Reference check and 3 strike

[allrise]

A coworker with a very high score has been on several certs. She was told by someone who has access to discovery documents that she was 3 striked. When she made the first cert, her references were called. Thereafter, no calls were made. One of her references told her this morning that he was called about her. Any opinions on whether she will actually be considered this time.

[HogsFan]

Jun 7, 2010 9:58:36 GMT -5 allrise said:

A coworker with a very high score has been on several certs. She was told by someone who has access to discovery documents that she was 3 striked. When she made the first cert, her references were called. Thereafter, no calls were made. One of her references told her this morning that he was called about her. Any opinions on whether she will actually be considered this time.

My husband has been on several certs and has been told that he is in the three-strike category. When the last cert was issued (the one before the current cert), he received a call from an investigator. The investigator told him that he was making "pre-offer verifications." My husband thought this meant he would be receiving an offer. That was not the case. I believe that SS goes through all of the motions even though those hit with three strikes will never receive an offer.

[privateatty]

Jun 7, 2010 15:20:16 GMT -5 HogsFan said:

Jun 7, 2010 9:58:36 GMT -5 allrise said:

A coworker with a very high score has been on several certs. She was told by someone who has access to discovery documents that she was 3 striked. When she made the first cert, her references were called. Thereafter, no calls were made. One of her references told her this morning that he was called about her. Any opinions on whether she will actually be considered this time.

My husband has been on several certs and has been told that he is in the three-strike category. When the last cert was issued (the one before the current cert), he received a call from an investigator. The investigator told him that he was making "pre-offer verifications." My husband thought this meant he would be receiving an offer. That was not the case. I believe that SS goes through all of the motions even though those hit with three strikes will never receive an offer.

I thought this was barred by the 8th Amendment. And you don't even know what the crime is.

[spirit]

If you are in the three strike group are you out of consideration for life? or only until the next register? I am wondering if it makes sense for those who have been on 3 certs and probably belong to the three strike club to try again when the register reopens.

[oldschool]

my guess is that you remain 3 striked unless some information comes to their attention to give you fresh consideration

[privateatty]

Jun 7, 2010 19:12:47 GMT -5 spirit said:

If you are in the three strike group are you out of consideration for life? or only until the next register? I am wondering if it makes sense for those who have been on 3 certs and probably belong to the three strike club to try again when the register reopens.

In reference to this and the post above this, it does make sense to go through the OPM application and interview process again, if for no other reason than to raise your score and be available to other Agencies and certs. That happened to this pilgrim.

As to how to get fresh consideration, only OCALJ/SSA knows. They are free to continue to ignore you or to consider you. If information were to come to their attention that you are absolutely capable of hearing 700 cases a year or that you know more SSDI law than anyone, maybe. More likely you know someone well placed whom you can become indebted to.

[counsel]

Also remember, just because you have been on 3 certs and not selected does not mean you were 3 striked. People are picked up after being on 3 certs, at least on occasion.

[privateatty]

Jun 8, 2010 7:28:52 GMT -5 counsel said:

Also remember, just because you have been on 3 certs and not selected does not mean you were 3 striked. People are picked up after being on 3 certs, at least on occasion.

Yes, there is a huge difference in being passed over and being thrice struck. That point has been driven home in past posts.

[roggenbier]

Does everybody whose been on a cert and it's over a year since they last had a reference check, are they the ones getting the calls?

[happyhawaiian]

A couple of my references were called yesterday and they were asked if I was capable of handling 500 cases per year rather than the 700 that was mentioned earlier and in the sample questions in another thread. My references said that the other questions were pretty much the same as the sample questions.

[jerseygirl]

If you are "three struck," does it matter that in the first two certs only one of your references was contacted and on the current cert. they are all being contacted? Would that mean possibly becoming unstruck or just piecemeal background checks? Has anyone ever appealed on the grounds that only one reference was called before being three struck?

[decadealj]

I was just called as a reference and the interviewer again said 500-700. Stock response: if anyone can, she can.

[privateatty]

Jun 10, 2010 12:40:28 GMT -5 jerseygirl said:

If you are "three struck," does it matter that in the first two certs only one of your references was contacted and on the current cert. they are all being contacted? Would that mean possibly becoming unstruck or just piecemeal background checks? Has anyone ever appealed on the grounds that only one reference was called before being three struck?

The cw is that if you are thrice struck that is it as far as the striker--SSA--will take you. It has been confirmed that those who have been so struck have had their references checked again on subsequent certs, on the theory that they just give "the list" to the contractors for contacting--those truly in the running and those whom have been struck. The obvious consequence of folks getting their hopes up (again) is of no concern.

Now I don't know any of this for certain, I'm just a student of this Board. However, I have yet to see any information that contradicts this.

For those of you who read this and their hearts sink, you have my (and I know others) sympathies.

[northwest]

OK, so here's my theory. They 3 strike a high scorer because for whatever reason they are concerned about whether the person will get the job done, will be loyal, diligent, or whatever. But later down the road, there's a couple new high-scoring candidates they have even more concerns about, and the only way to get rid of them is to stick Mr. or Ms. Previously 3-struck back in the mix because s/he no longer looks so bad. S/he has been un-3-struck! (Who, but readers of this Board, would recognize that as a valid verb?)

My theory makes sense if you assume maximum manipulation of who is on the 3-candidate list for any given location to achieve the desired result (hiring candidates SSA deems most palatable). If you buy into my theory, you won't despair even if you have reason to believe you've been 3-struck (unless you know that you could never be chosen because you've overly dissed SSA on this Board and they've found out who you are).

[lawdog98]

Or wore a kilt to the interview.

(that must have been it, I knew I should not have packed that kilt)

(damn implusiveness)

[71stretch]

I would not dare speculate on that. I would think the interview counts more than that, so that it's just the luck of the draw whose references are checked first.

[bygrace4life]

I am glad you asked the question but I shudder at the thought. I have already interviewed but none of my references have been contacted and I am, therfore, very concerned.

[privateatty]

Jun 11, 2010 21:16:59 GMT -5 bygrace4life said:

I am glad you asked the question but I shudder at the thought. I have already interviewed but none of my references have been contacted and I am, therfore, very concerned.

This issue has been discussed ad nauseum in prior threads and posts.

There is no rhyme nor reason in how and when the references are checked. There has been a plethora of angst expended on: "OMG, my references haven't been called!"
Don't call your references, have a little faith in the system. There's a whole lotta callin' goin' on...

Can you exert any control over this scenario? No.