Three professors have produced a paper for the Heller School for Social Policy and Management of Brandeis University documenting the hardships faced by families receiving children's Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Even with the children's SSI benefits 45% of the families are unable to meet all their essential expenses, 21% are unable to pay rent, 42% are unable to pay all their utility
Thursday, 31 October 2013
The Need For Children's SSI Benefits
Posted on 05:46 by Unknown
Three professors have produced a paper for the Heller School for Social Policy and Management of Brandeis University documenting the hardships faced by families receiving children's Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Even with the children's SSI benefits 45% of the families are unable to meet all their essential expenses, 21% are unable to pay rent, 42% are unable to pay all their utility
Wednesday, 30 October 2013
Banned By SSA!
Posted on 06:12 by Unknown
It appears that starting this week Social Security's computer network is blocking access to this blog. I strongly doubt that it's just this blog. Probably, everything on blogger is being blocked.
Update: I don't know what's going on. I'm getting people reporting accessing Social Security News from Social Security computers but Google Analytics shows access to Social Security News way
1.5% COLA
Posted on 05:47 by Unknown
As expected, Social Security's Cost Of Living Adjustment (COLA) will be 1.5% this year.
Update: Here are all the numbers released today:
Social Security (OASDI) Program Rates & Limits
2014
Tax Rates (percent)
Social Security (Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance)
Employers and Employees,
Update: Here are all the numbers released today:
Social Security (OASDI) Program Rates & Limits
2014
Tax Rates (percent)
Social Security (Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance)
Employers and Employees,
Charlie Binder Has More To Say In Response To Sixty Minutes
Posted on 03:00 by Unknown
Charlie Binder has more to say in response to the Sixty Minutes piece although that may not be apparent until the last paragraph.
Tuesday, 29 October 2013
Astrue Called "Hack" By Candidate For Governor
Posted on 07:33 by Unknown
From the Boston Globe:
[F]issures between Michael Astrue and Donald Berwick, a Democratic
candidate for governor, opened in early 2011 when Berwick, then
administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services,
summoned Astrue, then Social Security Administration commissioner, to
his office.
Berwick wanted Social Security to help pay for a piece of the health
care insurance
[F]issures between Michael Astrue and Donald Berwick, a Democratic
candidate for governor, opened in early 2011 when Berwick, then
administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services,
summoned Astrue, then Social Security Administration commissioner, to
his office.
Berwick wanted Social Security to help pay for a piece of the health
care insurance
More On Social Security Overpayments
Posted on 05:56 by Unknown
Another CNN Money piece on Social Security overpayments:
The Social Security Administration is overpaying big sums of money
to disability beneficiaries -- and lawyers, consumer advocates and
watchdogs say the agency's own missteps are to blame.
Long after notifying Social Security that they have either started
working again or earn too much income to qualify for benefits, some
The Social Security Administration is overpaying big sums of money
to disability beneficiaries -- and lawyers, consumer advocates and
watchdogs say the agency's own missteps are to blame.
Long after notifying Social Security that they have either started
working again or earn too much income to qualify for benefits, some
Monday, 28 October 2013
Is Social Security Sending Out $75,000 Checks To Random Claimants?
Posted on 06:09 by Unknown
From CNN Money:
Americans dealing with injuries, mental illnesses and other
impairments are being notified out of the blue that they’ve been
overpaid by the Social Security Administration and now owe thousands of
dollars.
One 33-year-old veteran began receiving Social Security disability
payments after his left foot was amputated following an explosion in
Iraq in 2007. After going
Americans dealing with injuries, mental illnesses and other
impairments are being notified out of the blue that they’ve been
overpaid by the Social Security Administration and now owe thousands of
dollars.
One 33-year-old veteran began receiving Social Security disability
payments after his left foot was amputated following an explosion in
Iraq in 2007. After going
Sunday, 27 October 2013
A Manageable Problem
Posted on 03:00 by Unknown
Saturday, 26 October 2013
Alabama Sheriff Acquitted On Social Security Fraud Charge
Posted on 07:30 by Unknown
I had reported in August that Washington County, Alabama Sheriff Richard Stringer had pleaded not guilty to Social Security fraud. It was alleged that Stringer had conspired with others to get Social Security benefits for a friend.
The case went to trial. Mr. Stringer was acquitted.
Friday, 25 October 2013
Democrats And Republicans Support Positions At Odds With Their Bases
Posted on 06:38 by Unknown
From Ronald Brownstein writing for the National Journal:
One reason a serious budget negotiation seems unlikely this fall is that
any meaningful assault on the federal deficit would require each party
to confront the contradictions between its fiscal agenda and its
electoral coalition. ...
The GOP presidential nominee has carried most white seniors in four
consecutive presidential
One reason a serious budget negotiation seems unlikely this fall is that
any meaningful assault on the federal deficit would require each party
to confront the contradictions between its fiscal agenda and its
electoral coalition. ...
The GOP presidential nominee has carried most white seniors in four
consecutive presidential
Quite A Comedown
Posted on 06:16 by Unknown
The House Ways and Means Committee has traditionally been of key importance to Social Security and to the nation. However, at the moment, according to Stacy Kaper at the National Journal, Ways and Means is barely functioning.
Thursday, 24 October 2013
Charlie Binder Responds To Sixty Minutes
Posted on 13:38 by Unknown
Charlie Binder has posted something of a response to the Sixty Minutes piece on Social Security disability.
Getting A New Government Program Off The Ground Is Tough
Posted on 08:42 by Unknown
The start-up problems that the Health Care Exchanges are experiencing are not without precedent. As Arthur Delaney writing for the Huffington Report notes there were serious start-up problems with Social Security. Early on, a management expert told the nascent Social Security Board that it should notify Congress that it couldn't run the program! The management expert was told to get back to
Big Return From Social Security
Posted on 03:00 by Unknown
From a study by Gary Koenig of the AARP Public Policy Institute and Al Myles of Mississippi State University:
Social Security’s economic impact starts when its recipients spend their benefits on goods and services.The businesses that receive these dollars use them to pay their owners and employees, purchase additional items to sell, and pay rent, taxes, and the other normal costs of
Wednesday, 23 October 2013
OIG To Focus On Widespread Fraud Investigations; ALJ Lillios Detailed To Help
Posted on 07:59 by Unknown
From Social Security's Office of Inspector General (OIG):
Our new pilot ... will
focus on allegations involving third-party facilitators [of disability fraud], particularly
those that may indicate widespread fraud schemes or conspiracies. The
pilot will focus on allegations involving:
SSA senior executives, administrative law judges, administrative appeals judges, and other
Our new pilot ... will
focus on allegations involving third-party facilitators [of disability fraud], particularly
those that may indicate widespread fraud schemes or conspiracies. The
pilot will focus on allegations involving:
SSA senior executives, administrative law judges, administrative appeals judges, and other
Why Social Security Is Essential
Posted on 03:00 by Unknown
Alicia Munnell of the Center for Retirement Research explains in simple terms why Social Security is absolutely essential and why replacing it with a defined contribution plan would be a horrible idea: People are so financially illiterate that they cannot be counted upon to make rational retirement decisions and more financial education won't solve the problem.
And, by the way, to
Tuesday, 22 October 2013
Representative Ryan Asking About Raising Retirement Age
Posted on 07:28 by Unknown
No big surprise here, but Representative Paul Ryan, the Chairman of the House Budget Committee, seems to be interested in the effects of raising Social Security's normal retirement age. He recently asked Social Security's Chief Actuary to give him information about the effects of the last increase in the normal retirement age.
SSA Has No Idea Whether The Billions It's Spent On IT Have Done Any Good
Posted on 03:00 by Unknown
From a report by Social Security's Office of Inspector General (OIG) (footnotes omitted):
Our objective was to determine whether the Social Security Administration (SSA) had achieved the planned cost savingsfor its information technology (IT) initiatives....
In Fiscal Year (FY) 2012, SSA spent approximately$1.5 billion on IT investments. SSA has stated its IT investments have been
Our objective was to determine whether the Social Security Administration (SSA) had achieved the planned cost savingsfor its information technology (IT) initiatives....
In Fiscal Year (FY) 2012, SSA spent approximately$1.5 billion on IT investments. SSA has stated its IT investments have been
Monday, 21 October 2013
WSJ Fantasizes About Cuts To Social Security
Posted on 05:44 by Unknown
The Wall Street Journal is fantasizing about cuts to Social Security. It will happen -- just as soon as the Wall Street Journal supports higher taxes on those with high incomes. Anyone want to predict when that will happen?
Attack On Social Security From Children's Advocate
Posted on 03:00 by Unknown
From WNYC:
The president of the Harlem Children Zone said he's on the
college campus circuit to gin up student activism around entitlement
spending. As it is, Geoffrey Canada said, seniors are erasing any chance
for the next generation to have the safety net they will need and
deserve.
"There are a lot of folk who have a lot of money who simply
don't need social
Sunday, 20 October 2013
Partial Shutdown At Social Security Threatned Life Of SC Man
Posted on 08:08 by Unknown
From The State of Columbia, SC:
Saturday almost ushered in David White’s last dose of
Tasigna, a pill he was receiving free of charge to treat his chronic
myeloid leukemia.
The 31-year-old Beaufort resident was
participating in a clinical trial with drug maker Novartis, and he
qualified for more of the $2,300-per-month drug — if he could prove his
date of eligibility for Medicare.
Saturday almost ushered in David White’s last dose of
Tasigna, a pill he was receiving free of charge to treat his chronic
myeloid leukemia.
The 31-year-old Beaufort resident was
participating in a clinical trial with drug maker Novartis, and he
qualified for more of the $2,300-per-month drug — if he could prove his
date of eligibility for Medicare.
Former ALJ, Under Investigation, Attempts Suicide
Posted on 07:36 by Unknown
From the Huntington, WV Herald-Dispatch:
Police are investigating what they called a possible suicide attempt
by a former judge under investigation by a U.S. Senate Committee for
possible fraud in awarding government disability benefits.
David B. Daugherty was found sitting unconcious in his car in a
Barboursville church parking lot about 3:20 p.m. Monday, Barboursville
Police
Police are investigating what they called a possible suicide attempt
by a former judge under investigation by a U.S. Senate Committee for
possible fraud in awarding government disability benefits.
David B. Daugherty was found sitting unconcious in his car in a
Barboursville church parking lot about 3:20 p.m. Monday, Barboursville
Police
Saturday, 19 October 2013
NADE Newsletter
Posted on 07:45 by Unknown
The National Association of Disability Examiners (NADE) has issued its Fall 2013 newsletter, which includes summaries of presentations made at NADE's National Training Conference by two Social Security officials.
Friday, 18 October 2013
COLA Announcement Probably Coming On October 30
Posted on 11:52 by Unknown
Looks like Social Security will be announcing its Cost Of Living Adjustment (COLA) on October 30. It is likely to be 1.5%.
Breaking Bad In Rhode Island
Posted on 06:46 by Unknown
The Associated Press reports that Randolph Hurst of Wesh Warwick, RI has pleaded guilty to various state charges related to identity theft. Hurst was an Assistant District Manager for Social Security. He used his position to obtain personal information which he then used to gain control of a man's stock investments and steal $160,000. Hurst is facing up to 45 years in prison.
Maybe The Right Wing Should Just Lie Low For A Bit
Posted on 06:01 by Unknown
From Michael Hiltzik writing for the Los Angeles Times:
The anti-deficit lobbying organization "Fix the Debt"
staged a question-and-answer chat on Twitter Thursday. Its goal
presumably was to reach America's smartphone-savvy youth with its
message that Social Security and Medicare payments to their grandparents
are going to land them in the poorhouse a few decades from now.
It's
The anti-deficit lobbying organization "Fix the Debt"
staged a question-and-answer chat on Twitter Thursday. Its goal
presumably was to reach America's smartphone-savvy youth with its
message that Social Security and Medicare payments to their grandparents
are going to land them in the poorhouse a few decades from now.
It's
Wednesday, 16 October 2013
More Money For Social Security's Administrative Budget? No ACA Role For SSA Is Certain
Posted on 18:42 by Unknown
Below is language from the bill set to be passed tonight (yes, it's certain to pass) to resolve the government shutdown-debt ceiling crisis:
Of the amounts made available by section 101 for ‘‘Social Security Administration, Limitation on Expenses’’ for the cost associated with continuing disability reviews under titles II and XVI of the Social Security Act and for the cost associated
Who Is Most To Blame For The Government Shutdown?
Posted on 10:36 by Unknown
.ivanC13819449106984{position:absolute;visibility:hidden;}
Free Web poll for your Web site - freepolls.com
Free Web poll for your Web site - freepolls.com
OGC Employees Recalled To Work
Posted on 10:13 by Unknown
I'm hearing that most of Social Security's Office of General Counsel (OGC) has been recalled to work. There's every reason to expect that the government shutdown will be completely over by midnight.
One Social Security Employee's Shutdown Story
Posted on 07:03 by Unknown
CNN reports an a Social Security employee affected by the government shutdown. Dramatic? No, but multiply it by tens of thousands and it's a big deal.
Shutdown Will Soon Be Over
Posted on 06:30 by Unknown
In case you haven't heard the news, the Republicans lost the government shutdown, big time. I don't want to say the Democrats won but the Democrats won. All federal employees should plan on being back at work Thursday. Republicans should put the idea of using a government shutdown or debt ceiling crisis out of their minds FOREVER.
Update: For those who don't understand why I'm saying
ICU Stays Associated With Cognitive Impairment
Posted on 03:00 by Unknown
From the New England Journal of Medicine:
Patients in medical and surgical ICUs are at high risk for long-term
cognitive impairment. A longer duration of delirium in the hospital was
associated with worse global cognition and executive function scores at 3
and 12 months.
Patients in medical and surgical ICUs are at high risk for long-term
cognitive impairment. A longer duration of delirium in the hospital was
associated with worse global cognition and executive function scores at 3
and 12 months.
Tuesday, 15 October 2013
An ALJ With A Plan
Posted on 08:53 by Unknown
Social Security Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) Paul Armstrong has a plan to save Social Security's disability programs that the Washington Examiner has seen fit to publish. Here are the highlights:
Time limited benefits for some people found disabled.
Have someone representing the government at Social Security hearings on disability claims.
More continuing disability reviews.
" Raise the
SSA To Have Role In "Obamacare" Income Verification??
Posted on 06:28 by Unknown
News reports say that one element of an agreement to resolve the government shutdown will be a more extensive income verification process for the insurance subsidies that are a key part of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). To this point, the plan has been to rely upon "available electronic data sources" to verify income. The plan has been that Social Security would not have a role in this
In Fairness To Eric Conn
Posted on 03:00 by Unknown
This wouldn't excuse Eric Conn, if the allegations against him are true, but does this sound familiar?
Non-physician disability examiner whose salary is paid by Social Security completes a residual functional capacity (RFC) form. The disability examiner knows that if the claim is denied, whether rightly or wrongly that it is unlikely to be reviewed any further but that if it's allowed,
Monday, 14 October 2013
Scare Tactics Work -- To Some Extent
Posted on 07:26 by Unknown
From a press release:
Only 31 percent of American adults believe that Social Security will
still be around when they retire, according to a new survey from
FindLaw.com. ...
Not surprisingly, faith in Social
Security rises as people get older. Only 11 percent of people between
the ages of 18 and 24 expect Social Security to still be around when
they retire, But even among
Only 31 percent of American adults believe that Social Security will
still be around when they retire, according to a new survey from
FindLaw.com. ...
Not surprisingly, faith in Social
Security rises as people get older. Only 11 percent of people between
the ages of 18 and 24 expect Social Security to still be around when
they retire, But even among
New Condition For Raising Debt Limit: Raise Social Security Retirement Age?
Posted on 06:04 by Unknown
I have a hard time believing this but BuzzFeed reports that Senator Rand Paul is saying that the retirement age for Social Security should be raised and that Republicans will make this a condition for raising the debt ceiling. Paul is thought to be a candidate for President in 2016. This sounds more like a report from The Onion.
Conn's Troubles Not Playing Well In Kentucky
Posted on 03:00 by Unknown
The Lexington Herald-Leader is calling for the Kentucky Bar Association to take action against embattled attorney Eric Conn, arguing that the recent accusation that he colluded with a Social Security Administrative Law Judge is not the first time that Conn has been in trouble. He had already agreed to stop practicing before the Court of Veterans Appeals because of professional misconduct
Sunday, 13 October 2013
Sequestration At Issue
Posted on 07:26 by Unknown
From Jonathan Karl at ABC:
Democrats are still willing to accept a short-term deal to reopen the
government at sequester spending levels (the Senate, of course, passed a
6-week extension on those terms), but now that talks are centered on
funding the government into 2014, they are insisting on undoing some of
sequester cuts. To Republicans, this is a non-starter, unless the
sequester
Democrats are still willing to accept a short-term deal to reopen the
government at sequester spending levels (the Senate, of course, passed a
6-week extension on those terms), but now that talks are centered on
funding the government into 2014, they are insisting on undoing some of
sequester cuts. To Republicans, this is a non-starter, unless the
sequester
COLA Likely To Be 1.5%
Posted on 07:14 by Unknown
The Cost Of Living Adjustment (COLA) for Social Security is likely to be 1.5% this year.
Saturday, 12 October 2013
Status Of The Shutdown And What It Portends For The Future
Posted on 08:09 by Unknown
Here are a couple of excerpts from pundits, suggesting that we're nearing a solution to the current impasse but that even though Social Security and Medicare are safe, any government benefit that older white voters perceive as going to the undeserving will continue to draw fevered opposition from the GOP:
Jonathan Bernstein writing for the Washington Post:
Republicans do seem to be
Friday, 11 October 2013
Republicans Proposing Benefits Cuts
Posted on 10:16 by Unknown
The Associated Press reports that House Republicans are proposing benefits cuts as a price for reopening the government. The article does not specify Social Security cuts but it's hard to imagine this proposal not including the chained CPI proposal to cut Social Security's Cost Of Living Adjustments (COLA).
NOSSCR Responds To Sixty Minutes
Posted on 08:10 by Unknown
Rebecca Vallas, the Deputy Director of Government Affairs at the National Organization of Social Security Claimants Representatives (NOSSCR), spoke on Counterspin, a project of Fairness and Accuracy In Reporting (FAIR), today to speak about the recent Sixty Minutes story. Vallas details how misleading the Sixty Minutes piece was and argues against legislating by anecdote. Vallas' part of
Arizona DDS Closes Due To Lack Of Federal Money
Posted on 05:50 by Unknown
I don't know how this happened so quietly but the Arizona Disability Determination Service (DDS) was closed on Monday due to the federal government shutdown. We had already heard that the Maine DDS had closed for the same reason. I wonder if there are others we haven't heard about.
Thursday, 10 October 2013
Federal Courts To Shutdown After Next Friday Due To Funding Problems
Posted on 10:56 by Unknown
The Associated Press is reporting that the federal courts will stop all "non-essential work" after October 17 if there is no resolution by then of the government shutdown. Many thousands of Social Security appeals are heard by the federal courts each year. This threatens to put a halt to these reviews.
A Bit Much
Posted on 05:43 by Unknown
I think someone at Social Security's Office of Inspector General got a little carried away, before the shutdown, in writing a press release on the conviction of a Florida woman on fraud charges.
Wednesday, 9 October 2013
COLA Announcement Delayed Due To Government Shutdown
Posted on 13:21 by Unknown
Because of the government shutdown, Social Security will be forced to delay an announcement of the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for this year.
Maine DDS Closes Due To Federal Shutdown
Posted on 10:20 by Unknown
The Maine Disability Determination Service (DDS) has closed because of the federal shutdown. Each state has a DDS. The DDS is a state agency which works under contract with the Social Security Administration (SSA) to do disability determinations at the initial and reconsideration levels. Because of the federal shutdown, SSA no longer has any money to pay for DDS operations. While SSA can
The State Of The Shutdown-Debt Ceiling Crisis
Posted on 08:57 by Unknown
Jonathan Chait has posted a new and insightful piece on the government shutdown-debt ceiling crisis. You should read the whole piece but here's an excerpt:
One way to understand the dysfunction within the Republican Party is to
think of it as a hostage scheme that spun out of control. The plan,
originally formulated by Paul Ryan and other party leaders, involved a
more aggressive
One way to understand the dysfunction within the Republican Party is to
think of it as a hostage scheme that spun out of control. The plan,
originally formulated by Paul Ryan and other party leaders, involved a
more aggressive
Karl Rove Chimes In
Posted on 06:06 by Unknown
There is little continued media attention to the allegations of serious wrongdoing at a Social Security hearing office in Kentucky. However, Karl Rove was on the Bill O'Reilly show to allege that this case demonstrated that there is no protection against fraudulent Social Security disability claims.
More On Eric Conn
Posted on 05:50 by Unknown
The Lexington, KY Herald-Leader reports that Kentucky Bar Association is investigating attorney Eric Conn, who was one of the subjects of a Senate hearing into allegations of wrongdoing at a Social Security hearing office. The local U.S. attorney is not commenting upon whether criminal charges will be brought against Conn. The Herald-Leader also reports that a Kentucky Supreme Court justice
Tuesday, 8 October 2013
Senate Hearing Getting Little Media Attention
Posted on 08:39 by Unknown
Yesterday's Senate hearing on the allegations of fraud at a hearing office in Kentucky has had surprisingly little resonance in the media. Of course, there have been some stories. Here are the links I've found:
Associated Press
Fox NewsGovernment Executive
The government shutdown-debt ceiling mess has crowded out a lot of news. Perhaps, the fact that the hearing ran ridiculously late
Most ODAR Workers To Return To Work
Posted on 06:23 by Unknown
I have heard from multiple sources that most employees of the Office of Disability Adjudication and Review (ODAR) will be returning to work tomorrow. To this point during the shutdown almost all ODAR employees other than the Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) have been furloughed. This meant that hearings were going forward but few decisions could be issued. Also, there was no way to prepare
Monday, 7 October 2013
What Is Alleged
Posted on 13:04 by Unknown
Here is a brief summary of the allegations made at the Senate Homeland Security and Government Operations Committee hearing today with some comments from me in brackets on how these allegations fit into the Social Security Act, regulations and practices:
Eric Conn represented claimants over an area covering the territories of several hearing offices. Conn's clients routinely waived a
Senate Hearing At 3:00
Posted on 11:05 by Unknown
The Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs hearing on Social Security disability benefits is to start at 3:00 EDT. It will be televised on C-SPAN 3. That will be both a cable and a streaming video feed.
Update: It's not on C-SPAN -- they changed their minds about broadcasting it -- but it can be watched on the Committee website.
Vigorous Response To Sixty Minutes
Posted on 10:28 by Unknown
Media Matters has a blog post up concerning the criticism that the Sixty Minutes piece on the Social Security disability programs has received from national disability organizations.
Michael Hiltzik at the Los Angeles Times calls the Sixty Minutes story "shameful." He notes that the Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) who told Sixty Minutes how easy it is to get Social Security
Journalistic Ethics?
Posted on 08:12 by Unknown
Sixty Minutes had Jennifer Griffith and Sarah Carver speaking on camera about the alleged criminal behavior of Eric Conn without mentioning that Griffith and Carver are suing Conn in federal court seeking massive qui tam damages. Shouldn't that detail have been mentioned? Shouldn't Sixty Minutes have also mentioned that the federal government usually takes over meritorious qui tam actions
Why Is Eric Conn Operating Out Of Double Wides If He's Rolling In Dough?
Posted on 07:34 by Unknown
By the way, if Eric Conn has made such vast sums off representing Social Security disability claimants, why is he operating out of double wides? I know that Lincoln statue cost a fair amount of money and I know we're talking about an area where many, many people live in double wides but, still, why wouldn't he be operating out of decent office space if he's rolling in dough?
What The Debt Ceiling Showdown Is About
Posted on 07:06 by Unknown
From Jonathan Chait writing for New York Magazine:
[The Obama Administration sees] the debt-ceiling fight as being mainly about the long-term question of
whether Congress will cement into place the practice of using the debt
ceiling to extort concessions from the president. The price of buying
off a debt-ceiling hike would surely be less than the risk of a default.
But doing so would
[The Obama Administration sees] the debt-ceiling fight as being mainly about the long-term question of
whether Congress will cement into place the practice of using the debt
ceiling to extort concessions from the president. The price of buying
off a debt-ceiling hike would surely be less than the risk of a default.
But doing so would
Didn't Know My Own Strength
Posted on 06:34 by Unknown
There's more at the CBS website on how brave they and Senator Coburn are to buck the powerful "disability industry."
SSA Tells Staff That Benefit Payments Not Assured In Case Debt Ceiling Reached
Posted on 06:15 by Unknown
An Emergency Message sent out by the Social Security Administration to its staff:
Instructions
If a member of the public asks whether their Social
Security payment will be affected if the federal debt ceiling is not
raised, you may give the following response:
“Unlike a federal shutdown which has no impact
on the payment of Social Security benefits, failure to raise the debt
ceiling
Instructions
If a member of the public asks whether their Social
Security payment will be affected if the federal debt ceiling is not
raised, you may give the following response:
“Unlike a federal shutdown which has no impact
on the payment of Social Security benefits, failure to raise the debt
ceiling
Washington Times On Alleged Fraud
Posted on 06:03 by Unknown
The Washington Times has a story on today's scheduled Senate hearing on alleged fraud in the Social Security disability programs. Eric Conn and former Administrative Law Judge David Daugherty are scheduled to testify. There is supposed to be a report released today alleging fraud by these two. Why haven't they been indicted?
Sunday, 6 October 2013
Getting Thrown Under The Bus
Posted on 17:57 by Unknown
The Sixty Minutes piece on the Social Security disability programs has run. It didn't seem fair or balanced to me that what I do for a living was represented solely by Binder & Binder and Eric Conn. I don't think that anyone familiar with this field of legal practice thinks that Binder & Binder (which isn't a law firm anyway) or Eric Conn is representative of Social Security attorneys.
60 Minutes Piece On Social Security Disability Tonight
Posted on 08:07 by Unknown
Sixty Minutes will do a piece tonight on Social Security disability, apparently focusing on allegations of wrongdoing in Puerto Rico and West Virginia, linking those situations to the possible exhaustion of the Disability Insurance Trust Fund in 2016. Expect a fair and balanced report.
@ccd4pwd will do a live tweet fact check on the 60 Minutes story.
Shutdown Roundup
Posted on 07:54 by Unknown
Today's shutdown roundup:
The House of Representatives unanimously passed legislation that would assure furloughed federal workers that they will be paid once the shutdown ends.
The government shutdown didn't just "happen." It was planned. Edwin Meese, believe it or not, led the planning. The Koch brothers are providing lavish funding for the effort which includes threats to Repulicans who
The House of Representatives unanimously passed legislation that would assure furloughed federal workers that they will be paid once the shutdown ends.
The government shutdown didn't just "happen." It was planned. Edwin Meese, believe it or not, led the planning. The Koch brothers are providing lavish funding for the effort which includes threats to Repulicans who
Saturday, 5 October 2013
Boehner Plan: Keep Party Unified A While Longer Before Its Position Collapses
Posted on 07:12 by Unknown
From the New York Times:
The overarching problem for the man at the center of the budget fight [Boehner],
say allies and opponents, is that he and his leadership team have no
real idea how to resolve the fiscal showdown.
They are only trying to survive another day, Republican strategists say,
hoping to maintain unity as long as possible so that when the
Republican position
The overarching problem for the man at the center of the budget fight [Boehner],
say allies and opponents, is that he and his leadership team have no
real idea how to resolve the fiscal showdown.
They are only trying to survive another day, Republican strategists say,
hoping to maintain unity as long as possible so that when the
Republican position
Friday, 4 October 2013
Shutdown News Roundup
Posted on 09:02 by Unknown
A roundup of shutdown related news:
From The Hill: "Everybody's tried to envision [an endgame], but nobody has it yet," said Rep.
Mike Simpson (R-Idaho), an ally of [House Speaker] Boehner. "Honestly, I don't know what
we're going to do.”
North Carolina Disability Determination Services (DDS), which does disability determinations for Social Security, is cancelling consultative
60 Minutes Piece On Social Security Disability Coming On Sunday
Posted on 05:27 by Unknown
From the newsletter of the Association of Administrative Law Judges (AALJ):
This Sunday evening, October 6, the television news show “60 minutes” will air a story regarding the SSA disability adjudication system. AALJ Vice-President, Marilyn Zahm and I were interviewed for over 2 ½ hours by Steve Kroft of “60 minutes”. The interview covered many of the problems judges have experienced
This Sunday evening, October 6, the television news show “60 minutes” will air a story regarding the SSA disability adjudication system. AALJ Vice-President, Marilyn Zahm and I were interviewed for over 2 ½ hours by Steve Kroft of “60 minutes”. The interview covered many of the problems judges have experienced
Thursday, 3 October 2013
ALJ Decisions Will Be Implemented During Shutdown
Posted on 13:39 by Unknown
I am seeing comments saying that no Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) decisions are going to be implemented during the government shutdown. That may be what people are hearing but I don't see how it would be true. Everyone at Social Security's payment centers is working during the shutdown. I don't know what these folks would be doing other than implementing decisions.
This matters. If
Senate Committee Schedules Hearing
Posted on 12:37 by Unknown
A hearing has been scheduled for October 7 at 3:00 before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs on Social
Security Disability Benefits: Did a Group of Judges, Doctors, and
Lawyers Abuse Programs for the Country's Most Vulnerable?
Security Disability Benefits: Did a Group of Judges, Doctors, and
Lawyers Abuse Programs for the Country's Most Vulnerable?
ALJs Still Issuing Decisions For Pipeline Cases -- Also, ALJs May Be Able To Issue Bench Decisions Without Staff
Posted on 11:25 by Unknown
I'm hearing that Social Security Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) may be issuing a fair number of decisions this week but almost all of these are decisions that had been drafted before the government shutdown but not yet been finalized. Of course, that pipeline will soon run dry.
I'm also hearing that even without staff, ALJs may be able to get out bench decisions. This could be a big
That October 17 Deadline You're Hearing Isn't Exactly Accurate
Posted on 06:33 by Unknown
In the media coverage of the government shutdown-debt ceiling crisis one thing keeps bothering me. Reporters keep saying that the government may remain shutdown until we reach the debt ceiling on October 17 and Armageddon will follow. Armageddon will follow if we ever get to the debt ceiling but that's not going to happen while the government is shutdown or at least not on October 17.
Chained CPI Becomes Part Of Shutdown Discussions
Posted on 06:09 by Unknown
Some Republicans think they can get chained CPI which would cut the Cost Of Living Adjustment (COLA) for Social Security recipients as part of a grand bargain to settle the government shutdown and the debt ceiling. I'll believe there is some real chance of this happening when I hear Republicans talking about tax increases.
ESPN Hometown Takes A Hit
Posted on 05:54 by Unknown
Social Security's field office in Bristol, CT is to be closed in January. Local politicians will try to get the decision reversed. ESPN is headquartered in Bristol.
Wednesday, 2 October 2013
Twitter Feed For Social Security News
Posted on 11:21 by Unknown
I may regret this but you can now follow Social Security News on Twitter @SocSecBlog.
Your Government Shutdown News
Posted on 07:07 by Unknown
You can follow the government shutdown news minute by minute by going to the National Review's tweettracker but I can tell you that there's nothing of consequence going on.
Republicans in the House of Representatives are going ahead with small appropriations bills covering a few agencies. The Senate will reject these.
The polls look bad for the Republicans but those most committed to the
Tuesday, 1 October 2013
Shutdown Questions
Posted on 21:01 by Unknown
Some questions about the shutdown, for anyone who can answer them:
What was it like in the office when employees came in Tuesday to be officially told they were furloughed?
Am I correct that the next scheduled payday for most federal employees is October 11? Whatever the date is, it's important. No federal civilian employee gets a paycheck until the shutdown ends, even if they've been
What was it like in the office when employees came in Tuesday to be officially told they were furloughed?
Am I correct that the next scheduled payday for most federal employees is October 11? Whatever the date is, it's important. No federal civilian employee gets a paycheck until the shutdown ends, even if they've been
New Republican Plan
Posted on 11:25 by Unknown
Roll Call is reporting that House Republican leaders are now planning to pass several separate bills to reopen a few government agencies. They have not yet decided which agencies but one would think that the Social Security Administration would get strong consideration.
Update: Democrats seem uninterested in this Republican plan.
Further Update: And now Eric Cantor, the Republican
There Was Also Some Opposition To Social Security
Posted on 06:18 by Unknown
Prepared by a hopeful vendor
From Jeff Shesol writing for the New Yorker, making the comparison between the passage and implementation of the Social Security Act and the Affordable Care Act:
When Congress debated the Social Security bill, in 1935, hysteria on the
right certainly ran high. The business lobby, echoed by its Republican
allies on Capitol Hill, charged Franklin Roosevelt
Lanhee Chen Nominated To SSAB
Posted on 05:43 by Unknown
From the Washington Post:
It seemed like a timely stroke of bipartisanship: the White House
announced Monday, on the eve of a government shutdown, that President
Obama would nominate a top adviser to Republican Mitt Romney's campaign
to an administration position.
Obama intends to nominate Lanhee J. Chen -- the policy director on
Romney's 2012 presidential campaign who, yes,
It seemed like a timely stroke of bipartisanship: the White House
announced Monday, on the eve of a government shutdown, that President
Obama would nominate a top adviser to Republican Mitt Romney's campaign
to an administration position.
Obama intends to nominate Lanhee J. Chen -- the policy director on
Romney's 2012 presidential campaign who, yes,
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