NOSSCR Comments On OIDAP

The National Organization of Social Security Claimants Representatives (NOSSCR) has submitted comments on Social Security plans for a new occupational information system. NOSSCR has many urgent concerns but probably the most urgent is that Social Security wants to go it alone rather than working with the Department of Labor. In my opinion these are the key sentences from NOSSCR's comments:

For SSA [Social Security Administration], this decision raises significant concerns: It is an enormous project that falls outside SSA’s area of expertise; it will take years to complete; and it will be extremely expensive at a time of limited resources. In addition, the involvement of the DOL [Department of Labor] would address the perception that SSA wants to create its own OIS [Occupational Information System] so that it can control the outcome of disability determinations.

Why is it so important to Social Security to do this on its own unless it does want to control the outcome of disability determinations? The staff of the Occupational Information Development Advisory Panel (OIDAP) seems unable to answer this or any other question without resorting to obfuscating jargon. This makes me suspicious.

The deadline for submitting comments on the OIDAP proposal is June 30. Comments may be submitted online. I hope that others will be able to submit comments online without problems. I found it impossible to do so. The system demanded that I enter a "Category" for my comments but it was flatly impossible for me to do so. Comments may also be submitted by fax to (410) 597-0825 or by mail to the Office of Program Development and Research, Occupational Information Development Project, Social Security Administration, 3-E-26 Operations Building, 6401 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21235-6401. As tedious as this may seem, it is vitally important. This is the most important policy matter addressed by Social Security in more than 30 years.

Social Security Loses Big Time In Arbitration

From the AFL-CIO Now Blog:

Saying the Social Security Administration (SSA) flagrantly violated its contract with AFGE [American Federation of Government Employees, a member of the AFL-CIO] and “trampled upon the rights” of a 14-year worker, an independent arbitrator has ordered the agency to pay her back wages with interest along with $100,000 in compensatory and punitive damages.

Magnolia Littles, a member of AFGE Local 3291 in Little Rock, Ark., was suspended for 90 days after a benefits payment she had approved turned out to be fraudulent. Patti McGowan, an attorney with AFGE, said the arbitrator found there was no substantial evidence that Littles—who has a spotless record at SSA—was negligent in her duties. The arbitrator found that SSA violated her rights by, among other things, not informing Littles she had a right to have a union representative present at her disciplinary meeting.

The agency also discriminated against her because of her race, the arbitrator said. Of the four employees who processed the fraudulent benefit payment, two African Americans, including Littles, received suspensions. A Latina was fired outright, but the lone white employee in the group was not disciplined at all.

Wait For Backpay Ends For NC Man

From WSPA-TV in Spartanburg, SC:

Is This In The Future For The U.S.?

From the U.S. Social Security Administration's International Update:

Updated regulations, effective May 1, simplify and modernize the coordination process among the social security systems in the European Union (EU) member states, which in recent years had become increasingly complex and cumbersome. EU regulations on social security coordination do not replace national systems, but create linkages between systems to guarantee that individuals can have uninterrupted coverage when moving from one country to another within the region.

The updated rules apply to all citizens of EU member states covered under national social security programs, including workers and their families, tourists, and those who are not in the workforce such as job seekers and pensioners. Citizens will be issued a limited number of portable documents (including the European Health Insurance Card) by the social security institution where they are insured. These documents will be used to verify entitlement to coverage for each country. In addition, the new regulations require citizens to be temporarily assigned to a specific social security system if social security institutions in different EU countries cannot agree on which national legislation applies in a particular case. Thus, individuals will not be denied medical treatment or access to sickness insurance benefits while their status is being resolved.

A major information network, the Electronic Exchange of Social Security Information, will be implemented by May 2012 in all EU countries. The system will streamline application processing and benefits administration through the electronic sharing of information among EU countries. The EU will also launch a Web site with an updated citizens' guide and access to an online directory of social security institutions in Europe.

The world is getting smaller. I can imagine the U.S. eventually participating in this and other international social security electronic exchange programs. I do not think that many people would claim that the Social Security treaties that the U.S. has is place now are working very well for anyone other than those seeking to avoid paying Social Security taxes to two countries.

At Least It's Not A Pyramid Sales Scheme

From a press release:

Freedom Disability, a national Social Security Disability Advocacy group, has launched a unique Internet referral program to help people with disabilities and others earn extra income while working at home....

Once someone signs up for the program they become a referral partner of Freedom Disability and can access easy-to-follow video tutorials on how to launch a website and begin referring people to Freedom Disability. When one of those referrals chooses to work with Freedom Disability and our company submits an application for disability benefits on their behalf, then the owner of the website is paid $100 for the referral. ...

Entrepreneurs with an online business or professionals representing non-profit organizations, legal firms or the health-care industry are encouraged to sign up for the program. ...

Freedom Disability is a leading national Social Security Disability Advocacy group that provides education and representation services in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. Freedom Disability's mission is to help people with disabilities apply for, and win, social security disability benefits from the Social Security Administration.

Is This The Best You Can Do?

From a Q and A prepared by the Social Security Administration for distribution to newspapers:

Q. Why is there a five-month waiting period for Social Security disability benefits?

By law, Social Security disability benefits can be paid only after a worker has been disabled continuously throughout a period of five full calendar months. The first benefit paid is for the sixth month of disability and is paid in the seventh month.

This waiting period ensures that we pay benefits only to those with long-term disabilities and avoid duplicating other income protection plans (such as employer sick-pay plans) during the early months of disability.

Let me give what would be a more honest answer: "We really don't know. This is what Congress passed. We have to administer it even if it doesn't make sense to us."

Restore Solvency

From Dow Jones Newswires:

White House Budget Director Peter Orszag, who is reportedly stepping down from his post in July, called for action Tuesday "sooner rather than later" to help restore solvency for the U.S. Social Security program.

"Despite the fact it is not the most substantial contributor to our long-term fiscal gap, we also need to restore solvency to Social Security," he said at an event on the topic at the National Press Club.

"Not only will putting Social Security on sound footing help to some degree with our overall long-term budget picture, making adjustments sooner rather than later...will provide greater certainty to future Social Security beneficiaries and also allow us to make adjustments that are both gradual and fair."

Sticking Your Foot In It

Alan Simpson, the co-chair of the President's Deficit Reduction Commission, recently made some strong comments about Social Security to a representative of Social Security Works who made the recording public. How bad were Simpson's comments? So bad that The Fiscal Times, which was set up by uber-deficit hawk Peter Peterson, a long time advocate for Social Security cuts, called the comments "condescending and derisive" and "wildly wrong."