Mar 21, 2011
Not Getting Involved
It is more than occasionally that attorneys and representatives have trouble opening the CDs.A. IntroductionThe purpose of this message is to provide FO i[Field Office] nstructions when claimants or representatives ask the FO to open CDs encrypted by ODAR [Office of Disability Adjudication and Review].
B. BackgroundRecently ODAR began encrypting CDs they send to claimants and representatives in response to an Office of Management and Budget (OMB) directive. Claimants or representatives are occasionally unable to open these CDs and request that the FO:
- Open or unencrypt the CD
- Burn an unencrypted CD
C. Procedure1. FO employees should not:
- Burn a new CD of any kind
- Take the CD from the claimant or Representative
- Destroy the CD for the claimant or Representative2. FO employees should direct the claimant or representative to contact their servicing ODAR hearings office to resolve any problem with the inability to open the encrypted CD.
Direct all program–related and technical questions to your RO [Regional Office] support staff or PSC [Program Service Center] OA staff. RO support staff or PSC OA staff may refer questions or problems to their Central Office contacts.
Surprising Support For Data Center Funding
... I am not a huge supporter of Social Security. But just because I don't think it's Uncle Sam's job to take care of me and mine doesn't mean I'm oblivious to the reality of the situation. And that reality is that our Social Security system is residing in a data center that is decades old with a backup system that may or may not work, and will take five days to bring online even if it does. ...
In five days people could - probably will - die. I may not think much of Social Security, but the system is in place, and we have to make sure it doesn't fail. For too many people it's their only safety net. Write your congressman not to cut any of the funding for the Social Security data center upgrade.
Mar 20, 2011
That Was So Last Year
The Social Security Administration reduced backlogs and increased the pace of its disability assessments in fiscal 2010, but missed its target for increasing online applications from retirees, according to an internal SSA report.
Overall, out of 35 performance measures, the SSA met the targets for 26 measures, failed three measures and is awaiting further results on six measures, states the SSA Performance and Accountability Report for Fiscal Year 2010. The agency conducted the review and issued the report internally late last year, but only recently made it public.
One of the most prominent goals that the SSA just missed in fiscal 2010 had to do with the target for moving a larger proportion of the approximately 2.4 million annual retiree applications for benefits to an online form, rather than paper forms.
Mar 19, 2011
Everybody Agrees That The District Court Decision Was Weird
Get Your Stats Right Here
Mar 18, 2011
Budget Situation
This broadcast e-mail went out today:
A Message To All SSA And DDS Employees
Subject: Budget Update
Yesterday Congress passed an extension of the continuing resolution for three more weeks, and the President is expected to sign it shortly. As part of that legislation, Congress cut another $200 million from our administrative budget. We are already operating with less money than we had last year.
For the time being, we will continue with the restrictions on overtime. We hope to restore at least some overtime once Congress passes a permanent budget.
Keep your fingers crossed.
Michael J. Astrue
Commissioner