Occupational Information Development Project

Social Security's Occupational Information Development Advisory Panel has posted a summary of its recent meeting in Chicago. I am not sure what this panel is up to. That makes me nervous. This subject may seem incredibly technical and unimportant to many readers of this blog, but let me assure you that it is central to Social Security disability determination. Far more disability claims could be allowed or far more could be denied based upon what this panel does. This is very close to the bone.

Where New ALJs Are Going

There is an unconfirmed report on the ALJ Discussion Forum about the offices to which the Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) just hired by Social Security will be going. Note that the number before each location refer to the Social Security region in which the office is located. Note also that when the name of an office appears more than once, that the office is getting more than one ALJ.

Obama Administration To Alter Real ID

The Washington Post reports that the Obama Administration wants to scale back the "Real ID" provisions passed in the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks. State governors were rebelling at the onerous requirements of "Real ID." Social Security would have had major problems with the "Real ID" program.

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.