Attorney Advisor Rules Adopted Without Change

The Social Security Administration published final rules for the program that allows some attorney advisors employed by the agency to issue fully favorable decisions after claimants request a hearing. Previously, the program had been operating under interim rules.

Putting It In Perspective

Nobel Economics Prize winner Joseph Stiglitz, quoted in Mother Jones: "For somewhere between a half and quarter of the cost of the war in Iraq you could have fixed all the problems associated with Social Security for the next 75 years and still have had a lot left over."

Another View On The Backlogs

From an article in Government Executive on the February 28 House Appropriations Committee hearing:

Rep. Dave Weldon, R-Fla., questioned whether SSA was creating an incentive for most claimants to appeal state-level denials for disability benefits, increasing the caseloads for judges. Weldon pointed to the fact that they award disability benefits in 62 percent of the appeals they hear. "We've created an industry to appeal these claims," Weldon said. "Are we feeding a monster?"

What Were They Thinking?

From the March 2008 issue of Unity, the newsletter of Council 220 of the American Federation of Government Employees, which represents about 25,000 employees of the Social Security Administration:

A plan to charge $15.00 for each Social Security benefit verification came to an immediate halt recently when Union officials learned about the idea. A sign had been placed on the front door of the Foothill branch office in Oakland, Calif. It stated the fee would take effect in January, but Health and Safety Representa-tive Howard Egerman saw the no-tice and reported it to other Union members. Unfortunately by that time the practice had become widespread and signs had been posted in offices around the entire San Francisco Bay Area.

Dana Duggins, the third Vice President of AFGE Council 220, soon learned about the scheme and immediately wrote to SSA Com-missioner Michael Astrue.

“Before you knew it, the signs had come down,” Duggins said, “but I’d still like to know who put them up in the first place and whether anyone was ever charged. If they were, it was an illegal practice that has to be dealt with and those claimants surely have to be reimbursed.”

The agency’s own regulations state benefit verifications will be provided free to the public, and Duggins says that raises two other questions.

Radio Interview With Linda Fullerton

Linda Fullerton, the founder of the Social Security Disability Coalition, an organization of Social Security disability claimants, was interviewed for the Disability News and Views radio show. You can listen to the interview online.

Social Security Lifts 1.3 Million Children Out Of Poverty

From a press release issued by the National Academy of Social Insurance:

While Social Security is best known as a retirement program, it is also irreplaceable life and disability insurance for young families, according to a new report released today by the non-partisan National Academy of Social Insurance (NASI).

About 6.5 million children under 18 – or nearly 9 percent of all U.S. children – received part of their family income from Social Security in 2005. They include 3.1 million children who themselves receive benefits as dependents of a deceased, disabled, or retired parent, and an estimated 3.4 million other children who do not themselves receive Social Security, but live with relatives who do.

Social Security Bulletin Released

The Social Security Administration has released the latest issue of the Social Security Bulletin, a periodical mostly devoted to statistical matters.

Social Security Union Endorses Obama

Council 220 of the American Federation of Government Employees, which represents 25,000 Social Security employees, has endorsed Barack Obama for President.