We Have a Winner

From FedBlog:

So it wasn't exactly an episode of Iron Chef. But it was a lot more fun. The Office of Personnel Management on Wednesday hosted its first "Feds Get Fit Cook-off," as part of the agency's governmentwide initiative to promote healthy living among the federal workforce. Melissa Knoll of the Social Security Administration walked away with the top prize, wowing judges with her tomato curry coconut soup with shrimp.

India Still Pressing For Social Security Treaty With The U.S.

India is still pushing for a Social Security treaty with the United States. This may be a non-issue in this country but it is a big deal for India. I get a ton of hits every time I post anything about this.

A New Line Of Attack

I am not sure of the validity of the statistical model he cites but our old friend Andrew Biggs is promoting a new argument for abolishing Social Security. I think we can expect to hear this argument coming from the mouths of Republicans in the future. I hope they make it a big campaign issue this Fall.

Bomb Threat In Abilene

The Abilene Reporter-News reports a bomb threat on Wednesday at the Abilene, TX Social Security field office.

Two New ALJs To Fargo

North Dakota Senator Byron Dorgan has announced that two new Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) are being assigned to Social Security's Fargo hearing office. Dorgan had earlier called for more staffing to reduce the backlog in North Dakota.

Poor Servive In Rhode Island

From the Providence, RI Journal:

At around 11 a.m. on Monday, Doreen Haworth arrived at the local Social Security office to help her brother regarding a claim for benefits.

She did not emerge for two hours. “It’s packed in there,” she said as she left the one-story building on Pleasant Street. “You’re lucky to get a seat.” It is the same whenever she visits the office: “Long waits,” said Haworth, of East Providence.

At many Social Security offices across the country, people are encountering an increase in wait times, busy signals and delays, according to a report last week by the U.S. Government Accountability Office, the audit arm of Congress.

This undermines trust in Social Security and undermines trust in the government's ability to do anything right.

Seven Months For Fake Anthrax Scare

From the Cullman, Alabama Times:

A federal judge has sentenced a Haleyville man to seven months in prison after authorities say he mailed a letter containing white powder and photos of the 9/11 attacks to the Social Security Administration in Cullman.

U.S. District Judge Karon Bowdre also sentenced 41-year-old Patrick Bryant Wilson to three years of supervised release, including seven months of home confinement.

Pomeroy Not Wasting Time

Early Pomeroy, the new Chairman of the House Social Security Subcommittee is not wasting time. He has scheduled a joint hearing for April 27 at 2:00 with the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support, which has jurisdiction over Supplemental Security Income (SSI), which is administered by the Social Security Administration. Here is an excerpt from the press release on the hearing:

... [A] new backlog in unprocessed initial disability applications has now emerged, and has already reached unprecedented levels. SSA estimates that by the end of FY 2010, more than one million Americans will be awaiting an initial decision on their application for disability benefits, up from about 567,000 at the end of FY 2008. SSA projects the initial claims backlog will remain at essentially this level through FY 2011.

In addition to causing longer waiting times, the increase in claims also affects SSA’s capacity to process reconsideration appeals – the first appeals step, which occurs prior to a request for a hearing before an ALJ – and to conduct continuing disability reviews, which are important to program integrity. The increase in initial claims also will result in more appeals to the hearing level, which may strain the capacity of SSA’s hearing offices in coming years.

Under the President’s budget for FY 2011, SSA states it will be able to stay on track to eliminate the hearings backlog by the end of FY 2013. However, this funding will not allow SSA to make significant progress in reducing the initial claims backlog. In addition, service delivery in other parts of the agency will continue to be challenged.