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Post by Deleted on Aug 14, 2013 9:27:22 GMT -5
If you haven't yet, take a second to look at this site. There are some very good ideas being posted that impact ALJ practice. If you agree with an idea, register and vote. If enough people shout about SSI for children, and the Appeals Counsel, maybe things can change. (I know! Overly-optimistic! Naïve! Can't help it!) "I am soliciting your ideas for bold initiatives that demonstrate a dramatic leap forward from the status quo and have the potential to bring about fundamental, not incremental, changes and permanently improve how SSA and government operate. Share your ideas on ways to improve the quality of service we deliver, cut operational costs and transform the way we do business. You may share your ideas online through September 6, 2013. We will consider ideas submitted by August 19, 2013 for submission to the President’s Management Council." ssa1.ideascale.com/
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Post by deltajudge on Aug 15, 2013 21:49:12 GMT -5
8-)What a joke, where do you start? I'll take one, ssi for child's disability. Granted there are a lot of children that qualify for this if they meet the listings. but it only opened the door for fraud and deception. Families and single mothers already drawing welfare and other government benefits. were filing claims for children for "crazy checks." and lying under oath about how their children were misbehaving and doing poorly poorly in school. Of course, if benefits were awarded, the money went into the household, with no protection for the child or any other safeguards. Many legal services reps told me after hearings how wrong it was, and the impact on the children, and how they had tried to talk the parent or parents out of filing. But that is the way it is. And, the sad thing is, it's not gone get any better.
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Post by decadealj on Aug 16, 2013 11:39:15 GMT -5
Maybe Pix, ssaer or someone else with knowledge of the executive headshed might know but I truly wonder whether any management official tracks posts on this blog or the above submissions with any thought of possibly making some very necessary changes to OHA (ODAR) hearing process and procedures. After 50 years of public service in almost a dozen federal agencies (some as a division or department head), it never ceases to amaze me about how little folks inside the beltway, Baltimore or ROs know about what happens in the trenches. They are so wrapped up in policy poo-poo that they can't see the forest because of some self-serving issue (a bonus perhaps) that governs their whole outlook on the process they are paid to manage. Some general ordering a company to move 1000 yards up steep mountain, heavily forested, defended terrain to accomplish an unreasonable objective (guess he forgot his map reading skills) to requiring an ALJ to study a record, hold a hearing and issue a decision in 3 hours (while permitting a lazy rep to dump 1000 pages of VA records the morning of the hearing) is naive at best, negligent at worst, management that only serves to alienate the guy tasked with carrying out the order. And from what I read here, in some regions it is only getting worse. So, if you are bored stiff, submit some suggestions to the meaningless process above!
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Post by sealaw90 on Aug 16, 2013 11:56:05 GMT -5
Decadealj, I have half the experience in a quarter of the federal agencies you do, but what I see is not the almighty dollar that motivates them, it is something far worse - lethargy. I believe they don't even care about the Beltway policy pooh they sit all day in. The attitude I have seen displayed in all of its unbelievable glory is "I've reached the top, now I can sit on my rear and contemplate the fuzz in my navel all day and get paid a crapload of money." I have had supervisors tell me to wait while they read the sports section, even though I was in the middle of litigation that they needed to be briefed on. Really? The priorities of the mission move to the way-way back seat once they reach to management. I see them work on their own estate planning, parental day care issues, reading the newspaper at their desk, etc. I makes me sick because of the air they consume in the office while I am gasping for air between all of crap in my in-box. However, when alerted to these stupid survey-things, I respond to every survey, vote 'thumbs up or down' for any initiative, etc. I view it like my obligation to vote in a presidential election - if I didn't vote, then I can't complain about the winner. Silly and optimistic, I may be, but what the heck!!!
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Post by Deleted on Aug 20, 2013 7:20:46 GMT -5
I get the frustration, I really do. But, I refuse to believe that things can't be changed fot the better. There are too many people in the system who want to fix problems, rather than watch them ferment indefintely. I've recieved 16 votes and several comments on my idea to strengthen the concept of "good cause" for missing a hearing. When you consider the waste of resources when a claimant fails to appear, and the AC sends it back so the claimant can fail to appear a second time, it should be clear it's a good idea. The Agency's duty to assist should not always trump the claimant's duty to participate. The idea to eliminate SSI payments to children, essentially making the program medicaid only, has gotten nearly 300 votes so far.
So, even if it is meaningless, I'm going to participate anyway.
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Post by decadealj on Aug 20, 2013 8:21:06 GMT -5
robg- good luck. I certainly agree that there are many dedicated professionals who could and would fix the problems. But alas they aren't welcome by management. If Dave Hatfield (an outstanding retired ALJ who started as a claims rep in OHA, and served in every capacity known to OHA) couldn't get things fixed, I don't see how anyone else can. Just my take on the process and maybe as bad as the budget situation is getting you will succeed.
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Post by sealaw90 on Aug 20, 2013 8:26:54 GMT -5
I'd love to vote robg, but the stupid website has not 'verified' my government email address in the days since I tried, so I cannot register to vote. is this how everything works at SSA???
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Post by moopigsdad on Aug 20, 2013 8:29:22 GMT -5
Bureaucracies live to confound others!
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Post by Deleted on Aug 20, 2013 13:33:53 GMT -5
I'd love to vote robg, but the stupid website has not 'verified' my government email address in the days since I tried, so I cannot register to vote. is this how everything works at SSA??? Hmm.. You know, when I tried to use my home e-mail I got the same response. But, when I used my SSA e-mail it went straight through. Is the site just for SSA employees? I think that it may be that you're being discriminated against because you haven't been hired yet!
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Post by sealaw90 on Aug 21, 2013 9:17:36 GMT -5
Absolutely!! Discrimination, that's the ticket!! Because I have a .mil work email and can't gain access to place votes, SSA has something against veterans! Fun to play "conspiracy theory", isn't it robg. LOL! BTW - mpd, I LOVE bureaucracy - I wouldn't have a job if we did away with it!
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Post by moopigsdad on Aug 21, 2013 9:40:39 GMT -5
Absolutely!! Discrimination, that's the ticket!! Because I have a .mil work email and can't gain access to place votes, SSA has something against veterans! Fun to play "conspiracy theory", isn't it robg. LOL! BTW - mpd, I LOVE bureaucracy - I wouldn't have a job if we did away with it! I didn't say I don't like bureaucracies, I just said they live to confound. Without the confusion caused by bureaucracies I wouldn't have a job either. LOL!
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Post by decadealj on Aug 21, 2013 9:58:15 GMT -5
yes- but just think what government could accomplish if taxpayers got their moneys worth!
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Post by moopigsdad on Aug 21, 2013 10:02:45 GMT -5
yes- but just think what government could accomplish if taxpayers got their moneys worth! decadealj I am not going to take the bait. I could make a statement, but I won't.
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Post by sealaw90 on Aug 21, 2013 15:03:33 GMT -5
yes- but just think what government could accomplish if taxpayers got their moneys worth! I drank the Cool-aid a long time ago and believe in accomplishing my agency's mission, or my office's mission, or at least not trying to waste taxpayer dollars. We could accomplish a lot, but remember, we've got lots of *smart* folks in the West Wing and Congress claiming they know what the taxpayers want us to do. Don't take this as my political jab at anybody, but I sometimes wonder two things: 1) Do taxpayers REALLY know how we spend our budgets (some good stuff, but some really stupid stuff too) and 2) Does anybody ever listen to the average taxpayer anyway? Despite all that, I am still a 'glass half full' person and do honestly want the government to accomplish the narrow mission it was entrusted with. So if you can vote on these propositions on the website, I say go for it!
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Post by chinook on Aug 21, 2013 15:08:44 GMT -5
What does this have to do with the process of becoming an ALJ?
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Post by decadealj on Aug 21, 2013 15:32:11 GMT -5
chinook- I digressed- just following the thread. And I wasn't trying to bait anyone- to me and I believe most other long term government employees, government fraud, waste and abuse is res ipsa loquitor.
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Post by chinook on Aug 21, 2013 15:53:01 GMT -5
It was not directed at you or anyone else, I just think the whole thread is out of place on this board.
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Post by bartleby on Aug 21, 2013 16:26:47 GMT -5
chinook, considering this is an ALJ Discussion Forum and I received this from another ALJ today, I consider it appropriate. This Board isn't only about hiring. This is what I received:
"If you agree with the Five Steps to Improve the Disability Hearing Process I proposed to Congress in my testimony on June 27, 2013 Vote for them by clicking on the link below (Idea 1517) – The more positive votes the more likely they will be adopted. There are many other excellent recommendations that should be adopted by SSA. Make your voice heard – Vote! I could not present to Congress all the excellent ideas I was given – Post them on the President’s Management Agenda now. This is an opportunity to be heard."
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Post by chinook on Aug 21, 2013 16:50:38 GMT -5
I will not get into a p**ing contest but back in May 2007 the purpose was stated to be "This board was created to promote the civilized exchange of information related to ALJ hiring" While I realize a lot of SSA only info and discussion has taken place, but this directs you to another site and in my view goes too far beyond the reason most come here. Just my 2 cents.
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Post by bartleby on Aug 21, 2013 17:04:35 GMT -5
Chinook, sorry, I never knew, "This board was created to promote the civilized exchange of information related to ALJ hiring after the trolls infested the old board (aka TOB) back in 2007." I guess I have overstepped the boundries many times. I should go back and remove all of them about the union, insurance, work problems and everything else I have posted. I guess I have no need for this board anymore since I have already been hired. Signing off, Bartleby.
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