About five and a half months ago, Carolyn Colvin was nominated to become Deputy Commissioner of Social Security. No confirmation hearing has been scheduled. The likely problem is the same as for dozens of other nominations stalled in the Senate: Republican obstructionism -- using the threat of filibuster. Probably, the obstruction is not aimed at her. It is just generally gumming up the works, trying to make it hard for the Obama Administration to move forward on any front, especially the health care front, hoping this will lead to voter dissatisfaction with Democrats. Ms. Colvin is caught in the middle.
Mar 2, 2010
Mar 1, 2010
Are MEs Paid Enough?
Below is an e-mail that I have received that I am posting here with the writer's permission. One detail that might help identify the writer is omitted. The ellipses are in the original. I think there are others who feel the same as this writer.
Greetings,
Having been a follower of your blog for some long while, I've often thought of writing you.
By way of introduction, I am a Ph.D. psychologist in private practice...I've worked at least part-time since 1994 in the SSA [Social Security Administration] system, first at DDS [Disability Determination Services] as a consultant, and now doing ME work for ODAR [Office of Disability Adjudication and Review]. Unlike many MEs [Medical Expert witness at Social Security disability hearing], I am not an elderly retiree, doing this work as supplementary income. I consider it very important work, and I try to bring my varied clinical experiences to bear on the disability cases I read. I work for 7 different ODAR offices in __________, when they call.
What 'pushed me over the edge' to write to you now was a recent case I was asked to review in an interrogatory form. The case involved well over 1200 pages of records relevant to mental health issues, as well as Appeals Council and District Court opinions. I don't mean to sound self-righteous, but I read every page of the case...all the while processing other thoughts....For one, no ME had ever been involved before in this case, though years of back and forth had occurred. For another, I could not do anything but despair about the time I had to invest in it...11 hours including the reading and then writing of an opinion. I could have spent even more time. For this, I will be paid $130. If my forensic colleagues were to take on a case such as this, their fees would approach $2000!
I have very little interaction with other MEs (partly because of the way the ME system is arranged). I have many other concerns..especially the capricious nature of how the case work comes to me...how different judges work so very differently, ..and on. Do other MEs correspond with you? Is there a "lobby" for us? How could I impact the fee structure (unchanged in the time I have worked for OHA [Office of Hearings and Appeals, the former name for ODAR]/ODAR)? So, I am curious about your thoughts...
I look forward to hearing from you...
thanks much,
NADE Newsletter
The National Association of Disability Examiners (NADE), an organization of personnel who make disability determinations at the initial and reconsideration levels for Social Security, has issued its Winter 2010 newsletter. NADE members have a different viewpoint on many of the issues addressed in this blog.
Feb 28, 2010
Great Federal Employees Initiative
Senator Ted Kaufman of Delaware has started the "Great Federal Employees Initiative" to recognize, well, great federal employees. One who has received recognition is Anne Gallagher, a Regional Public Affairs Specialist for Social Security.
Feb 27, 2010
"It's A Wonderful Feeling"
The Rapid City, SD Journal is running a story on attorney James Leach who argued the Astrue v. Ratliff case before the Supreme Court this past week.
Pay Your Social Security Debt By Credit Card
Social Security is now making it possible to use credit cards to pay debts to the agency. At least, I was unaware that this had been possible.
Feb 26, 2010
I Don't Care About Your Back Pay! I Just Want You Back At Work!
From the Sacramento Bee:
An Alameda County judge on Thursday ordered back pay for tens of thousands of state workers who he had previously ruled were illegally furloughed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Judge Frank Roesch told the state to "immediately pay all employees of respondent departments and agencies their full salary without any reductions … and cease and desist the furlough of such employees."
Schwarzenegger spokesman Aaron McLear said Thursday night that the governor would appeal....
If upheld on appeal, the judge's order would cost the state more than $1 billion that officials thought they would save when furloughs were instituted a year ago.
Roesch's decision affects employees in nearly 70 departments that receive all or most of their budget money from sources other than the state's general fund [which would include California Disability Determination Services employees since their wages are paid by the Social Security Administration], regardless of their union affiliation.
Query: If the backpay award holds up, will Social Security reimburse the state for the backpay to Disability Determination employees?
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