Social Security Seeks Ticket To Work Input

     From today's Federal Register:

We are soliciting public input on whether and how we might revise the current Ticket to Work program rules. The Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999 established the Ticket to Work program to allow individuals with disabilities to seek services to obtain and retain employment in order to reduce dependency on cash benefit programs. In creating the program, Congress found that eliminating barriers to work and providing individuals with real choice in obtaining services and technology to find, enter, and maintain employment can greatly improve the short and long-term financial independence and personal well-being of our beneficiaries. We want to explore improving our Ticket to Work program as part of our ongoing effort to help our beneficiaries find and maintain employment that leads to increased independence and enhanced productivity. If we propose specific revisions to our regulations, we will publish a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) in the Federal Register.

President's Budget Proposal Released

     President Obama has released his budget proposal for Fiscal Year (FY) 2017, which begins on October 1, 2016. Below are two tables giving Social Security highlights (click on each one to view them full size) but be aware that this is just a proposal. Congress must act upon it and this Congress has exhibited a visceral hostility to the President.

     Note that even with increased funding which is unlikely to come, the agency expects an increase in the average time it takes to get a hearing decision as well as an average speed of answer on telephone calls of greater than ten minutes.

Social Security Agreement With Hungary

     The United States and Hungary have signed a social security agreement. Such agreements help prevent double taxation of wages and help those who move between the two countries.

Social Security Advocates For The Disabled Sold

     From a press release:

J. Scott Penny, Chief Acquisitions Officer of Brown & Brown, Inc. (NYSE: BRO), and Ann Marie Beaudoin and Victor Arruda, the founders of Social Security Advocates for the Disabled, LLC ("SSAD"), announced that The Advocator Group, LLC, a subsidiary of Brown & Brown, Inc., has acquired substantially all of the equity interests of SSAD.

Since its founding in 1994, SSAD has provided Social Security disability insurance ("SSDI") advocacy services to individual clients on behalf of long-term disability insurance carriers. SSAD has annual net revenues in 2015 of approximately $10.0 million. ...

Two Senators Want Social Security Disability "Reforms"

     Senators James Lankford (R-Okla.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) have written a letter to Senator Orrin Hatch, the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee urging further "reforms" to Social Security disability. Apparently, the Senators are urging passage of an amendment sponsored by Lankford that would require, in his words:

• Updating the Social Security Administration (SSA) medical and vocational guidelines for eligibility, which hasn’t been updated since 1978
• Making sure that claimants who are assumed to be able to work (i.e., eligible for Unemployment Insurance) don’t get trapped in a benefits system that discourages work
• Streamlining the process to eliminate unnecessary steps for claimants for reconsideration
• Tightening rules and requirements, and reducing fees to keep Administrative Law Judges (ALJs), claimant representatives, medical experts, and SSA accountable.
• Strengthening SSA and Congressional oversight of SSA and ALJs
• Creating a separate budget account for SSA’s program integrity work, to ensure benefit processing is accurate and efficient
• Making available information to Disability Determination Services and ALJs about medical improvement, and,
• Ensuring that claimants whose records are not fully-developed have their cases thoroughly reviewed.

Claims Rep Gets White House Recognition

     From Social Security Matters, the agency's blog:

The White House announced winners of the first ever President’s Award for Customer Service, and we’re proud to share that one of our employees received this honor among four other government awardees.

Shawn Lynch, a claims representative from the Dothan, Alabama, field office, was recognized for her superior customer service. Among her many contributions, Shawn led efforts to reduce appointment wait times and increase the number of my Social Security registrations within her office. She also took the initiative to reach out to applicants before their appointments, giving them the opportunity to have their disability claims taken early. Shawn educated claimants on the Self Help PC as well. Furthermore, she showed her commitment to service by taking part in community outreach.

Problems Yesterday With Social Security's Online Systems -- Today?

     My firm experienced serious problems accessing Social Security online yesterday. We heard from others who were having the same problem. Social Security sent out a broadcast e-mail about the service outage so I know the problem was national. It turns out that it wasn't just the public than was having problems with Social Security's online systems. Social Security's employees were also having problems with their data systems.

     I haven't tried to access Social Security online yet today. Anyone know what's going on now?

     Update 11:10 am EST: I've tried to get in. I can check on case status but I can't access the electronic folder. It's the same as late yesterday afternoon. It would be nice if you sent out a broadcast e-mail, Social Security.

Appeals Council Won't Return Evidence -- But They Won't Consider It

     From today's Federal Register:

This final rule revises our rules regarding returning evidence at the Appeals Council (AC) level. Under this final rule, the AC will no longer return additional evidence it receives when the AC determines the additional evidence does not relate to the period on or before the date of the administrative law judge (ALJ) decision.