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Post by barkley on Nov 19, 2023 21:21:05 GMT -5
Our HOCALJ literally read a three page memo about how reps are supposed to notify OHO about availability. Bottom line, even though the ALJs do not deal with these issues directly, they wanted us to "have the information" without explaining why we needed that information. It was frustrating because it made it clear that if a rep had not complied with the process and got double booked, it was the rep's fault. But the memo did not go to the next step as to outlining what the Powers That Be want us to do with the information. If a rep is double booked, are we not supposed to grant a postponement? The rep cannot be two places at one. And it is not the claimant's fault if the rep does not take care of his business.
Anybody get a different message? Know what is behind all this?
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Post by Gaidin on Nov 19, 2023 23:56:33 GMT -5
Our HOCALJ literally read a three page memo about how reps are supposed to notify OHO about availability. Bottom line, even though the ALJs do not deal with these issues directly, they wanted us to "have the information" without explaining why we needed that information. It was frustrating because it made it clear that if a rep had not complied with the process and got double booked, it was the rep's fault. But the memo did not go to the next step as to outlining what the Powers That Be want us to do with the information. If a rep is double booked, are we not supposed to grant a postponement? The rep cannot be two places at one. And it is not the claimant's fault if the rep does not take care of his business. Anybody get a different message? Know what is behind all this? You're supposed to send up a report to region which will make a difference sometime in the distant future. Of course it is also possible that your office has a scheduler who isn't trained and won't get the training until they are almost done with their scheduling detail. Which means it may not be the reps fault either ... |
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Post by arkstfan on Nov 22, 2023 1:47:23 GMT -5
Our HOCALJ literally read a three page memo about how reps are supposed to notify OHO about availability. Bottom line, even though the ALJs do not deal with these issues directly, they wanted us to "have the information" without explaining why we needed that information. It was frustrating because it made it clear that if a rep had not complied with the process and got double booked, it was the rep's fault. But the memo did not go to the next step as to outlining what the Powers That Be want us to do with the information. If a rep is double booked, are we not supposed to grant a postponement? The rep cannot be two places at one. And it is not the claimant's fault if the rep does not take care of his business. Anybody get a different message? Know what is behind all this? Message as best as I could tell was our HOCALJ was under directive to read it and was not pleased with that duty and skeptical of the new process. The obvious and therefore least likely outcome when a rep screws up is to reduce the fee by say 10% unless it’s a repetitive issue then escalate. So probable outcome is a light hearted reminder to use the process. |
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Post by oldtimer14 on Nov 24, 2023 15:45:39 GMT -5
National scheduling unit = big failure
Prediction - rep availability system ( ERAP) = failure in the making
And they complain about not having any money…
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Post by ssaogc on Nov 24, 2023 21:43:56 GMT -5
National scheduling unit = big failure Prediction - rep availability system ( ERAP) = failure in the making And they complain about not having any money… When I came on board I had a scheduler and a legal assistant for pre hearing and another for post hearing. I rarely had a scheduled case that ran into problems. I always had worked up cases well before the hearing day and my developments were done timely and cases did not stay in POST status for very long. we had a huge backlog and I moved cases and came very close most years to making the goal or came close to it. As support personnel fled the agency either through retirement, transfer to other agencies or just quit to go work for the rep offices, I lost one legal assistant and lost the scheduler. The Agency tried to come up with gimmicks to make up for the lack of support personnel and all have failed. My cases are worked up the day prior to hearing, POST is a black hole where cases disappear for months and the schedulers cannot fill my available hearing days. the system is not functioning well and it is not the Reps fault. Instead of focusing on fixing the support staff issue someone is working hard to fix a problem by shifting the blame elsewhere. |
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Post by trekker on Feb 13, 2024 8:10:51 GMT -5
I am a rep that keeps getting double booked. The problem is that I cover a vast service area for a non-profit. This means that my clients live all over the state in rural areas. I deal with two-three hearing offices. One of those hearing offices is in another state. Some of the hearing offices hold remote hearings in SSA field offices 2-3 hours away from the main hearing office. The central scheduling office would schedule back to back hearings with different judges in different hearing offices or they would schedule hearings one-hour apart in two different locations hours apart. It is a total mess.
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Post by Top Tier on Feb 14, 2024 12:52:44 GMT -5
I am a rep that keeps getting double booked. The problem is that I cover a vast service area for a non-profit. This means that my clients live all over the state in rural areas. I deal with two-three hearing offices. One of those hearing offices is in another state. Some of the hearing offices hold remote hearings in SSA field offices 2-3 hours away from the main hearing office. The central scheduling office would schedule back to back hearings with different judges in different hearing offices or they would schedule hearings one-hour apart in two different locations hours apart. It is a total mess. Generally, Representatives help neither the claimants, the hearing offices, nor themselves when they continually fail to provide sufficient availability to attend disability hearings commensurate with the quantity of clients taken on by them or their firm. More importantly, Representatives should notify the hearing offices of their desired manner of appearance (i.e., Phone hearing, MS Teams Video hearing, Video Teleconference hearing at a remote site, or In-person hearing at hearing office) by submitting their Hearing Agreement Form within 3 weeks of receiving the Acknowledgment of Request for Hearing. Best practice is to submit a completed hearing agreement form contemporaneously with the request for hearing. If a representative/claimant fails to consent to phone or MS Teams video hearing, the case must be scheduled as an in-person hearing, resulting unnecessary scheduling problems and frustrated reps. You and your claimants might consider asking for a phone hearing to remedy your logistics problem. That way you can: - attend back to back hearings with different judges in different hearing offices in different states, - provide more efficient service, - realize more effective time management, and - save on costs associated with frequent traveling. |
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Post by Gaidin on Feb 17, 2024 21:45:34 GMT -5
I am a rep that keeps getting double booked. The problem is that I cover a vast service area for a non-profit. This means that my clients live all over the state in rural areas. I deal with two-three hearing offices. One of those hearing offices is in another state. Some of the hearing offices hold remote hearings in SSA field offices 2-3 hours away from the main hearing office. The central scheduling office would schedule back to back hearings with different judges in different hearing offices or they would schedule hearings one-hour apart in two different locations hours apart. It is a total mess. Generally, Representatives help neither the claimants, the hearing offices, nor themselves when they continually fail to provide sufficient availability to attend disability hearings commensurate with the quantity of clients taken on by them or their firm. More importantly, Representatives should notify the hearing offices of their desired manner of appearance (i.e., Phone hearing, MS Teams Video hearing, Video Teleconference hearing at a remote site, or In-person hearing at hearing office) by submitting their Hearing Agreement Form within 3 weeks of receiving the Acknowledgment of Request for Hearing. Best practice is to submit a completed hearing agreement form contemporaneously with the request for hearing. If a representative/claimant fails to consent to phone or MS Teams video hearing, the case must be scheduled as an in-person hearing, resulting unnecessary scheduling problems and frustrated reps. You and your claimants might consider asking for a phone hearing to remedy your logistics problem. That way you can: - attend back to back hearings with different judges in different hearing offices in different states, - provide more efficient service, - realize more effective time management, and - save on costs associated with frequent traveling. You're assuming that the judges will agree to those other hearing modalities on an equal basis. Most judges I know aren't doing mixed modality hearing days. |
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Post by elninost0rm on Feb 21, 2024 12:58:29 GMT -5
Generally, Representatives help neither the claimants, the hearing offices, nor themselves when they continually fail to provide sufficient availability to attend disability hearings commensurate with the quantity of clients taken on by them or their firm. More importantly, Representatives should notify the hearing offices of their desired manner of appearance (i.e., Phone hearing, MS Teams Video hearing, Video Teleconference hearing at a remote site, or In-person hearing at hearing office) by submitting their Hearing Agreement Form within 3 weeks of receiving the Acknowledgment of Request for Hearing. Best practice is to submit a completed hearing agreement form contemporaneously with the request for hearing. If a representative/claimant fails to consent to phone or MS Teams video hearing, the case must be scheduled as an in-person hearing, resulting unnecessary scheduling problems and frustrated reps. You and your claimants might consider asking for a phone hearing to remedy your logistics problem. That way you can: - attend back to back hearings with different judges in different hearing offices in different states, - provide more efficient service, - realize more effective time management, and - save on costs associated with frequent traveling. You're assuming that the judges will agree to those other hearing modalities on an equal basis. Most judges I know aren't doing mixed modality hearing days.
As a HOMS/backup IT, I can't imagine why not. This has been largely resolved for months. |
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Post by nylawyer on Feb 21, 2024 13:05:48 GMT -5
Speaking just for myself- I allow a limited number of mixed cases on initial scheduling.
It's not really the tech issues- my concern is that I've seen judges who fully consented to mixed dockets end up with more in person days, including some where the scheduler gave them just a single in person hearing on a day where everything else is "remote"- which, of course, means the ALJ does the whole day in the office (unless they live really close).
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Post by tinkerbell725 on Feb 21, 2024 13:28:35 GMT -5
I do not allow any mixed dockets on initial scheduling for the exact reason nylawyer mentioned. I don't mind going into the office, but if there are 6 virtual hearings available, I want them all on 1 docket that I can do from home. Not split over 3 mixed dockets, requiring me to go into the office 3 different times. Once the in person dockets are scheduled, I will consider allowing a switch to phone or online video if the claimant or rep requests it, but I'm not going to let them schedule the mixed dockets up front and take away telework days.
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Post by Top Tier on Feb 21, 2024 18:55:20 GMT -5
I do not allow any mixed dockets on initial scheduling for the exact reason nylawyer mentioned. I don't mind going into the office, but if there are 6 virtual hearings available, I want them all on 1 docket that I can do from home. Not split over 3 mixed dockets, requiring me to go into the office 3 different times. Once the in person dockets are scheduled, I will consider allowing a switch to phone or online video if the claimant or rep requests it, but I'm not going to let them schedule the mixed dockets up front and take away telework days. Most SSA ALJs make $200,000 per year, hold hearings from home 95% of the time, and then complain about going into the office 3 days each month. On top of that, only hold 30 hearings a month due to current workloads. Unbelievable... ...and that's even without reasonable explanation for the fact they have many overdue in ALPO and EDIT, and keep postponing cases unnecessarily. It may be time to look at hearings scheduled versus hearings held metrics. |
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Post by Gaidin on Feb 23, 2024 15:52:26 GMT -5
Most SSA ALJs... hold hearings from home 95% of the time, and then complain about going into the office 3 days each month. On top of that, only hold 30 hearings a month due to current workloads. I would be really interested in seeing your source for the above information. It is inconsistent with what I am aware of on offices I am familiar with. I am sure it is true in some offices but believing that what happens in your office is universal doesn't actually mean it's true. |
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Post by Mister Atkins on Feb 23, 2024 21:03:16 GMT -5
Most SSA ALJs... hold hearings from home 95% of the time, and then complain about going into the office 3 days each month. On top of that, only hold 30 hearings a month due to current workloads. I would be really interested in seeing your source for the above information. It is inconsistent with what I am aware of on offices I am familiar with. I am sure it is true in some offices but believing that what happens in your office is universal doesn't actually mean it's true. It appeared to me that we were looking at the world through two different straws, for sure. |
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Post by arkstfan on Feb 24, 2024 17:35:22 GMT -5
I’ve been getting 40 per month and give availability for 45 and once in a while get 45. During peak COVID got down to 35. I accept mixed modality despite the PITA of taking my gear to my office or open hearing room because always get feedback holding phone hearings in the same room as the VHR.
My beef with in-person or going to the office for VTC is most of those cases are scheduled because the claimant No showed a telephone hearing and hadn’t submitted a telephone agreement. When I get an in person day and most show up I’m happy as a clam. I like visiting with reps and VHRs.
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