|
Post by funkyodar on Jul 16, 2013 9:56:37 GMT -5
I've been with ODAR for the past 4 years. The first 2 as a AA the last 2 as an SAA. From day one, the goals of decreasing the backlog and the average processing time have been pounded into my brain. From quickly moving "aged" cases to the constant harping on dispositional "goals," all I ever got from management was essentially "move more and more quickly." Lip service was given to "writing quality decisions" but it was those high number folks that got the accolades not the slower but more thorough writers.
Commissioners and Deputy Commisioners routinely basked in congressional glory as they touted the progress made against the backlog and in decreasing the average processing time. Sure there were the occasional naysayers who felt the admin was merely "paying down the backlog" and quality was suffering at the expense of quantity. But the directives and goals remained unthwarted.
There is now a disturbance in the force. Over the last couple of months we have seen the following:
1. the creation of whole new levels of quality review of decisions 2. the death of the VSU 3. the death of informal remands 4. the neutering of senior attorney authority to find and dispose of otr cases 5. the proclamation that we will not have "monthly dispositional goals" beginning next fiscal year with focus turning more to individual employee performance reviews regarding the case processing benchmarks and quality 6. the failure to fill 90 plus alj vacancies 7. the indication that there will likely be little or no alj hiring in fiscal 2014 despite pretty solid evidence that up to 200 aljs may retire in that year. A number that, when added to the existing vacancies, means a 20% reductionin the alj corps.
These changes have been made ubder the guise of increasing quality and as necessary due to budgetary constraints. I don't doubt that each of those play some part in the changes.
However, these changes will have a couple unquestioned and I think intended consequences. The number of dispositions will be dramatically lower increasing the backlog in leaps and bounds. Second, with fewer people to find cases eligible for otr payment a lot more cases will need hearings from a drastically reduced number of aljs. Thus, average processing time will dramatically increase.
These negative effects will undoubtedly anger claimants who will then harass their congressman. Which is what I think the admin powers that be want. Theyintend to tank the game then throw it back on congress for failing to properly budget for success.
It's pure political gamesmanship and were ODAR employees and claimants are the pawns.
|
|
|
Post by JudgeRatty on Jul 16, 2013 10:14:24 GMT -5
Amen funky! The backlog will for sure increase as we slow down for more quality with less staff. Yep, game on.
|
|
|
Post by moopigsdad on Jul 16, 2013 10:22:49 GMT -5
In the end, when push comes to shove, money will be found to hire more ALJs and staff. The one thing a Congressman will not want to explain is the fact that a claimant is taking forever to get a chance at SSA disability benefits again. With a Congressional election taking place in 2014 they will not want to have a bunch of angry constituents in their districts. I think if more ALJs retire and leave as suggested on this Board in the past, there will indeed be hiring of replacements for at least 1/2 if not more of them.
|
|
|
Post by funkyodar on Jul 16, 2013 10:32:06 GMT -5
In the end, when push comes to shove, money will be found to hire more ALJs and staff. The one thing a Congressman will not want to explain is the fact that a claimant is taking forever to get a chance at SSA disability benefits again. With a Congressional election taking place in 2014 they will not want to have a bunch of angry constituents in their districts. I think if more ALJs retire and leave as suggested on this Board in the past, there will indeed be hiring of replacements for at least 1/2 if not more of them. I hope you're right MPD. And I hope to be one of those hires. Still, workingin an agency that appears to be determined to slit its own wrists is not going to be pleasant. When the definition of sucessfuly doing your job is suddenly switched and things that once garnered praise now garners reprimand...well, that is funked up. We've dealt with limited hiring and pay freezes while continously being asked to accomplish more. That's par for the course. But to now know that managementis actually rooting for "failure" and willing to sacrafice employees to get it? Gonna be a rough couple of years playing cya on a huge scale.
|
|
|
Post by christina on Jul 16, 2013 11:10:44 GMT -5
? on SAA neutering authority? Has a final decision been made to end SAA adjudication? I thought we were still waiting. it seems and I being very tactful here to be taking a very long time to figure this one out but I did not think it was over, yet.... Do u know something I don't? and huh? on dispo goals? For who??? ALJ's? offices? I had no idea on that one. please elaborate. send me pm if necessary. Funky, u have connections and knowledge that I don't. and as I assume u saw yesterday, there is some new thing starting in October that has some vague ties to what will soon be the defunct VSU( ) at least as far as identifying cases. if not, check ur e-mail.
|
|
|
Post by christina on Jul 16, 2013 11:11:12 GMT -5
and when did I become a forum elder??? uh, ok....
|
|
|
Post by funkyodar on Jul 16, 2013 11:26:31 GMT -5
? on SAA neutering authority? Has a final decision been made to end SAA adjudication? I thought we were still waiting. it seems and I being very tactful here to be taking a very long time to figure this one out but I did not think it was over, yet.... Do u know something I don't? and on dispo goals? For who??? ALJ's? offices? I had no idea on that one. please elaborate. send me pm if necessary. Funky, u have connections and knowledge that I don't. and as I assume u saw yesterday, there is some new thing starting in October that has some vague ties to what will soon be the defunct VSU( ) at least as far as identifying cases. if not, check ur e-mail. Christina, Regarding the SSA what info I have comes from the alj phone conference with Sklar and the past talk and emails like the solicitation yesterday for the saa pilot program. From what I have heard the vsuis dead and this new pilot program will only be 4 or so saa that review dart reports to find cases they think could be otr. Ant they find they then send to the case originating odar's saa. If that saa agrees the case can be otr. Other than those cases saa will not be reviewing anymore. There has been some mention that office management can ask an saa to rev critical cases, cases with a congressional inquiry and some cases where the rep requested otr review and new evidence has been submitted, but that will be few and far between. We still technically have our signing authority, we just won't get to use it very often. They are actually also considering capping the total number of nationwide otrs that can be done in a year at some small % of total expected dispositions but that is still being debated. As to goals, we were told at last months staff meeting by our hocalj that had attended the hocalj conference that we would no longer have monthly dispositional goals starting next fiscal year. Instead everyone from case techs thru writers to aljs will be monitored individually in regard to the cpms case processing benchmarks. Soinstead of one angry emeail to the hod about not makin goal region will send multiple emails about how john doe writer had a case 8 days or joe judge didn't move his edits timely. You know, typical escalation of standard micromanagement practices.
|
|
|
Post by funkyodar on Jul 16, 2013 11:30:14 GMT -5
I partially disagree. The totality of the weekly/monthly goals were in conflict with OCALJ's state goal for each judge to issue 500-700 dispositions per year. OCALJ would pay lip service to ALJ's deciding 500 cases per year, yet the region would jack the goal well beyond 500. As of now, there is still a goal, the 500-700. If each judge does that, the numbers should work out for themselves. However, those who know the workings of the agency know that the stated reason for change in policy is never the actual reason for change in policy. As for VSU and SR atty, we cant hire right now, back to writing you go. When we can hire again, I bet both programs resume as they were. The info we were given regarding goals I don't think was related to the 500 to 700 alj disposition expectation. Maybe that is on the table too. But I know the office dispositional monthly goals are gone effective october.
|
|
|
Post by funkyodar on Jul 16, 2013 11:35:19 GMT -5
Further, with less judges and very few otrs by saa, even if all jduges knock the high end of the 500 to 700 expectation, there is no way to stem the tide and stop the backlog or processing time from dramtically increasing. The number of appsisn't going down. But the number of people with the ability to dispose of them is. That's math even a congressional budget staffer can grasp.
|
|
|
Post by JudgeRatty on Jul 16, 2013 12:19:33 GMT -5
? on SAA neutering authority? Has a final decision been made to end SAA adjudication? I thought we were still waiting. it seems and I being very tactful here to be taking a very long time to figure this one out but I did not think it was over, yet.... Do u know something I don't? and on dispo goals? For who??? ALJ's? offices? I had no idea on that one. please elaborate. send me pm if necessary. Funky, u have connections and knowledge that I don't. and as I assume u saw yesterday, there is some new thing starting in October that has some vague ties to what will soon be the defunct VSU( ) at least as far as identifying cases. if not, check ur e-mail. Christina, Regarding the SSA what info I have comes from the alj phone conference with Sklar and the past talk and emails like the solicitation yesterday for the saa pilot program. From what I have heard the vsuis dead and this new pilot program will only be 4 or so saa that review dart reports to find cases they think could be otr. Ant they find they then send to the case originating odar's saa. If that saa agrees the case can be otr. Other than those cases saa will not be reviewing anymore. There has been some mention that office management can ask an saa to rev critical cases, cases with a congressional inquiry and some cases where the rep requested otr review and new evidence has been submitted, but that will be few and far between. We still technically have our signing authority, we just won't get to use it very often. They are actually also considering capping the total number of nationwide otrs that can be done in a year at some small % of total expected dispositions but that is still being debated. As to goals, we were told at last months staff meeting by our hocalj that had attended the hocalj conference that we would no longer have monthly dispositional goals starting next fiscal year. Instead everyone from case techs thru writers to aljs will be monitored individually in regard to the cpms case processing benchmarks. Soinstead of one angry emeail to the hod about not makin goal region will send multiple emails about how john doe writer had a case 8 days or joe judge didn't move his edits timely. You know, typical escalation of standard micromanagement practices. That pilot program....if you are interested read carefully, I think flexiplace is not available during the detail. If that is the one you are talking about ...the email we all got 2 days ago. Hopefully, we will all be going to DC for ALJ training and will not be available.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 16, 2013 12:25:30 GMT -5
and when did I become a forum elder??? uh, ok.... LOL on your 100th post! Congrats!
|
|
|
Post by JudgeRatty on Jul 16, 2013 12:39:27 GMT -5
and when did I become a forum elder??? uh, ok.... LOL on your 100th post! Congrats! I think we are a talkative opinionated yet helpful bunch. LOL!
|
|
|
Post by funkyodar on Jul 16, 2013 12:40:30 GMT -5
Christina, Regarding the SSA what info I have comes from the alj phone conference with Sklar and the past talk and emails like the solicitation yesterday for the saa pilot program. From what I have heard the vsuis dead and this new pilot program will only be 4 or so saa that review dart reports to find cases they think could be otr. Ant they find they then send to the case originating odar's saa. If that saa agrees the case can be otr. Other than those cases saa will not be reviewing anymore. There has been some mention that office management can ask an saa to rev critical cases, cases with a congressional inquiry and some cases where the rep requested otr review and new evidence has been submitted, but that will be few and far between. We still technically have our signing authority, we just won't get to use it very often. They are actually also considering capping the total number of nationwide otrs that can be done in a year at some small % of total expected dispositions but that is still being debated. As to goals, we were told at last months staff meeting by our hocalj that had attended the hocalj conference that we would no longer have monthly dispositional goals starting next fiscal year. Instead everyone from case techs thru writers to aljs will be monitored individually in regard to the cpms case processing benchmarks. Soinstead of one angry emeail to the hod about not makin goal region will send multiple emails about how john doe writer had a case 8 days or joe judge didn't move his edits timely. You know, typical escalation of standard micromanagement practices. That pilot program....if you are interested read carefully, I think flexiplace is not available during the detail. If that is the one you are talking about ...the email we all got 2 days ago. Hopefully, we will all be going to DC for ALJ training and will not be available. Right. Who in their right mind would volunteer for such? TELL THEM WHAT THEY'VE WON! No more working at home. You also get to be one of four souls responsible for looking at every flippin casein the whole system. You will be the bullseye of the saa programthat's the slings and arrows target de jour of national mangement. AND, maybe a beautiful three day trip to lovely downtown st louis.
|
|
|
Post by JudgeRatty on Jul 16, 2013 12:42:11 GMT -5
LOL! Yep, the Price in NOT Right!
|
|
|
Post by christina on Jul 16, 2013 12:59:12 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by hopefalj on Jul 16, 2013 13:08:06 GMT -5
That pilot program....if you are interested read carefully, I think flexiplace is not available during the detail. If that is the one you are talking about ...the email we all got 2 days ago. Hopefully, we will all be going to DC for ALJ training and will not be available. Right. Who in their right mind would volunteer for such? TELL THEM WHAT THEY'VE WON! No more working at home. You also get to be one of four souls responsible for looking at every flippin casein the whole system. You will be the bullseye of the saa programthat's the slings and arrows target de jour of national mangement. AND, maybe a beautiful three day trip to lovely downtown st louis. Not much of a gambler, eh? I mean, suppose you do an incredible job (ignore the likelihood that the job description is so vague that it's difficult to ascertain what a mn incredible job would be--I say likelihood because I haven't seen the email yet). How better to show management that you're a go-getter and a team player? Can't wait to see what the job description looks like.
|
|
|
Post by moopigsdad on Jul 16, 2013 13:20:28 GMT -5
Right. Who in their right mind would volunteer for such? TELL THEM WHAT THEY'VE WON! No more working at home. You also get to be one of four souls responsible for looking at every flippin casein the whole system. You will be the bullseye of the saa programthat's the slings and arrows target de jour of national mangement. AND, maybe a beautiful three day trip to lovely downtown st louis. Not much of a gambler, eh? I mean, suppose you do an incredible job (ignore the likelihood that the job description is so vague that it's difficult to ascertain what a mn incredible job would be--I say likelihood because I haven't seen the email yet). How better to show management that you're a go-getter and a team player? Can't wait to see what the job description looks like. Well that and a few bucks will buy you a cup of coffee. It isn't going to get you an ALJ position. It is likely to give you more work and a headache, but less flexibility. Everyone has their own goals, but I can't play the game because I am not a SSA insider. Hence, I can only speak as an outsider who has seen SSA grind up and spit out some very good people over the years, including some ALJs I know. Innovation isn't always for the good. Look at how many people now cannot live without their cell phone. Yet, in years past, when no cell phone existed people got along just fine and probably communicated even better (in person or by telephone) rather than the impersonal text or email.
|
|
|
Post by funkyodar on Jul 16, 2013 13:26:49 GMT -5
Right. Who in their right mind would volunteer for such? TELL THEM WHAT THEY'VE WON! No more working at home. You also get to be one of four souls responsible for looking at every flippin casein the whole system. You will be the bullseye of the saa programthat's the slings and arrows target de jour of national mangement. AND, maybe a beautiful three day trip to lovely downtown st louis. Not much of a gambler, eh? I mean, suppose you do an incredible job (ignore the likelihood that the job description is so vague that it's difficult to ascertain what a mn incredible job would be--I say likelihood because I haven't seen the email yet). How better to show management that you're a go-getter and a team player? Can't wait to see what the job description looks like. That may be hope. But under the totality of the circumstancesit appears the team that the powers that be want saas to play for is some other one and all you will "go get" is sucker punched. Think about it, if you do an "excellent" job and find a ton of otr cases you are going against the aparent battle plan of the agency in reducing the # of otrs. If you do an "excellent" job and up quality at the expense of quantity and then this little game of political poker ends with congressional mandates to agin focus on the backlog then you are the perfect scapegoat for why this new pilot program failed and a return to the old turn and burn is necessary. I'm a gambler, but not an idiot. A lose lose situation is pretty easy to spot. In the current agency climate, in my opinion now is not the time to want to "stand out" to management. Those at the front of the pack arein just as much danger as those at the back. The smart moneyis to batten down and stay with the herd till this storm of stupidity passes. Just my own funky opinion.
|
|
|
Post by hopefalj on Jul 16, 2013 14:25:06 GMT -5
Not much of a gambler, eh? I mean, suppose you do an incredible job (ignore the likelihood that the job description is so vague that it's difficult to ascertain what a mn incredible job would be--I say likelihood because I haven't seen the email yet). How better to show management that you're a go-getter and a team player? Can't wait to see what the job description looks like. That may be hope. But under the totality of the circumstancesit appears the team that the powers that be want saas to play for is some other one and all you will "go get" is sucker punched. Think about it, if you do an "excellent" job and find a ton of otr cases you are going against the aparent battle plan of the agency in reducing the # of otrs. If you do an "excellent" job and up quality at the expense of quantity and then this little game of political poker ends with congressional mandates to agin focus on the backlog then you are the perfect scapegoat for why this new pilot program failed and a return to the old turn and burn is necessary. I'm a gambler, but not an idiot. A lose lose situation is pretty easy to spot. In the current agency climate, in my opinion now is not the time to want to "stand out" to management. Those at the front of the pack arein just as much danger as those at the back. The smart moneyis to batten down and stay with the herd till this storm of stupidity passes. Just my own funky opinion. Ah, agency-induced paranoia. Like i said, i haven't seen the announcement, but I get your point and likely have no intention of pursuing the opportunity. However, if you are that concerned with keeping your head down, you might want to reconsider starting threads like this one. ;-) MPD, I agree that doing well at the job isn't going to guarantee you an ALJ spot, but if you did well at it, it would certainly help your chances should you be lucky enough to land on a cert. Progressing through SSA, like just about every other organization in the world, is often contingent on impressing the right people. It's been said innumerable times on this board and shown on previous certificates that ODAR management finds ways to reach people they like on a cert.
|
|
|
Post by Malice Aforethought on Jul 16, 2013 14:33:28 GMT -5
When you are all referring to the SAA pilot program, are you referring to the regional postings for Quality Review Specialists? Or are you talking about an emailed detail that just went out to SAA?
|
|