Representative Johnson On ALJ Accountability

A press release from Representative Sam Johnson, the ranking Republican on the House Ways and Means Subcommittee:

Yesterday the Office of Inspector General of the Social Security Administration (SSA) released a report which evaluated the caseload performance of Administrative Law Judges (ALJs). The report found that SSA's efforts to reduce the growing backlog will be negatively impacted by the under-performance of many existing ALJs. Social Security Subcommittee Ranking Member, Sam Johnson (R-TX), released the following statement:

"The report by the Inspector General sends a clear message that no meaningful reform of the disability process can be complete without addressing the inability of certain ALJs to perform at an acceptable level. Not only does this report show that certain judges are under-performing, it also points out that the SSA has no process to hold them accountable. This is simply unacceptable.

"Last December, Chairman McNulty (D-NY) and I asked the Inspector General to dig deeper into this issue and provide the Congress with a full report on ALJ performance. I am confident that a complete investigation will better inform Commissioner Astrue and the Congress on how to best address this issue. The American people must know that their tax dollars are spent wisely and efficiently.

"American citizens should not have to wait years to learn whether they are eligible to obtain a benefit they have earned. I look forward to receiving the additional findings of the Inspector General's review, and continuing to work with the Commissioner to better serve those in need."

Administrative Law Judges hold impartial hearings and review on appeal determinations involving retirement, survivors, disability, and supplemental security income benefits

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AFGE News Release

A news release:

The American Federation of Government Employees, which represents 25,000 employees in the Social Security Administration (SSA) field offices, today expressed deep concern over the administration’s ability to continue to service the American people amid severe budget constraints. As part of a coalition to garner public support for additional funding, AFGE held a news conference today urging Congress to pass the Higgins Bill, H.R. 5110. The new legislation known as the Social Security Customer Service Improvement Act was introduced before the House of Representatives in January and provides Congress with additional oversight in staff levels, office closures and SSA budget estimates.

“Over the past ten years the Social Security administrative budget has been constricted by upwards of $1.3 billion,” said AFGE Council 220 President Witold Skwierczynski. “Further cuts to the SSA budget, as 76 million baby boomers enter the system, could prove to be disastrous.”

SSA field office employees, already inundated with backlogs, are concerned that a lack of sufficient funding will adversely affect their ability to effectively serve tax payers. Employees have already received anecdotal reports from the public that previous office closures forced clients to travel 50 to 100 miles to their nearest SSA field office.

“In order to prevent proposed office closures nationwide, which would severely limit public access, Congress must provide funding and oversight through H.R. 5110-the SSA desperately needs,” added Skwierczynski.

AFGE has continuously lobbied for an increased the Social Security budget, but the needs of the administration have been continually ignored.

The 7% Problem

From the New York Times:

The number of businesses taking part in a voluntary program that allows them to verify electronically their newly hired employees’ legal authorization to work in the United States is soaring, the federal government said Tuesday.

About 52,000 employers are now using a Web-based system, known as E-Verify, compared with 14,265 a year ago. The system has been growing in the past year by 1,000 employers a week, said the United States Citizenship and Immigrations Services, which runs the program with the Social Security Administration. ...

About 93 percent of the employees checked in the program receive authorization in a manner of seconds

Let us do a little math here. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics there are 138.1 million people employed in the United States. Seven percent of 138.1 million is 9,670,000 people whose names and Social Security numbers would not match. If this program became mandatory-- and that is what the Bush Administration and many in Congress wish in order to cut illegal immigration -- those people would be descending upon offices of the Social Security Administration and they would rightly regard their problem as urgent since it would threaten their continued employment.

The Social Security Administration is not ready for this.

Press Release On First Baby Boomer On Social Security Retirement Benefits

A press release from Social Security:

Kathleen Casey-Kirschling, the nation's first Baby Boomer, today made history as the first of her generation to receive a Social Security retirement benefit. Having applied online for benefits at www.socialsecurity.gov, Ms. Casey-Kirschling, who was born at one second after midnight on January 1, 1946, today received her first payment by direct deposit.

“Like many of her fellow boomers, Kathy leads a full and busy life,” said Jim Courtney, Social Security Deputy Commissioner for Communications. “By choosing direct deposit, Kathy’s benefit is safely and conveniently deposited into her bank account. No matter where in the country - or the world - Kathy is, her money is as close as the nearest ATM or just a mouse click away through online banking.”

As the nation’s first Baby Boomer, Ms. Casey-Kirschling is leading what is often referred to as America’s silver tsunami. Over the next two decades, nearly 80 million Americans will become eligible for Social Security retirement benefits, more than 10,000 per day on average. Ms. Casey-Kirschling is setting the example for millions of her fellow boomers by receiving her retirement benefits in the safest, most convenient way possible.

"Direct deposit is a win for everyone,” said Judith R. Tillman, Commissioner of Treasury’s Financial Management Service (FMS). “For the last three years, Treasury has led a campaign called Go Direct to educate Americans about the many benefits of direct deposit. We at Treasury congratulate Kathy on receiving her first Social Security payment and on her decision to Go Direct.”

Direct deposit eliminates the risk of lost or stolen checks, reduces fraud, helps protect against identity theft and gives people more control over their money. Direct deposit also saves taxpayers millions of dollars. In fact, according to FMS, if every current federal benefit check recipient switched to direct deposit, it would save taxpayers about $130 million a year.

At an event today in Vero Beach, Florida, Social Security also premiered a new video public service announcement, featuring Ms. Casey-Kirschling, that promotes filing online for retirement benefits. (View the video)

“Kathy is a trendsetter for her generation,” Social Security’s Courtney said. “Just as she led the way by filing for her benefits online, we hope she leads the way for baby boomers to receive their benefits by direct deposit.”

I think that they may be trying to promote online filing and direct deposit.

Results Of Last Week's Unscientific Poll

What Do You Think Of The President's Proposed Administrative Budget For Social Security?

It's excellent (5)	8%
It's good (5)	8%
It's OK (6)	10%
It's poor (22)	35%
It's terrible (24)	39%

Total Votes: 62

Dead Again

The "Social Security mistakenly declares someone dead" stories in the media are so frequent that I do not bother to post about them, but I had to link to this one, from the Auburn, NY Citizen:

A 57-year-old New Jersey woman has been declared dead twice in the past year by the Social Security Administration, despite the fact that she is very much alive. Susan Lindsley, who is developmentally disabled and works about 10 hours a week, relies on Social Security income to get by.

Two months after the Summit, N.J., resident's husband died, the SSA not only stopped her disability and her widow's benefit payments, but also dipped into her bank account in July to reclaim several thousand dollars. ...

The mix-up was cleared up, but two weeks later she was declared dead again. Lindsley's brother had to call eight elected officials for help before she was resurrected once and for all.

India And U.S. Negotiating Totalization Agreement

From the Economic Times of India:

India and the US have started work on a totalisation agreement under which Indians employed for a stipulated period in the US will not have to contribute to social security.

According to government estimates, Indians working short-term in the US contribute up to $1 billion to the US kitty every year as social security contribution. While talks are in the initial stage, India is happy that the US has agreed to have a discussion on the issue.

Earlier, the country was unwilling to consider a totalisation pact because of differences in India and the US social security structure.

Speaking to ET, official sources said a team from the US government had visited India recently to examine India’s social security system.