Budget Cuts Ahead?

From the Federal Times:

Office of Management and Budget Director Peter Orszag told agencies in a June 11 memo to submit three 2011 budget plans to OMB by Sept. 14. One plan would be capped at the 2011 figures that were outlined in Obama’s proposed 2010 budget request. A second alternate plan would cap spending at 2010 levels. And a third alternate plan would cap spending at 5 percent less than the 2011 levels outlined in the 2010 budget.

“Regardless of your agency’s discretionary target, your submission should include significant terminations, reductions and administrative savings initiatives (five at a minimum) that reduce costs below fiscal 2010 levels,” Orszag added. ...

In addition, Orszag told agency heads they will be expected to make “significant progress” in speeding up their hiring processes over the next year. He gave no targets for how much faster hiring should be, but he directed agencies to start mapping out their current hiring processes so goals can be set.

Case Processing System Sought

The Social Security Administration has posted a request for information from vendors interested in working on a case processing system for disability cases. Here is what the agency wants, a rather ambitious list.

There is no question about it. If a contract is awarded, it will be huge. Money spent on this will be money not spent on additional personnel for the Social Security Administration. Whether a contract for this is a better way to spend money than additional personnel is a question that cannot be answered until after Michael Astrue leaves office. However, in the short run, additional personnel would be more important.

Chairman Of NY Comp To Become Social Security ALJ

The Associated Press reports that Zachary Weiss, the chairman of the New York workers compensation system, is becoming a Social Security Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). The ALJ job pays more money. Apparently, the New York workers compensation system has some problems that parallel Social Security's problems.

Psychiatrist Writes Guide To Social Security Disability

Dr. Samuel Okpaku, a clinical professor of psychiatry at Vanderbilt, has written "Psychiatric Disability: A Step-by-Step Guide to Assessment and Determination" for Psychiatric Times. It will be of help to clinicians.

Off Topic -- Depressing Medical News

From the New England Journal of Medicine:

The average person will spend about 5 years suffering from the common cold, and 1 year of that time will be spent with a cold that is severe enough to require bed rest.

Average Processing Time At Hearing Offices

This is from the newsletter of the National Organization of Social Security Claimants Representatives (NOSSCR).

Compare the average processing time as it has changed over time:

• January 25, 2007 -- 508 days
• May 25, 2007 -- 523 days
• July 28, 2007 -- 528 days
• August 31, 2007 -- 523 days
• November 30, 2007 -- 500 days
• February 29, 2008 -- 511 days
• May 30, 2008 -- 523 days
• June 27, 2008 -- 529 days
• July 31, 2008 -- 530 days
  
• September 3, 2008 -- 532 days
• November 5, 2008 -- 476 days
  
• December 3, 2008 -- 480 days
• March 8, 2009 -- 499 days
• April 24, 2009 -- 505 days
  

ALJs Have A Beef

Alyssa Rosenberg reports on FedBlog that federal Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) are unhappy that a decision of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) prevents them from accumulating sick leave at the same rate as other senior-level federal employees. The ALJs are seeking legistlation to resolve the dispute. The vast majority of federal ALJs work for the Social Security Administration.

AFGE On Air

From an American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) press release:

A myriad of problems facing the Social Security Administration (SSA), including underfunding and eroding leadership, will be addressed this week on AFGE's "Inside Government" radio show. The show will air on Friday, June 12 at 10 a.m. EDT nationwide on Federal News Radio at www.federalnewsradio.com and 1500 AM in the Washington, D.C., area.

Two leaders from AFGE's National Council of SSA Field Operations Locals, President Witold Skwierczynski and Legislative Chair Dana Duggins, will break down the agency's issues. Skwierczynski will start by detailing efforts to remove Commissioner Michael Astrue, including a vote of "no confidence" by the union and a scathing report by the Government Accountability Office. Duggins then will expand upon a gag order instructing employees to stop assisting claimants as they had in the past.