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Post by 71stretch on Sept 30, 2013 11:32:07 GMT -5
I had to sign a waiver as well -- end of August. Wonder if more of us signed waivers for the SI than those who did not. Maybe they couldn't find enough private attorneys to do all the weeks. Should someone start a new poll to entertain us while we wait? Please. No.
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Post by moopigsdad on Sept 30, 2013 12:39:04 GMT -5
Should someone start a new poll to entertain us while we wait? Please. No. I am with obswerver53 on this one. I don't think we need a poll about signing waivers for the SI or not.
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Post by hopefalj on Sept 30, 2013 12:45:40 GMT -5
In 2010, I had to sign the same waiver. I sometimes wonder if 2 person panels end up being the majority. I fully expect to sign a waiver again this week. I certainly hope so. Not so much because I want you to have an abnormal panel, but because I'd like all of you scheduled this week to be able to complete phase three with minimal interference.
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Post by chessparent on Sept 30, 2013 12:46:01 GMT -5
For what its worth-I only had two as well. An ALJ and OPM person and my SI was a lifetime ago, back in late August 2013, long before threats of shutting down.
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Post by lildavey on Sept 30, 2013 13:48:30 GMT -5
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Post by ALJD on Sept 30, 2013 15:05:32 GMT -5
I just heard from a reliable source that SSA ALJs have been directed to only hold hearings and decide cases if there is a shutdown. Details to OPM along with other non-hearing duties, such as new ALJ training, will be cancelled as non-essential duty.
Not sure if it's really true or not. But it would be in accord with the publicized SSA shutdown plan. Good luck to all.
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Post by 71stretch on Sept 30, 2013 15:11:48 GMT -5
I just heard from a reliable source that SSA ALJs have been directed to only hold hearings and decide cases if there is a shutdown. Details to OPM along with other non-hearing duties, such as new ALJ training, will be cancelled as non-essential duty. Not sure if it's really true or not. But it would be in accord with the publicized SSA shutdown plan. Good luck to all. If "detail to OPM" includes SI's, that's not good news.
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Post by moopigsdad on Sept 30, 2013 15:14:17 GMT -5
I just heard from a reliable source that SSA ALJs have been directed to only hold hearings and decide cases if there is a shutdown. Details to OPM along with other non-hearing duties, such as new ALJ training, will be cancelled as non-essential duty. Not sure if it's really true or not. But it would be in accord with the publicized SSA shutdown plan. Good luck to all. Thank you for the information ALJD. It is not the information many wanted to hear, but it is useful to those who had no idea what to expect.
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Post by mcb on Sept 30, 2013 15:19:27 GMT -5
I just heard from a reliable source that SSA ALJs have been directed to only hold hearings and decide cases if there is a shutdown. Details to OPM along with other non-hearing duties, such as new ALJ training, will be cancelled as non-essential duty. Not sure if it's really true or not. But it would be in accord with the publicized SSA shutdown plan. Good luck to all. If "detail to OPM" includes SI's, that's not good news. ALJs received a letter (email) from Judge Bice this morning stating that we can only do essential function/duties, and nothing else, during a shutdown. Those duties are holding hearings and deciding cases.
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Post by 71stretch on Sept 30, 2013 15:23:17 GMT -5
If "detail to OPM" includes SI's, that's not good news. ALJs received a letter (email) from Judge Bice this morning stating that we can only do essential function/duties, and nothing else, during a shutdown. Those duties are holding hearings and deciding cases. That's what I would assume, too. Given that SSA ALJs, I suspect, are critical to the ALJ portion of an SI panel, and they aren't going to find private practice lawyers on short notice to do a 2 person panel with OPM, I'm thinking we are in trouble.
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Post by workdrone on Sept 30, 2013 15:32:37 GMT -5
Ob53,
For SI panel composition, an ALJ & OPM member are mandatory. The private atty is the waivable part. So the whole process is in trouble if there aren't enough ALJs to go around.
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Post by papresqr on Sept 30, 2013 15:36:41 GMT -5
Guess those at OPM who gave everybody assurances last week never bothered to check with SSA first. I hope for the sake of those who relied on OPM and made the trip that something gives. Although I'm not very hopeful at this point.
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Post by mcb on Sept 30, 2013 15:45:29 GMT -5
I believe there may have been a retired ALJ on my panel. DC is an area where there prolly are quite a few retired ALJs.
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Post by 71stretch on Sept 30, 2013 15:47:51 GMT -5
I believe there may have been a retired ALJ on my panel. DC is an area where there prolly are quite a few retired ALJs. True. But, they aren't likely to drop their plans and come running on short notice if they were not previously scheduled. They might help next week, or thereafter. But tomorrow and the rest of this week? Workdrone, , I'm sure you are right.. I had forgotten about the particulars of the waiver. Wonder what the odds are of SIs beng rescheduled in, say, SFO for us westerners that form the bulk of the ones left to be tested... no, I know, that makes too much sense.
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Post by moopigsdad on Sept 30, 2013 15:53:03 GMT -5
I believe there may have been a retired ALJ on my panel. DC is an area where there prolly are quite a few retired ALJs. True. But, they aren't likely to drop their plans and come running on short notice if they were not previously scheduled. They might help next week, or thereafter. But tomorrow and the rest of this week? Workdrone, , I'm sure you are right.. I had forgotten about the particulars of the waiver. I am with you observer53. Just keep your fingers crossed and hope that some type of sensibility arises in Congress at the last minute. It is not likely, but hope springs eternal. If the federal government starts a shutdown, it is likely to be long and drawn out, especially considering the federal debt limit is lurking in mid-October.
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Post by Highlander on Sept 30, 2013 18:14:28 GMT -5
so, I am at my hotel in DC, trying to figure out if a test I apparently can't study for will or won't take place at 0800 tomorrow morning...I can't say I am overly stressed about it, I think in part because landing an ALJ offer seems like such a longshot to begin with. But this certainly adds an unwelcome level of uncertainty. I am a little perplexed why OPM can't send out an email telling those still waiting to take the test whether or not they will administer the tests this week in the event of a government shutdown. I mean, they must know, right?
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Post by 71stretch on Sept 30, 2013 18:20:57 GMT -5
so, I am at my hotel in DC, trying to figure out if a test I apparently can't study for will or won't take place at 0800 tomorrow morning...I can't say I am overly stressed about it, I think in part because landing an ALJ offer seems like such a longshot to begin with. But this certainly adds an unwelcome level of uncertainty. I am a little perplexed why OPM can't send out an email telling those still waiting to take the test whether or not they will administer the tests this week in the event of a government shutdown. I mean, they must know, right? From the info I've received from OPM directly, they were sounding very definite on going ahead on my dates this week. But, especially with this new info from the Chief Judge about SSA ALJs, I think getting the SI's done is much more in doubt. Update us tomorrow when and if you can.
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Post by 71stretch on Sept 30, 2013 19:44:44 GMT -5
so, I am at my hotel in DC, trying to figure out if a test I apparently can't study for will or won't take place at 0800 tomorrow morning Having now taken the test, I can confirm that a person can study for it. I think all of the comments on this board from people saying you can't study for it are either not very intelligent, just trying to lead others astray to keep scores low, or exaggerating the difficulty of the test for entertainment value. I'm hoping most of it is the latter. I don't know what you mean by "the test" -- as for the WD, you can write a well organized product or you can't. The SI-- even if you read up on the concept of structured interviews, it's not very helpful study. Yes, there are materials on other logic based tests out there, and practicing with those probably would be useful... But, from what we can gather, the LBMT seems to have little impact on the overall score. So, how much studying time, if any, is appropriate is up to each of us. Right now, I'd just like to know if I'm going to get this done.
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Post by lurker/dibs on Sept 30, 2013 21:06:27 GMT -5
I'm glued to the news to see what happens in the coming hours....I'm keeping my fingers crossed for all of you in limbo right now.
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Post by minny on Sept 30, 2013 21:08:43 GMT -5
so, I am at my hotel in DC, trying to figure out if a test I apparently can't study for will or won't take place at 0800 tomorrow morning...I can't say I am overly stressed about it, I think in part because landing an ALJ offer seems like such a longshot to begin with. But this certainly adds an unwelcome level of uncertainty. I am a little perplexed why OPM can't send out an email telling those still waiting to take the test whether or not they will administer the tests this week in the event of a government shutdown. I mean, they must know, right? Thinking much the same. I just hope they let me in the door tomorrow.
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