Senate Subcommittee Schedules Hearing

     The Senate Homeland Security and Government Operations Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations has scheduled a hearing for September 13 to "examine issues related to the quality of disability benefit awards involving 300 case files of claimants under the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplement Security Income (SSI) programs involving initial applications and subsequent levels of appeal." The Subcommittee is chaired by Senator Carl Levin of Michigan.

Continuing Resolution Introduced In House

     A Continuing Resolution (CR) has been introduced in the House of Representatives to fund government operations, including the Social Security Administration, through March 27, 2013. The House Appropriations Committee summary indicates that the operating budget of almost all federal agencies, including Social Security, will be reduced by 0.6% from the current Fiscal Year (FY) which ends on September 30, 2012.

     The CR itself in § 115(b) says that:

Of the amount made available by section 101 for ‘‘Social Security Administration—Limitation on Administrative Expenses’’, $483,484,000 is additional new budget authority specified for purposes of subsection 251(b)(2)(B) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.

     I don't know what this means.

Watch Out For Pete Peterson's Astroturf Attacks On Social Security Disability

     R.J. Eskow writing in the Huffington Post outlines the progress made by Pete Peterson who is spending a billion dollars on a campaign aimed in large part at cutting Social Security and Medicare. Peterson's favorite tactic is "astroturfing", that is giving his effort the appearance of being a popular grass roots organization even though it is little more than one man's well-funded obsession. Even the President's convention speech was influenced by Peterson's effort. 

     It looks as if Peterson has recently turned his attention to the Social Security disability programs. At least, there is every sign of a well-funded public relations attack on the Social Security disability programs and Peterson is far and away the most likely person behind it. The problem for those who support Social Security is that action is required by 2016 to avoid the disability trust fund running out of money. The fix is easy but Peterson will try to use this deadline as an opportunity to force cuts in Social Security.

Updated Fee Payment Numbers

     Below are the numbers on payments of fees to attorneys and others for representing Social Security claimants. These fees come out of the back benefits of the claimants involved. A fee is paid at about the same time as the back benefits are paid to a claimant who has been approved so this is an indication of how fast or slow that Social Security is processing claimants onto benefits after approval.

Fee Payments
Month/Year	Volume	Amount
Jan-12	29,926	89,749,312.99
Feb-12	43,946	134,207,416.10
Mar-12	47,376	139,571,577.57
Apr-12	38,239	113,225,483.07
May-12	37,648	112,446,283.39
June-12	43,816	128,559,225.66
July-12	33,342	97,458,955.82
Aug-12	41,441	119,484,061.59

Social Security Subcommittee Schedules Another Hearing

    The House Social Security Subcommittee has scheduled a hearing on September 14 at 9:30 a.m. This is an excerpt from the press release announcing the hearing:

... [M]any questions have been raised about the current DI program. These include: is the concept of disability that prevailed at the start of the program in 1956 still appropriate today given advances in medicine, rehabilitation, and the workplace? Are there ways to better support individuals with disabilities to stay in the workplace? Can the decision-making process be strengthened so that, when appropriate, awards are made as early as possible and decisions on applications and appeals are made with greater accuracy and consistency?

Increasingly, experts are researching these questions and developing proposed solutions. Employers are also finding new ways to retain in the workforce those individuals with disabilities who want to work. The imminent fiscal challenge facing the DI program has made discussion of these issues both relevant and timely for the final hearing of this series.

Congressmen Fight To Save Field Office

     Iowa Congressmen are still trying to save the Clinton, Iowa Social Security field office, which is threatened with closure.

Social Security Subcommittee Schedules Hearing

Subcommittee Chair Sam Johnson

     The House Social Security Subcommittee has scheduled a hearing for September 12 on direct deposit of Social Security benefits.

Democratic Platform On Social Security

     During the Republican National Convention, I had quoted what the GOP platform said about Social Security. Here's what the Democratic platform says about Social Security:

We believe every American deserves a secure, healthy, and dignified retirement. America’s seniors have earned their Medicare and Social Security through a lifetime of hard work and personal responsibility. President Obama is committed to preserving that promise for this and future generations.

During their working years, Americans contribute to Social Security in exchange for a promise that they will receive an income in retirement. Unlike those in the other party, we will find a solution to protect Social Security for future generations. We will block Republican efforts to subject Americans’ guaranteed retirement income to the whims of the stock market through privatization. We reject approaches that insist that cutting benefits is the only answer. President Obama will also make it easier for Americans to save on their own for retirement and prepare for unforeseen expenses by participating in retirement accounts at work. ...

In short, Democrats believe that Social Security and Medicare must be kept strong for seniors, people with disabilities, and future generations. Our opponents have shown a shocking willingness to gut these programs to pay for tax cuts for the wealthiest, and we fundamentally reject that approach.