Senate Appropriations Subcommittee Reports Out Social Security Funding Bill

The Labor-HHS Subcommittee of the Senate Appropriations Committee has reported out the appropriations bill that covers Social Security. The Subcommittee bill includes $12,378,863 in operating funds for Social Security. This is the amount recommended by the White House. This is also the amount reported out of the corresponding subcommittee in the House of Representatives.

These bills must now go to the full committees and then to the floor in the House and Senate. Since there will be differences between the two bills there must be a conference committee. There is no chance this will be completed before October 1, 2010, the beginning of the fiscal year. Republicans are likely to try to slow things down, especially if they win a lot of races in the November elections. This whole process could easily extend into next Spring. Indeed, if Republicans win control of one House of Congress it may be impossible to pass a Labor-HHS appropriations bill for the 2011 fiscal year, meaning that Social Security will be stuck with a continuing resolution (CR) that funds the agency at the 2010 rate. That would be terrible for Social Security, probably necessitating a hiring freeze for most of the agency for most of the year.

Top Secret -- Need To Know -- But What About Bucket 2?

From Social Security Emergency Message EM-10056:

We implemented the Simplified i3368 [which persons filing Social Security disability claims and appears online use] nationwide January 2010. In early May 2010, we discovered that certain doctor sources on the i3368, supplied by the claimant or third party, were missing when the field office imported the information into the Electronic Disability Collect System (EDCS). The Office of Systems investigated and found the coding caused the following issue: when internet users entered information about doctors or other healthcare professionals, but did not enter a doctor’s name (first or last) in the first data field, no information about that source, or any subsequent doctor sources, propagated into EDCS. This did not affect the information about hospitals and clinics. However, it is possible the propagation problem affected disability cases that are currently pending and cases in which a medical decision was made without considering all of the doctor source information the applicant provided. The coding is now correct. Affected cases processed between December 2009 - May 31, 2010 have been divided into two “Buckets.” Bucket 1 includes cases between December 12, 2009 – February 23, 2010. Bucket 2 includes cases between February 24, 2010 – May 31, 2010. eee

Bucket 1 claims and instructions are now available on the VIDI website. We are unsure which cases have information dropped from the i3368 in Bucket 1 cases. Therefore, SSA will need to contact claimants to ensure all doctor sources, and associated information, are in the Electronic Folder.

The authorization to access this data is via Top Secret/NT Security based on a need to know as required by an employee's job function.

Share Your Stories

A press release from Social Security:

Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, today announced that Social Security is asking members of the public, as well as current and former employees, to help the agency celebrate its 75 years of public service by sharing their personal stories and reflections about how Social Security has touched their lives. To share your story, go to www.socialsecurity.gov and click on the box that says “Social Security Celebrates 75 Years of Public Service.” Selected stories will be edited for content and brevity and posted for everyone to read.

“On August 14, the most important and successful domestic program in our nation’s history turns 75,” Commissioner Astrue said. “For three quarters of a century, Social Security has provided a financial lifeline to millions of Americans. As we approach our anniversary, Social Security remains a solid foundation for retirees, the disabled, and survivors. I encourage everyone to visit our website, share their stories, and join me in wishing Social Security a happy 75th anniversary.”

Social Security is asking people to tell how the program made a difference in their lives and the lives of their family and friends. For example:

• How did it feel to receive your first retirement check?
• Tell us if you received survivors benefits when a loved one died.
• How has the Social Security disability program helped you?
• How did a Social Security Administration employee go above and beyond to provide you with great service?
• Current and former Social Security Administration employees: Share your memorable stories of service.

Social Security also will soon launch a video contest “How Social Security Has Made a Difference in My Life.” Submitted videos will be posted on the agency’s YouTube channel and the winning video will be posted on www.socialsecurity.gov. Details of the contest will be posted on the website later this week.

Social Security invites the public to view a special photo gallery that takes them on a brief journey through the agency’s 75-year history. The photo gallery is available at www.socialsecurity.gov/75thanniversary. A more extensive collection of history-related materials that presents both the institutional history of the Social Security Administration and the history of the Social Security program is available at www.socialsecurity.gov/history.

Backlogs In Implementing Social Security Disability Allowances

An e-mail I received from a Social Security field office employee:

In the _____ Office, SSA [Social Security Administration] announced that phones to PC 7 [Program Center 7, an office in Baltimore where Social Security disability claims are implemented, half of the Office of Central Operations] (Disability) are being TURNED OFF. BAs [Benefit Authorizers, employees who implement disability allowances] are 90 days behind. CAs [Claims Authorizers, a different category of employees who implement disability allowances] are 115 days behind. No more phone calls except manager-to-manager for status or follow ups to give PC 7 a chance to catch up. The problem is that PC 7 must do its stuff for SSI [Supplemental Security Income] offsets, workers' compensation offsets and figuring attorney fees before retroactive Title 2 or Title 16 payments can be released. Since Field Office phones aren't being turned off, the angry public will just be calling Field Offices.

Shutting off field office access to PC 7 is a dramatic step. I will say that I am seeing fewer problems now in implementing disability allowances than I used to see. Perhaps, we are dealing more with PC 8, the other half of the Office of Central Operations. I am not sure how things are divided up at the Office of Central Operations.

No More Sunset For Attorney Advisor Program

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB), which is part of the White House, has posted this summary of a proposed regulation change which Social Security has filed:

On July 13, 2009, we extended until August 10, 2011 the final rule that authorizes attorney advisors to conduct certain prehearing procedures and to issue fully favorable decisions. We now propose to eliminate the sunset date for the attorney advisor program. The attorney advisor program has proved to be successful, with claimant's decisions being processed more efficiently, which has helped to reduce the agency's backlog. The success of the program has resulted in approving benefits in a timelier manner.

Social Security must obtain OMB approval before posting this in the Federal Register.

Social Security Trustees Report Coming Out On August 5

The Spokane Spokesman-Review reports that the delayed annual report of Social Security's trustees is to be released on August 5.

Cookies For Social Security

An interview with Social Security's Chief Information Officer (CIO) Frank Baitman conducted by Alex Howard of O'Reilly Radar (which has nothing to do with Bill O'Reilly).

Backlogs In Wisconsin

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

The wait times are getting shorter for out-of-work Wisconsin residents seeking federal disability benefits, but appeals offices in the state still have some of the longest waits in the nation.

The delays in Wisconsin are so serious that the federal Social Security Administration is opening a full-service appeals office in Madison next month to try to speed up the process for not just the capitol city but eventually Milwaukee and the rest of the state.

The often impoverished and disabled applicants seeking to appeal their denial of benefits in federal hearings in Milwaukee and Madison face average waits of a year and a half - an improvement over last year but still several months longer than the already lengthy national average of 435 days. Federal Commissioner of Social Security Michael Astrue called the delays "not at all acceptable."

"This shouldn't just help the current territory of Madison. It really will on a delayed basis help the entire state," Astrue said of the expanding office. "It's not going to change (the delays) overnight but I would think within six months the change should be pretty significant and within a year it should pretty be dramatic." ...

Wisconsin also continues to be one of roughly a dozen states that are furloughing state workers who make the initial decision on whether people qualify for benefits - even though it doesn't save the state any money because the workers are federally paid....

Astrue renewed his criticism of a decision by Gov. Jim Doyle's administration to furlough the bureau's federally paid workers amid the state budget crisis, even though it doesn't save the state anything. Astrue said the furloughs increases wait times for disabled applicants for benefits and on Friday he unveiled federal legislation that would ban the practice by states like Wisconsin.

Officials in the Doyle administration have defended their action, saying they are furloughing all state workers because it would be unfair to exempt any group of employees. Stephanie Smiley, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Health Services, said that despite the furloughs, Wisconsin has been bucking the national trend by whittling down its own backlog of people waiting for an initial decision on disability benefits.

One hint for any newspaper reporter who happens to be reading this: Ask Social Security officials how much help Social Security's Chicago Region, which includes Wisconsin, is receiving from the Dallas and Philadelphia Regions, which have the lowest backlogs.