Jul 9, 2007

It's Official: House Appropriations Committee Markup On Social Security On Wednesday

The House Appropriations Committee website is now showing the full committee markup on the Labor-HHS appropriations bill, which includes Social Security, to be on Wednesday, July 11 at 10:00. It will be available on webcast.

Federal Register Alert

This is the entire text of an advance notification that the Social Security Administration will publish a proposed rule in the Federal Register tomorrow:

PROPOSED RULES

Social security benefits and supplemental security income:

Federal old age, survivors, and disability insurance and aged, blind, and disabled--

Quick disability determination process, E7-13288 [0032]

House Appropriations To Markup Social Security Funding On Wednesday

The National Journal is reporting that the House Appropriations Committee will be marking up the Labor-HHS Appropriations bill on Wednesday, July 11. (You cannot read this on the National Journal website. However, you can sign up for a free trial of National Journal, which I did. Subscribing to National Journal runs to about $3,000 per year!) The Labor-HHS Appropriations bill includes Social Security. However, the National Journal also reports that the appropriations process for the upcoming fiscal year may end with in one huge omnibus appropriations bill for all agencies.

Jul 8, 2007

An Image From The Pre-History Of Social Security In the U.S.

HALLEX Updated

I posted recently that Social Security's Hearings Appeals and Litigation (HALLEX) Manual had not been updated in the last year. I do not think it happened because of what I posted, but they have just updated HALLEX. The update is not what I would call important. Here is Social Security's summary:

I-5-1-17I and I-5-17II have been updated to remove language, no longer needed since the bench decision is not a process.

I-5-1-17III contains new instructions on completing a bench decision using the Findings Integrated Template (FIT) format, which will become available in the June 2007 FIT release. The text changes are minor and mirror the process for creating a FIT decision.

I-5-1-17V adds the requirement to store digital recordings for all bench decisions rendered for EDCS claims.

I-5-1-17 Attachment 2 includes the new checksheet, which mirrors much of the content in the previous one but makes it available in the FIT format.

Jul 7, 2007

Twenty-One Months For Social Security Fraud

From the Baltimore Sun:
A former Carroll County [Maryland] woman who collected her deceased husband's benefits after she remarried received a federal prison sentence of almost two years yesterday for lying to the Social Security Administration and pocketing $70,000 in benefits to which she was not entitled.

Jennifer Jones Peach Gimbel, 39, of Arizona pleaded guilty in April to making false statements to a government agency. Yesterday, U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett sentenced her to to 21 months in prison, followed by three years' supervised release.

Chart Of Class Actions And Acquiescence Rulings By State

From Social Security's Program Operations Manual Series (POMS):

StateCourt Cases/ARCircuitSSA RegionPOMS ReferencesPublished DateEnd Date

Alabama


11th

Atlanta




Alaska

CHAVEZ
AR 97-4(9)

LESCHNIOK
AR 86-5(9)

9th

Seattle

General Information on the Chavez AR (DI 32720.001)

12/03/97

03/24/86


Arizona

CHAVEZ
AR 97-4(9)

LESCHNIOK
AR 86-5(9)

9th

San Francisco

General Information on the Chavez AR (DI 32720.001)

12/03/97

03/24/86


Arkansas


8th

Dallas




California

CHAVEZ
AR 97-4(9)

LESCHNIOK
AR 86-5(9)

9th

San Francisco

General Information on the Chavez AR (DI 32720.001)

12/03/97

03/24/86


Colorado


10th

Denver




Connecticut


2nd

Boston




Delaware

SYKES
AR 01-1(3)

PASKEL
AR 86-4(3)

3rd

Philadelphia

Using the Grid Rules as a Framework for Decision-making When an Individual's Occupational Base is Eroded by a Nonexertional Limitation--Titles II and XVI of the Social Security Act (DI 52735.001)

01/25/01

03/24/86


District of Columbia


DC

Philadelphia




Florida


11th

Atlanta




Georgia


11th

Atlanta




Hawaii

CHAVEZ
AR 97-4(9)

LESCHNIOK
AR 86-5(9)

9th

San Francisco

General Information on the Chavez AR (DI 32720.001)

12/03/97

03/24/86


Idaho

CHAVEZ
AR 97-4(9)

LESCHNIOK
AR 86-5(9)

9th

Seattle

General Information on the Chavez AR (DI 32720.001)

12/03/97

03/24/86


Illinois


7th

Chicago




Indiana


7th

Chicago




Iowa


8th

Kansas City




Kansas


10th

Kansas City




Kentucky

DENNARD
AR 98-3(6)

DRUMMOND
AR 98-4(6)

DIFFORD
AR 92-2(6)

6th

Atlanta

General Information on the Dennard Ruling (DI 52706.001)

General Information on the Drummond Acquiescence Ruling (DI 52705.001)

06/01/98

06/01/98

03/17/92


Louisiana

MARTINEZ
AR 86-3(5)

5th

Dallas

Provisions of the Martinez Ruling - Impact of Illiteracy and Inability to Communicate in English on Unskilled Younger Workers Limited to the Sedentary or Light Levels of Exertion (DI32705.001)

01/23/86


Maine


1st

Boston




Maryland

ALBRIGHT
AR 00-1(4)

CULBERTSON
AR 90-4(4)

4th

Philadelphia

General Information on the Albright Acquiescence Ruling (AR) (DI 52715.001)

06/01/98


Massachusetts


1st

Boston




Michigan

DENNARD
AR 98-3(6)

DRUMMOND
AR 98-4(6)

DIFFORD
AR 92-2(6)

6th

Chicago

General Information on the Dennard Ruling (DI 52706.001)

General Information on the Drummond Acquiescence Ruling (DI 52705.001)

06/01/98

06/01/98

03/17/92


Minnesota


8th

Chicago




Mississippi

MARTINEZ
AR 86-3(5)

5th

Atlanta

Provisions of the Martinez Ruling - Impact of Illiteracy and Inability to Communicate in English on Unskilled Younger Workers Limited to the Sedentary or Light Levels of Exertion (DI 32705.001)

01/23/86


Missouri


8th

Kansas City




Montana

CHAVEZ
AR 97-4(9)

LESCHNIOK
AR 86-5(9)

9th

Denver

General Information on the Chavez AR (DI 32720.001)

12/03/97

03/24/86


Nebraska


8th

Kansas City




Nevada

CHAVEZ
AR 97-4(9)

LESCHNIOK AR 86-5(9)

9th

San Francisco

General Information on the Chavez AR (DI 32720.001)

12/03/97

03/24/86


New Hampshire


1st

Boston




New Jersey

SYKES
AR 01-1(3)

PASKEL
AR 86-4(3)

3rd

New York

Using the Grid Rules as a Framework for Decision-making When an Individual's Occupational Base is Eroded by a Nonexertional Limitation--Titles II and XVI of the Social Security Act (DI 52735.001)

01/25/01

03/24/86


New Mexico


10th

Dallas




New York

STIEBERGER

2nd

New York

Stieberger v. Sullivan Court Order (DI32586.001)

06/18/92
Modified – 06/29/92


North Carolina

HYATT

ALBRIGHT
AR 00-1(4)

CULBERTSON
AR 90-4(4)

4th

Atlanta

Hyatt, et al. v. Shalala Court Order (DI 32548.001)

General Information on the Albright Acquiescence Ruling (AR) (DI 52715.001)

03/21/94

01/12/00


North Dakota


8th

Denver




Ohio

DENNARD
AR 98-3(6)

DRUMMOND
AR 98-4(6)

DIFFORD
AR 92-2(6)

6th

Chicago

General Information on the Dennard Ruling (DI 52706.001)

General Information on the Drummond Acquiescence Ruling (DI 52705.001)

06/01/98

06/01/98

03/17/92


Oklahoma


10th

Dallas




Oregon

CHAVEZ
AR 97-4(9)

LESCHNIOK
AR 86-5(9)

9th

Seattle

General Information on the Chavez AR (DI 32720.001)

12/03/97

03/24/86


Pennsylvania

SYKES
AR 01-1(3)

PASKEL
AR 86-4(3)

3rd

Philadelphia

Using the Grid Rules as a Framework for Decision-making When an Individual's Occupational Base is Eroded by a Nonexertional Limitation--Titles II and XVI of the Social Security Act (DI 52735.001)

01/25/01

03/24/86


Rhode Island


1st

Boston




South Carolina

ALBRIGHT
AR 00-1(4)

CULBERTSON
AR 90-4(4)

4th

Atlanta

General Information on the Albright Acquiescence Ruling (AR) (DI 52715.001)

01/12/00


South Dakota


8th

Denver




Tennessee

DRUMMOND
AR 98-4(6)

DENNARD
AR 98-3(6)

DIFFORD
AR 92-2(6)

6th

Atlanta

General Information on the Drummond Acquiescence Ruling (DI 52705.001)

General Information on the Dennard Ruling (DI 52706.001)

06/01/98

06/01/98

03/17/92


Texas

MARTINEZ
AR 86-3(5)

5th

Dallas

Provisions of the Martinez Ruling - Impact of Illiteracy and Inability to Communicate in English on Unskilled Younger Workers Limited to the Sedentary or Light Levels of Exertion (DI32705.001)

01/23/86


Utah


10th

Denver




Vermont


2nd

Boston




Virginia

ALBRIGHT
AR 00-1(4)

CULBERTSON
AR 90-4(4)

4th

Philadelphia

General Information on the Albright Acquiescence Ruling (AR) (DI 52715.001)

01/12/00


Washington

CHAVEZ
AR 97-4(9)

LESCHNIOK
AR 86-5(9)

9th

Seattle

General Information on the Chavez AR (DI 32720.001)

12/03/97

03/24/86


West Virginia

ALBRIGHT
AR 00-1(4)

CULBERTSON
AR 90-4(4)

9th

Philadelphia

General Information on the Albright Acquiescence Ruling (AR) (DI 52715.001)

01/12/00


Wisconsin


7th

Chicago




Wyoming


10th

Denver




American Samoa

CHAVEZ
AR 97-4(9)

9th

San
Francisco

General Information on the Chavez AR (DI 32720.001)

12/03/97


Federal DDS




This depends on the State where the case originated. The Federal DDS could have to apply any court case.



Guam

CHAVEZ
AR 97-4(9)

LESCHNIOK
AR 86-5(9)

9th

San
Francisco

General Information on the Chavez AR (DI 32720.001)

12/03/97

03/24/86


Northern Marianas

CHAVEZ
AR 97-4(9)

LESCHNIOK
AR 86-5(9)

9th

San
Francisco

General Information on the Chavez AR (DI 32720.001)

12/03/97

03/24/86


Puerto Rico


1st

New York




Virgin Islands

SYKES
AR 01-1(3)

PASKEL
AR 86-4(3)

3rd

New York

Using the Grid Rules as a Framework for Decisionmaking When an Individual's Occupational Base is Eroded by a Nonexertional Limitation--Titles II and XVI of the Social Security Act (DI 52735.001)

01/25/01

03/24/86



Jul 6, 2007

Even Business Paper Reports On Social Security Backlogs

The Charleston [SC] Business Journal is reporting on Social Security's backlogs in hearing appeals of disability claims. Here is an excerpt:
Severely ill or injured U.S. workers, like [Don] Longest [the claimant whose story is used to illustrate the article], who file Social Security disability claims must wait a while before their checks arrive. Cutbacks in Social Security Administration personnel have produced a backlog, forcing claimants to wait from 18 months to two years to receive money from Social Security disability benefits, said North Charleston-based disability benefits attorney Robertson Wendt Jr. ...

Longest is one of nearly 136,000 disabled S.C. workers who are Social Security beneficiaries. His case is typical of disabled workers who have faced or currently are facing financial ruin because of the claims backlog, Wendt said.

“People are losing things like their houses and cars because they have to wait up to two years to get their money,” Wendt said.

In Charleston, the average processing time for Social Security disability claims is 507 days, compared with 524 days in Columbia and 594 days in Greenville, according to a report from the National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives.