Congressional Hearing Scheduled

     The House Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee in conjunction with the House Ways and Means Oversight Subcommittee has scheduled a hearing for May 8 on tax fraud involving identity theft. Social Security's Death Master file is the agency's connection to this.

Online Social Security Statements

     Social Security has sent out a press release announcing that it is now possible to obtain an online Social Security statement. I forget how long ago it was but I am pretty sure that Social Security made these statements available online briefly in the past until privacy concerns forced them to cancel the service. My recollection is that the service was cancelled even though there were no reports that anyone had improperly obtained private information; there was just speculation that it might happen.

Expectations Versus Reality

     From Gallup:

     From the Society of Actuaries:

     The implication to me is that the increase in Social Security's full retirement age to 67 that is already under way makes no sense. An increase to 69 would preposterous. People think they'll work a lot longer than they actually do. They do not fully appreciate the effects of the aging process until they feel them. They also overestimate what medicine can do to counteract the effects of the aging process.

Electronic Medical Records For Wounded Warriors Press Release

     Social Security has sent out a press release touting a project to work with the Department of Defense to speed disability benefits to wounded warriors by increased efficiency in using electronic medical records.

Law Review Article On Non-Attorney Representation At Social Security -- And Pay Attention To What's Coming In June

     Drew Swank has written an article for the Southern Illinois University Law Journal on non-attorney representation of claimants at the Social Security Administration and unauthorized practice of law. Swank argues that Social Security should require that non-attorneys who represent Social Security claimants be competent and that the agency should establish a code of ethics applicable to both attorneys and non-attorneys who represent claimants before the agency.
     By the way, a footnote indicates that the Administrative Law Review will publish another article by Swank in June to be titled "The Social Security Administration’s Condoning of and Colluding with Attorney Misconduct."

Takei Wants Social Security To Boldly Recognize Same-Sex Marriages

     Trek Today reports that former Star Trek actor George Takei, who has appeared alongside Patty Duke to support online filing of Social Security claims, has appeared at a rally to support legislation to require that Social Security recognize same-sex marriages. Currently, the Defense of Marriage Act prevents the Social Security Administration from recognizing same-sex marriages. (No, I don't ordinarily read Trek Today. Try Google Blog Seach. It's very useful.)

Is This A Good Idea?

     Disability Judges is a website that offers statistics on waiting times for each of Social Security's hearing offices, as well as reversal rates for each office and for each Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). The site also offers the opportunity to file anonymous comments about each ALJ.

New Hearing Office In Jersey City

     Social Security has opened a new hearing office in Jersey City, New Jersey. The office will have eight Administrative Law Judges and 40 support staff. Previously, Jersey City residents had their hearings in Manhattan.

     Social Security Commissioner Michael Astrue is pictured here with the Jersey City mayor, ODAR head Glenn Sklar and Social Security Regional Commissioner Beatrice Disman