19:

Social Security Advisory Board
Meeting Agenda
Thursday April 19, 2007

9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Thomas Hughes, Chief Information Officer
Social Security Administration

Astrue Not Scheduled To Speak At NOSSCR Conference

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.

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.

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.

Hearing Backlog Poll

Free Web poll for your Web site - freepolls.com

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

An Image From 1936

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.