FY 2009 Budget Situation

From the Capitol Insider put out by the Disability Policy Collaboration:

House and Senate conferees reached an agreement on a Fiscal Year 2009 Budget Resolution, although details were not made public. ...

Both Houses are expected to vote on the FY 2009 Budget Resolution (BR) this week. Even if passed, the BR may have little practical effect since the Democratic leadership in both Houses has sent signals that few, if any, FY 2009 appropriations bills will be seriously addressed until President Bush leaves office next January

Detroit Free Press On Immigration Enforcement

From the Detroit Free Press:

Whether it's regarded as Big Brother or a big improvement, the plan [to require Social s is getting a good vetting on Capitol Hill. It has enormous implications for employers and the Social Security Administration, which would conduct the background checks.

The American Civil Liberties Union, which opposes the plan, says the legislation would create a no-work list in the Washington bureaucracy.

"Americans should not have to ask their federal government if they have permission to accept a new job," said Caroline Fredrickson, the director of the ACLU's Washington legislative office. Others fear the assignment would overwhelm the Social Security Administration, which is already lagging in its work "Disability cases are piling up, and needy people are waiting years to receive their benefits," said Barbara Kennelly, president and chief executive officer of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare.

New Final Regs On Ticket To Work

The Social Security Administration has published new final regulations on the Ticket to Work program. I keep waiting for someone to share with me a Ticket to Work success story.

India Eager For Totalization Treaty

From Today Share Market Tips:

INDIA is trying to expedite a totalisation agreement with the US that would exempt Indian professionals working for a limited period in that country from paying mandatory contributions for social security. India has included discussions on the social security agreement (SSA) in the Indo-US bilateral trade talks launched recently.

Sources said India is attempting to link progress in the agreement to the bilateral investment treaty (BIT) being worked out between the two sides. Since the US is keen on BIT, India is hopeful that linking the two would ensure the totalisation agreement would also be worked out. Indian professionals could save a total of $1 billion they contribute to social security annually.

Official sources told ET a team of officials from the ministry of overseas Indian affairs and the commerce and industry ministry will visit the US soon to discuss the pact. They would take forward the talks that took place in India earlier this year. Both sides are working on the pre-requisites and the content of the proposed pact. Sources said notes would be exchanged by the two sides in the next meeting.

“India is very keen on signing a totalisation agreement with the US. We have been trying to persuade the US for a long time. Now that the discussions are taking place in a structured manner, we hope something will work out,” an official said.

The US has signed totalisation agreements with 16 countries. However, it has been hesitating to sign one with India as the country’s social security structure is vastly different from the US social security net. US officials have also met officials from the Employee’s State Insurance Corporation and provident fund commission of India.

No Match Poll

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Obama Makes Social Security A Campaign Issue

From the Associated Press:

Democrat Barack Obama told seniors Sunday that Republican John McCain would threaten the Social Security that they and millions like them depend on because he supports privatizing the program. ...

"Let me be clear, privatizing Social Security was a bad idea when George W. Bush proposed it, it's a bad idea today," Obama said. "That's why I stood up against this plan in the Senate and that's why I won't stand for it as president." ...

Obama said McCain would push to raise the retirement age for collecting Social Security benefits or trim annual cost-of-living increases. Obama has rejected both ideas as solutions to the funding crisis projected for Social Security in favor of making higher-income workers pay more into the system.

"We have to protect Social Security for future generations without pushing the burden onto seniors who have earned the right to retire in dignity," he said.

No Stamped Signatures -- And An Interesting Coincidence

A new HALLEX release:

HALLEX Chapter I-2-8-1 General has been revised to only permit an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) to sign a decision and all official copies with his/her "wet" signature or verified electronic signature, unless a "wet" signature or verified electronic signature entered by another person is authorized. A rubber stamp or other mechanical signature is not authorized under any circumstances.

But another new HALLEX release says "that Hearing Office Chief Administrative Law Judge (HOCALJ) [may be authorized] to sign a decision or order for the ALJ if the ALJ is temporarily unavailable to sign the decision."

By the way, last year I commented upon the lack of HALLEX updating in a long time. Shortly thereafter there was a minor HALLEX updating. Almost a year later, I again commented upon the lack of HALLEX updating in almost a year. Again, shortly thereafter this minor updating of HALLEX. I am not claiming to be responsible for anything, but this is an interesting coincidence.

By the way, would you not think that HALLEX should be updated for all the changes affecting the way Social Security disability files are being set up -- without exhibits being numbered and on the eDIB system? I do not see modifications for HALLEX for all these changes.

Fraud Alleged In Johnstown

From the Tribune-Democrat:

JOHNSTOWN — A Somerset County woman has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Johnstown on a charge of illegally converting Social Security benefit checks.

In the one-count indictment, Tammy J. Kearns, 47, of the 600 block of Sipesville Road, Sipesville, is accused of cashing checks issued to her on her son’s behalf after he was no longer eligible to receive the benefits.