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Post by moopigsdad on Jun 18, 2014 8:17:31 GMT -5
There was an interesting article in the news about SSA field offices and the lack of budget dollars to fund them. See the article here. It looks like SSA is trying to automate the processes at the local SSA office level more and more. However, it is still difficult for some claimants trying to file SSI claims as the online process doesn't really work for concurrent claims or sometimes even for straight SSI claims. Perhaps, with this consolidation and move to automation the next cert is likely to see a lot more NHC certs in it. Just some information for thought and comment. |
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Post by privateatty on Jun 18, 2014 15:34:23 GMT -5
moopigsdad, the link did not appear. Here is one from a news organization I respect: abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/social-security-closes-offices-demand-soars-24185543My take on this is that the good folks in Baltimore assume that everyone has a computer and internet access. I don't know what the statistics are, but in rural, poor America its rare. Sorta like advertising that relies on you logging on to view their product. The internet is not that old and neither is Al Gore. It always boggles my mind when folks only see their world from their perspective. I guess you could see this as an object lesson for wanna be Judges. Have you walked even a few paces in their shoes? Bottom line, shame on you Baltimore. Folks need to go to the SSA Office, just like they need to go to the Post Office. |
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Post by moopigsdad on Jun 18, 2014 16:47:24 GMT -5
moopigsdad, the link did not appear. Here is one from a news organization I respect: abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/social-security-closes-offices-demand-soars-24185543My take on this is that the good folks in Baltimore assume that everyone has a computer and internet access. I don't know what the statistics are, but in rural, poor America its rare. Sorta like advertising that relies on you logging on to view their product. The internet is not that old and neither is Al Gore. It always boggles my mind when folks only see their world from their perspective. I guess you could see this as an object lesson for wanna be Judges. Have you walked even a few paces in their shoes? Bottom line, shame on you Baltimore. Folks need to go to the SSA Office, just like they need to go to the Post Office. Sorry private the link works for me. I appreciate your take and agree with you 100%. You stated my point much better than I did. I find it ridiculous that people even in urban areas are waiting 60 to 90 days to file a SSI claim. Sure, there is a protected filing date, but that is an additional 60 to 90 days added on to their process in trying to receive benefits, especially if they have no other income. Furthermore, the much less open hours for those SSA offices still operating is unacceptable for those without computers trying to do business. To increase the numbers of employees in most ODAR offices without leaving local SSA offices open will not solve issues, but create bigger issues for those trying to file. Maybe that's it, SSA wants to cut down on filings for disability.  |
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Post by moopigsdad on Jun 23, 2014 8:46:54 GMT -5
I just received notice of a new email that went out to SSA employees dealing with a lot of what was stated above. In particular, the email dealt with more ALJ hiring and the more than expected retirement of ALJs this year (over 100) along with an attempt as has been stated to fill all open offices due to the large number of outstanding cases to be adjudicated and CDRs. Also, there was talk of more use of telework and possible sharing of offices and cubicle space for ODAR and SSA employees. It is all part of the 2025 Plan for SSA. I will not share the exact email, since I am not a SSA employee, but was made privy to it by an anonymous source. Nothing earth-shattering except that ALJs may be assigned to work out of local SSA offices in the future to hear cases due to possible closing of some ODAR offices in the future to consolidate things and save money.
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Post by bartleby on Jun 23, 2014 8:49:09 GMT -5
Yes, from the Deputy Commish:
"I also have good news to share about hiring. We have finally received the long-awaited new ALJ register, and we are busy interviewing candidates. We hope to hire up to 200 new ALJs this calendar year. This aggressive plan will fill many vacant ALJ offices across the country. We desperately need more judges, as both hearing requests and ALJ attrition are rising rapidly. This year a record number of ALJs (more than 100) will separate from the agency. We have a remarkable and talented ALJs corps, and we should not let factors that are beyond our control dampen our spirit."
Sounds like 200 new hires this calendar year...
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Post by aqua96 on Jun 23, 2014 9:20:22 GMT -5
It's great news about all this new hiring by the end of the year. I have a hypothetical question about how this relates to transfers and certificates for individual cities, however. I am hoping someone might know how this works.
Let's say an ALJ candidate (first certer) lives in Buffalo, but did not have a high enough score to make the cert for Buffalo this time around. But, the candidate did make the certs for several cities within a few hours of Buffalo.
The candidate gets a call from Bob and accepts an offer for Cleveland (about 3 hours away from his residence city, Buffalo). The candidate is scheduled to start with ODAR on August 25th. Cleveland is okay for the candidate, but his family is in Buffalo so he really wants to get back there ASAP.
In November or earlier, ODAR requests a second round of certs for cities that have openings. Buffalo is one of these cities.
Can ODAR go ahead and fill the opening in Buffalo with one of the second certers or will it have had to open the slot up to those who want to transfer first? Just wondering if the first certer will be at a disadvantage or if he/she will instead be lucky to get home really quickly if he/she got on the transfer list after 90 days.
Is there anything in the union contract that requires them to allow transfers before filling positions from new hires? It would seem to be more efficient to allow the transfers first, but what if 90 days does not transpire between the classes? I am an outsider and would appreciate any insight!
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Post by moopigsdad on Jun 23, 2014 9:41:41 GMT -5
It's great news about all this new hiring by the end of the year. I have a hypothetical question about how this relates to transfers and certificates for individual cities, however. I am hoping someone might know how this works. Let's say an ALJ candidate (first certer) lives in Buffalo, but did not have a high enough score to make the cert for Buffalo this time around. But, the candidate did make the certs for several cities within a few hours of Buffalo. The candidate gets a call from Bob and accepts an offer for Cleveland (about 3 hours away from his residence city, Buffalo). The candidate is scheduled to start with ODAR on August 25th. Cleveland is okay for the candidate, but his family is in Buffalo so he really wants to get back there ASAP. In November or earlier, ODAR requests a second round of certs for cities that have openings. Buffalo is one of these cities. Can ODAR go ahead and fill the opening in Buffalo with one of the second certers or will it have had to open the slot up to those who want to transfer first? Just wondering if the first certer will be at a disadvantage or if he/she will instead be lucky to get home really quickly if he/she got on the transfer list after 90 days. Is there anything in the union contract that requires them to allow transfers before filling positions from new hires? It would seem to be more efficient to allow the transfers first, but what if 90 days does not transpire between the classes? I am an outsider and would appreciate any insight! Aqua, it is my understanding SSA will work the transfer list prior to any new set of certs going out. The downfall for you should you be hired would be that the 90 days period necessary to allow a new hire to transfer will not have occurred prior to the new cert if it happens this year. All you will be able to do is place your name on the transfer list as soon as you can. Hopefully, there will be more hiring in the future and you can possibly transfer in at that time. SSA will continue to lose ALJs due to retirements and there will always be openings in the future. Good luck with acquiring the position and be able to get back to Buffalo. |
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Post by gary on Jun 23, 2014 9:56:56 GMT -5
I just received notice of a new email that went out to SSA employees dealing with a lot of what was stated above. In particular, the email dealt with more ALJ hiring and the more than expected retirement of ALJs this year (over 100) along with an attempt as has been stated to fill all open offices due to the large number of outstanding cases to be adjudicated and CDRs. Also, there was talk of more use of telework and possible sharing of offices and cubicle space for ODAR and SSA employees. It is all part of the 2025 Plan for SSA. I will not share the exact email, since I am not a SSA employee, but was made privy to it by an anonymous source. Nothing earth-shattering except that ALJs may be assigned to work out of local SSA offices in the future to hear cases due to possible closing of some ODAR offices in the future to consolidate things and save money. There's a local SSA office about 3/4 of a mile from my front door. That one's mine! |
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Post by aqua96 on Jun 23, 2014 10:02:58 GMT -5
It's great news about all this new hiring by the end of the year. I have a hypothetical question about how this relates to transfers and certificates for individual cities, however. I am hoping someone might know how this works. Let's say an ALJ candidate (first certer) lives in Buffalo, but did not have a high enough score to make the cert for Buffalo this time around. But, the candidate did make the certs for several cities within a few hours of Buffalo. The candidate gets a call from Bob and accepts an offer for Cleveland (about 3 hours away from his residence city, Buffalo). The candidate is scheduled to start with ODAR on August 25th. Cleveland is okay for the candidate, but his family is in Buffalo so he really wants to get back there ASAP. In November or earlier, ODAR requests a second round of certs for cities that have openings. Buffalo is one of these cities. Can ODAR go ahead and fill the opening in Buffalo with one of the second certers or will it have had to open the slot up to those who want to transfer first? Just wondering if the first certer will be at a disadvantage or if he/she will instead be lucky to get home really quickly if he/she got on the transfer list after 90 days. Is there anything in the union contract that requires them to allow transfers before filling positions from new hires? It would seem to be more efficient to allow the transfers first, but what if 90 days does not transpire between the classes? I am an outsider and would appreciate any insight! Aqua, it is my understanding SSA will work the transfer list prior to any new set of certs going out. The downfall for you should you be hired would be that the 90 days period necessary to allow a new hire to transfer will not have occurred prior to the new cert if it happens this year. All you will be able to do is place your name on the transfer list as soon as you can. Hopefully, there will be more hiring in the future and you can possibly transfer in at that time. SSA will continue to lose ALJs due to retirements and there will always be openings in the future. Good luck with acquiring the position and be able to get back to Buffalo. Thanks, MPD. That was my fear, though. As great as it would be to get an offer for any city, it will be very frustrating if my home city is filled again in the second cert before I am able to transfer back. Such is life! And these were hypothetical cities...I am not actually fortunate enough to live in Buffalo!  |
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Post by moopigsdad on Jun 23, 2014 10:20:23 GMT -5
No worries aqua I just answered the hypothetical as it was presented, but the same facts would apply no matter the city in question. Sorry!
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Post by moopigsdad on Jun 23, 2014 10:22:16 GMT -5
I just received notice of a new email that went out to SSA employees dealing with a lot of what was stated above. In particular, the email dealt with more ALJ hiring and the more than expected retirement of ALJs this year (over 100) along with an attempt as has been stated to fill all open offices due to the large number of outstanding cases to be adjudicated and CDRs. Also, there was talk of more use of telework and possible sharing of offices and cubicle space for ODAR and SSA employees. It is all part of the 2025 Plan for SSA. I will not share the exact email, since I am not a SSA employee, but was made privy to it by an anonymous source. Nothing earth-shattering except that ALJs may be assigned to work out of local SSA offices in the future to hear cases due to possible closing of some ODAR offices in the future to consolidate things and save money. There's a local SSA office about 3/4 of a mile from my front door. That one's mine! I don't see the ALJ movement to local SSA offices occurring until 2017 or later. So, just acquire the position first and worry about the transfer later. |
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