Allsup Plans Large Expansion

The Belleville News-Democrat has a story on sewer service to Allsup, one of the largest, if not the largest, entity providing representation to Social Security disability claimants. The sewer story itself is of little consequence to anyone who does not live in the area, but the reason behind the story is of more consequence to those interested in Social Security. Allsup needs sewage service changes because it wants to make a $10 million expansion that will create hundreds of jobs. Allsup is seeking a promise of service to an unlimited number of additional buildings. Allsup is threatening to do the expansion elsewhere if it does not get what it wants.

SES Jobs Increase While Other Jobs Cut At SSA

Even though the Social Security Administration's workforce has been shrinking, the number of high level managers (Senior Executive Service or SES) at the agency has been going up. This is from a GAO report on Diversity In the Federal SES And Process For Selecting New Executives:

2000

• Number of SES employees 118
• Women 35.6% %
• Minorities 33.1%

2007

• Number of SES employees 134
• Women41.8%
• Minorities 27.6%

Not much to complain about on the diversity front, but note the 14% increase in high level managers over seven years! This is at a time when other Social Security employees, including lower level managers, have been told to suck it up and just work harder and smarter as their ranks have thinned. Maybe there is a good explanation, but it does not look good. Any explanation that talks about increased responsibilities will not look good since field operations have had increased responsibilities as well.

Performance And Accountability Report FY 2008

The Social Security Administration has released its Performance and Accountability Report for fiscal year 2008. The report measures the agency against various criteria it has set for itself.

In a sense, it is hard to argue with the criteria used. These are reasonable criteria for Social Security given the budget the agency is working with. In another sense, the criteria are a glaring example of "defining deviancy downwards." Major problem areas such as telephone service and field office waiting time are avoided altogether. The criteria for judging success in holding hearings on Social Security disability claims are far, far below what anyone would judge to be acceptable.

By the way, hidden on page 104 is an admission that the Social Security Administration owes claimants over $2 billion as part of the SDW (Special Disability Workload), which is accumulated mistakes in paying benefits made over a long period of time that were discovered by analysis of Social Security's databases. The SDW backlog is being worked down over a long period of time -- many years. It is a labor intensive business that deserves public attention. It should have been done quicker, but the resources have not been available.

GAO Report On Questions To Ask Nominees

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has produced a long report dealing with the questions that might be asked of nominees to positions in the new Administration for each agency, including Social Security. The part concerning Social Security begins at page 124.

The Social Security part reflects the biases of GAO, which I believe reflect a basically Republican take on Social Security. Some themes:

• Social Security ought to get into the effort to mainstream people with disabilities by denying more of their Social Security disability claims and by somehow forcing those who get on benefits to go back to work.
  
• If there are backlogs at Social Security, it must be because of bad management
• Why can't Social Security close more field offices and reduce its workforce?
• Further resources for Social Security are out of the question, so it's only a question of spreading the pain around.
• And, of course, it's time for Democrats to get on board with cutting Social Security benefits because the trust fund is about to run out of money.
  

I know the list I am giving is a gross exaggeration of the GAO report, but there are assumptions written between the lines of this report and they are not the sort of assumptions that should be made in this political environment. Someone at GAO needs to wake up and figure out that come January 20 the Democrats will control the White House and the Congress.

Deflation And The COLA

The cost of living went down by a record 1% last month. This was too late to figure into this year's cost of living adjustment (COLA) for Social Security benefits and will be factored into next year's COLA computation. It appears that the United States is heading rapidly into a major recession. It is entirely possible that the cost of living will have declined over the year time leading up to next year's COLA computation. This raises an interesting question: Could there be a negative COLA next year that would reduce Social Security benefits?

The answer appears to be no. The statute is 42 U.S.C. §415(i). It talks at considerable length about how to compute an increase in Social Security benefits due to inflation. The word "increase" appears over and over in the statute. I doubt that one could reasonable interpret the statute to allow computation of a negative COLA for Social Security benefits. Still, this appears to me that Social Security should request an interpretation on this from the new Attorney General.

Happy Thanksgiving!

De Soto And Chatel Both Responsible For DSI, Both Going To FEI

Lisa de Soto and Mary Chatel both bear a heavy responsibility for the disastrous Disability Service Improvement (DSI) scheme. DSI was former Commissioner Barnhart's baby and she bears the most responsibility, but de Soto and Chatel were to blame, as well, since they were heavilyinvolved in planning and promoting DSI. Although Martin Gerry, who was also responsible for DSI, was abruptly fired after the current Commissioner took over, de Soto and Chatel, to my surprise, stayed at Social Security. De Soto even remained in a high position.

Both are now leaving Social Security to go to the Federal Executive Institute.

E-Mail From Astrue On Staff Changes

DATE: November 25, 2008

TO: Senior Staff

FROM: Michael J. Astrue /s/
Commissioner

SUBJECT: Executive Personnel Assignments - INFORMATION

Under Lisa deSoto’s leadership for the past three years, the Office of Disability Adjudication and Review has met ambitious goals and made tremendous business process improvements that have set the stage for eliminating the disability backlog. Lisa has accepted an offer from the Federal Executive Institute (FEI) to teach and share her leadership skills with new and aspiring executives from across government for the next two years. While we will miss Lisa’s passion and vision, it is a unique opportunity for her to reflect, learn, and then return to the agency with a broadened perspective. Lisa will begin her Executive-in-Residency with the FEI on January 16, 2009.

Upon Lisa’s departure, David Foster will become the Deputy Commissioner for Disability Adjudication and Review.

On November 24, Jim Winn will become Chief of Staff and Jo Tittel will become Deputy Chief of Staff. LaTina Greene, who has been serving as the Chief of Staff’s Special Assistant, will move to the Office of Central Operations as Deputy Associate Commissioner on January 16, 2009.

In the Office of Retirement and Disability Policy, effective immediately, JoEllen Felice is the Associate Commissioner for Income Security Programs, a capacity in which she has been acting since July 2008.

In the Office of Systems, Pete Malinauskas, Associate Commissioner for Retirement and Survivors Insurance Systems, is retiring on January 3, 2009. Bill Zielinski, currently the Deputy Associate Commissioner for Applications and Supplemental Security Income Systems, will become Associate Commissioner upon Pete’s retirement. The Deputy Associate Commissioner position Bill vacates will continue to be available as an SES Candidate Development Program assignment.

In the Office of Telecommunications and Systems Operations, Gary Augustine has moved from Assistant Associate Commissioner for Enterprise IT Operations and Security to the Assistant Associate Commissioner for Infrastructure Architecture and Security. Marti Eckert, formerly the Deputy Associate Commissioner for Systems Electronic Services, is now the Assistant Associate Commissioner for Enterprise IT Operations and Security. The Deputy Associate Commissioner for Systems Electronic Services will be available as an SES Candidate Development Program assignment.

In the Office of Budget, Finance and Management’s Office of Facilities Management, Betsy Bake has been appointed as Deputy Associate Commissioner for Facilities Management following Nancy McCullough’s retirement earlier this month.

In the Office of Human Resources, Assistant Deputy Commissioner, Feli Sola-Carter, has announced that she will retire at the end of January 2009. Upon Feli’s retirement, Nancy Berryhill, currently the Denver Regional Commissioner, will serve as the Acting Assistant Deputy Commissioner. Martha Lambie, Deputy Regional Commissioner in Denver, then will serve as the Acting Regional Commissioner.

In the Office of the General Counsel, Kristi Schmidt has been appointed as the Regional Chief Counsel in Kansas City. Gwen Jones Kelley has been appointed as the Deputy Associate General Counsel for Program Law. Gwen will continue to serve as the Acting Associate General Counsel for Program Law.

Mary Chatel, currently the Senior Advisor for Program Outreach in the Office of Retirement and Disability Policy, will also begin an assignment with the Federal Executive Institute on December 1, 2008.

Lastly, on January 20, 2009, Tom Hughes, Chief Information Officer, and Mike Korbey, Senior Advisor to the Deputy Commissioner, will depart the agency.

Over the last 6 years, Tom has garnered the agency high scores in security, and he has been a catalyst in developing an IT vision for the 21st century. Greg Pace will serve as the Acting Chief Information Officer upon Tom’s departure.

In addition, during his tenure with the agency, Mike has been an effective advisor to the Deputy Commissioner. I would like to thank Tom and Mike for their contributions to the agency and for their commitment to public service.