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Post by bartleby on Jun 17, 2014 9:39:13 GMT -5
AALJ Newsletter, June 16, 2014: Up to 90 ALJs will be hired this fiscal year; interviews are going on now. 200 clericals and writers will be hired and assigned to the National Case Assistance Centers (NCACs) (Baltimore and St. Louis) for case pulling and writing; 405 will be hired and distributed to Regional Office (he was unable to say whether these staffers would end up in the hearing offices). He noted that current staff to Judge ration that the Agency uses is 4.5:1. Mr. Hartline affirmed that staff to Judge ratio in hearing offices will fall. For FY 2015, 110 ALJs and associated staff will be hired. Mr. Hartline could not identify how many Judges would be going to hearing offices and how many to the NHCs.
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Post by westernalj on Jun 17, 2014 9:54:55 GMT -5
I just noticed that this states that the 110 ALJs are for fiscal (not calendar) year 2015. I believe someone interpreted the statement earlier as calendar year. FY 2015 begins on 10/1.
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Post by moopigsdad on Jun 17, 2014 10:23:18 GMT -5
I just noticed that this states that the 110 ALJs are for fiscal (not calendar) year 2015. I believe someone interpreted the statement earlier as calendar year. FY 2015 begins on 10/1. This is true western, but odds are the hirings won't occur until after the trainings for the new 90 ALJs are completed. So, best case scenario IMHO would be new certs starting in October with hirings in December and trainings in the new calendar year.
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Post by mamaru on Jun 17, 2014 11:15:52 GMT -5
All this projection into FY 2015 is swell, but does anyone have any hard info (not WAGs) on the elephant in the room, i.e. - the budget?
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Post by futuressaalj on Jun 17, 2014 11:29:13 GMT -5
I just noticed that this states that the 110 ALJs are for fiscal (not calendar) year 2015. I believe someone interpreted the statement earlier as calendar year. FY 2015 begins on 10/1. This is true western, but odds are the hirings won't occur until after the trainings for the new 90 ALJs are completed. So, best case scenario IMHO would be new certs starting in October with hirings in December and trainings in the new calendar year. In order to double like this post I am going to have to create another name "futuressaaljII" and hit the like button with both names.
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Post by westernalj on Jun 17, 2014 11:33:21 GMT -5
I'm wondering if SSA has to make the offers in the order they do the selections. This would make more sense to me, since OPM seems to be trying to force SSA to work the cert from the higher scorers downward.
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Post by hopefalj on Jun 17, 2014 11:36:06 GMT -5
All this projection into FY 2015 is swell, but does anyone have any hard info (not WAGs) on the elephant in the room, i.e. - the budget? Wasn't the last budget deal a two-year deal that funded the government through FY2015? Pretty sure that's why SSA has come up with this two-year hiring plan. Spend it if you got it...
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Post by redsox1 on Jun 17, 2014 12:06:00 GMT -5
All this projection into FY 2015 is swell, but does anyone have any hard info (not WAGs) on the elephant in the room, i.e. - the budget? Wasn't the last budget deal a two-year deal that funded the government through FY2015? Pretty sure that's why SSA has come up with this two-year hiring plan. Spend it if you got it... That's my understanding too. Of course I also read that the Disability Trust fund will be in the red in 2016.
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Post by funkyodar on Jun 17, 2014 12:11:02 GMT -5
All this projection into FY 2015 is swell, but does anyone have any hard info (not WAGs) on the elephant in the room, i.e. - the budget? Wasn't the last budget deal a two-year deal that funded the government through FY2015? Pretty sure that's why SSA has come up with this two-year hiring plan. Spend it if you got it... Hope is right. The last budget deal set the overall fed budget for fiscal 14 and 15. Now, within that overall budget number, there still has to happen each agency's individualized appropriation bill. Their piece of the whole for the year. From what I've read, no one js advocating for ssa to receive a smaller cut from the 15 pie than they got from the 14 budget and the plans for fiscal 15 hiring were based on the idea that they will have the generally the same level of funding for hiring as in 14. In truth though, ssa may get a bigger cut in 14 than 15. I recently read where the Senate had passed their version of the ssa appropriations bill and it increased by a couple hundred million last years budget for staffing and property costs and like 198 million for new emphasis on cdrs. Doubtful the republican led house will agree to that big of an increase, but they do reportedly want the new cdr emphasis. So ssa getting a pretty big bump from 14 is certainly possible and could mean even more hiring than they plan now. In any event, I cant see them getting less and fiscal 15 announced hiring goals shouldbgo forward without a hitch.
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Post by moopigsdad on Jun 17, 2014 12:59:41 GMT -5
There is also the issue of the Nation's debt borrowing limit being reached again at the end of February 2015. Hence, without another agreement to extend it, there could be layoffs, payless paydays, etc.
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Post by HallmarkFan on Jun 17, 2014 13:49:23 GMT -5
So, if I understand correctly, one candidate whose name appears on three or more certificates in round one could feasibly be three-struck in round one. Correct? Yes, but it could happen for a single city as well if three hires were made from that city. Coffee, there are threads on the subject, but basically three striking boils down to being considered three times and not being hired. SSA has to make a hire from the top three scores for a certain location If you are highest scoring candidate A for NYC but SSA hires candidate B or C for the spot over you, then you would have one strike. If you are then one of the three highest in Atlanta but another candidate is selected instead, you'd get your second strike. One more such situation with SSA hiring someone else out of the highest three scores over you, and you'd have your third strike. At that point, SSA no longer has to consider you for any openings for the remainder of the life of the register even if you are the top scorer for every other opening. I simplified this somewhat, but that's the gist of it. PERFECT EXPLANATION -- thanks!
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Post by mamaru on Jun 17, 2014 13:59:35 GMT -5
Yes, that's my concern, mpdad. As well as the SSA budget itself.
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Post by moopigsdad on Jun 17, 2014 14:12:21 GMT -5
Yes, that's my concern, mpdad. As well as the SSA budget itself. Mamaru, it is my understanding most of the budget issues are solved for FY 2015 and the only remaining obstacle for Congress is the U.S. Debt Ceiling Limit which will have to be tackled and completed by March 2015 or there can be no more spending which could lead to consequences. I expect SSA to hire the remaining 110 ALJs prior to that date, so there is no issue with that hiring. However, it wouldn't preclude layoffs, pay less paydays, etc. MPD
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Post by robespierre on Jun 17, 2014 15:09:56 GMT -5
nm
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linky
Full Member
Posts: 88
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Post by linky on Jun 17, 2014 20:06:56 GMT -5
If a candidate is interviewed on first cert but does not get an offer (due to limited GAL), do they have a realistic chance of getting hired on the second cert.
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Post by westernalj on Jun 17, 2014 20:53:18 GMT -5
Yes, you should have a realistic chance. Even if you were at the lower end of this cert, about 100 people will be out of your way. Your limited GAL will continue to be a factor, of course.
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