Final Regs On Law Firms Representing Claimants Cleared For Publication

     The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has cleared Social Security's proposed final rules on the recognition of law firms representing claimants. To this point, the agency has insisted that only individuals can represent claimants. In the real world, however, there are these things called law firms and they like to do things like shift responsibility for a case from one of the firm's attorneys to another, something that is now difficult both for the law firm and Social Security. There's also the problems that ensue when an attorney leaves a law firm. Who gets the fee? This is a nice step forward for everyone, including Social Security. Expect these final regulations to be published in the Federal Register before long.

Field Office Closure

     Social Security is closing its field office in Newburgh, NY. Predictably, this is drawing opposition from local political leaders. The appropriations bill favored by Republicans in the House of Representatives would ban field office closures while failing to give the agency enough money to keep them open. How would that work?

Action In Conn Cases

     The notice reproduced below was filed by Social Security on Friday. I understand there will be more developments in the Conn cases in the near future. As always, click on the images to view full size.

At A Social Security Office In Glendale, CA Last Week

 

From the Commissioner's Twitter feed

Off Topic: Salted Peanuts In Coke Or Pepsi

     It's a slow time for Social Security news. Let me go off topic. The local newspaper did a story on the old North Carolina thing of dumping a pack of salted peanuts into a cold Coke or Pepsi. I saw that a lot when I was a boy and enjoyed doing it. I don't think I ever saw a girl, much less a woman, do it and not many grown men. I haven't seen it in years but I'm not around boys that much. I've never known how widespread a custom this is or was.

    It's actually pretty good. You get great contrasts between salty and sweet and between liquid and crunchy.

    I'm curious. Is this something you ever did? Ever saw it done?

A Poll

 

online polls

Acting Inspector General

    An otherwise negligible report by Social Security's Office of Inspector General reveals a minor detail that may interest some of my readers. The new Acting Inspector General is Michelle L. Anderson, the Assistant Inspector General for Audit. Judging by her Linked In account, she's a long time federal employee.

Real People

     From a Richmond, VA television station:

Earl Barry is frustrated with what he said has been a "demoralizing" experience navigating the process to apply for disability through the Social Security Administration (SSA). Barry told CBS 6 he has been going back and forth with the SSA on claims for more than a year.

"It's been very difficult and I am under-- I had to seek therapy because I was considering suicide," Barry said. ...

In October 2022, Berry applied for disability and was denied.

He reapplied in December 2023, but again was denied. ...

In March 2024, Barry said the company Premiere Disability filed a reconsideration request on his behalf. It's currently taking SSA seven months, on average, to respond to reconsideration requests.

Barry said Premier Disability recently informed him there could be a further delay.

"The representative found out that our appeal that we filed was not handled properly by SSA in March when they were supposed to have done it. They didn't transfer the file from the person who had it, the auditor, to the office for the appeal," Barry said.

But Barry said he can't afford to wait for assistance, should he get approved, any longer.

He said his savings have run dry and his Buckingham County house has now been foreclosed on. ...

Earlier this month, CBS 6 shared Ed Heavener's story, a Henrico County man who spent a year and a half waiting for disability and only got his money after our investigative reporters got involved. ...

After the story aired, CBS 6 newsroom was inundated with messages from people across Virginia and beyond, including Barry, complaining about customer service issues with SSA. ...