Wanta Snoop?

The Asbury Park Press, of all places, has posted a database showing the salaries of almost all federal employee as of 2007.

I know that federal employees may not like this information being so freely available, but that is part of the deal when you go to work for the feds. If you do not like it, there are jobs in the private sector.

Allsup Video

Allsup, a non-attorney group that represents Social Security claimants has posted this promotional video.

More Pressure In Buffalo

From the Observer in Dunkirk, NY:

With May 2008 statistics in, showing 723 new Social Security cases filed in the Buffalo-area office last month alone, the highest one month total this year, Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-27) is calling for swift action on the promised hiring of judges and staff at local Social Security Administration (SSA) offices. ...

“Local judges and Social Security staff are working hard, but until additional personnel are on the job they can’t put a dent in these numbers,” Congressman Higgins said. “We need immediate action to get the Western New York offices staffed at a level that provides local residents with the service they deserve from our government. Making people wait two years for an answer is unreasonable and unfair.”

Another Allsup Inspired Article On Backlogs

The Press Republican of Northeastern New York is running a story on the backlogs at Social Security that is obviously based upon a press release from Allsup.

SSNs Off Medicare Cards?

From the New York Times news service, although curiously I cannot seem to find it in the New York Times website itself:

Social Security officials, concerned about the risk of identity theft, are calling for immediate action to remove Social Security numbers from the Medicare cards used by millions of Americans.

But Medicare officials have resisted the proposal, saying it would be costly and impractical.

In a new report, the inspector general of Social Security, Patrick P. O'Carroll Jr., says "immediate action is needed."

"Displaying such information on Medicare cards unnecessarily places millions of individuals at risk for identity theft," O'Carroll said. "We do not believe a federal agency should place more value on convenience than the security of its beneficiaries' personal information."

SSI Newsletter

The Disability Benefits Project of Massachusetts Legal Services has released its 31 page SSI Coalition Newsletter for May-June 2008.

ALJ Loses Fight For Job

From the Atlanta Journal-Constitution:

For three years, Kelly S. Jennings ruled on disability claims for the Social Security Administration while simultaneously serving as an active-duty lawyer for the Army.

This week, a ruling determined the Atlanta administrative law judge can be removed from his civilian job for double-dipping. Social Security has also filed papers to recover more than $309,000 in back pay and interest from Jennings.

By dividing his time between jobs, Jennings could not give Social Security his full attention, which in turn contributed to the nation's mountainous backlog of disability claims, wrote William N. Cates, the administrative law judge who heard the case.

Jennings worked in Social Security's Atlanta North office, known as the agency's "backlog capital" of the country. With an average wait of 838 days, the office in May ranked as the slowest in the nation in resolving the appeals of people who say they are too sick or injured to work.

Jennings, who said he made more than $300,000 a year working for both Social Security and the Army, acted "purely for personal gain," Cates wrote. "Judge Jennings' dual employment and the ramifications thereof warrant his removal." ...

"We are pleased by the decision," Social Security Commissioner Michael J. Astrue wrote in an e-mail. "The irresponsible conduct of this employee shouldn't tarnish the reputations of our ALJs, who have helped reduce the disability backlog by increasing their productivity by about 10 percent in the past year."

Employee Satisfaction At Social Security

From the National Council Digest, put out by Council 220 of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), which represents a good part of Social Security's workforce:

A poll recently conducted by Council 220 shows that nearly half of the respondents are either “dissatisfied” or “extremely dissatisfied” with their work experience at Social Security. An overwhelming number (79%) also believe that most employees share those same feelings. ...

When asked “do you feel that you have enough time to devote to a quality work product?” a staggering 82 per cent answered “no.” ...

A large number (59%) believe quantity of work is considered more important than quality. ...