Question for High Scorers (80+)

[aljhunter]

Is there anyone who has a score higher than 80; who listed limited geographical preferences in the initial application and who has not received the SSA letter that is driving the Board right now? Thanks for any response!

[okeydokey]

Make that two.

[fastporsche987]

Count me as three... I listed only a few cities because I really have no plans on relocating. Good luck to all who interview!

[testtaker]

patriotsfan said:

It boggles the mind that others might land at an office that I specified.

I did not see any offices from Massachusetts, Vermont, or New Hampshire on the FEAI.

[yogibear]

I'm not sure if this is true, but I asked someone at OPM if there was another class or if they were splitting up the class. She said this was the only class this year most likely due to the cost. They planned on one big class, 71 locations and about 150 openings. Heard also (not from OPM) that New England has the lowest pending and the lowest receipts, so New England is pretty much closed out this round. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. But like anything, who knows what's really going to happen?

[kingfisher]

peejay said:

Only if you define "screwed" as having to wait a while longer. Sooner or later, there will be a vacancy in New England that will need filling, and you'll be on the certificate, because you're still on the register with a high score.

Patriotsfan, I had a similar situation due to initially selecting only one city. I remained on the list with a high score until the next round of hiring. I was afraid of being bypassed again, so I expanded my list of cities and and finally got the offer. It was frustrating, but the waiting paid off eventually.

[nonamouse]

patriotsfan said:

It boggles the mind that others might land at an office that I specified.

How do you think that would happen if none of your cities were listed on this certificate from SSA? They don't allow candidates to write in extra cities that are not listed on the certificate.

My personal guess is that SSA divided the hiring into 2 certificates for the sake of keeping the class size manageable. New England will probably show up in a 2nd certificate later in 2008 after they get the first class on the job. I knew that the Gulf Coast would need to be hired first because they still have a backlog and other problems post-Katrina.

Don't let it get you down. Just think of those of us in this first certificate as the unlucky lab rats who will be experimented upon until the agency figures out how to give you a fabulous experience after a few extra months of waiting. In fact, some of us will be discarded like a fast food wrapper after our interview, so we will have to wait for another chance after being in the lab. Does any of this make you feel better? ;D

[doctorwho]

nonamouse said:

patriotsfan said:

It boggles the mind that others might land at an office that I specified.

How do you think that would happen if none of your cities were listed on this certificate from SSA? They don't allow candidates to write in extra cities that are not listed on the certificate.

My personal guess is that SSA divided the hiring into 2 certificates for the sake of keeping the class size manageable. New England will probably show up in a 2nd certificate later in 2008 after they get the first class on the job. I knew that the Gulf Coast would need to be hired first because they still have a backlog and other problems post-Katrina.

Don't let it get you down. Just think of those of us in this first certificate as the unlucky lab rats who will be experimented upon until the agency figures out how to give you a fabulous experience after a few extra months of waiting. In fact, some of us will be discarded like a fast food wrapper after our interview, so we will have to wait for another chance after being in the lab. Does any of this make you feel better? ;D

I spoke to a contact person on the letter. This is the only certificate for the mainland U.S. [at least that's what I was told], for the time being. There are over 400 people on it and there are 150 openings. There will be a certificate for Puerto Rico that is being pulled next week on "special qualifications" (i.e. Spanish). After the PR certificate is pulled, those individuals will receive additional questions to cull that certificate further (e.g., are you absolutely sure you can handle a hearing in Spanish, etc.).

[oldtimer]

Yogi is correct. It's not necessarily that Region 1 judges are any more efficient than others, but due to a combination of factors, including production and receipts, Region 1 has the lowest pending-per-ALJ of the 10 regions. Hence, no hires in the region at this point. But, judging by the scores posted here, if you received a high score, you'll still have a good chance of making the certificate when the next round of hires takes place. Portland, by the way, is already down from 6 to only 3 judges, and there will be many judges retiring in the next few years throughout the region.

[southerner]

Not necessarily. Just because there are vacancies, SSA may not fill them. There could be many reasons, e.g., lack of funds, lack of personnel, decrease in case receipts, new offices could come about or result from splitting off from another office.

[oldtimer]

Exactly. Plus, if you're not a current ODAR employee, you may not realize that we don't see "vacancies" the way the rest of the world does. Just because someone occupied a position and then left doesn't automatically mean there's a "vacancy." Until the powers that be in Headquarters decide to allot an FTE to the region and the regional office then decides to use the FTE for that office, then, and only then, is there a "vacancy." As a result, there are many "departures" from the hearing offices, both judges and staff, which are not even posted as vacancies, let alone filled, for extended periods. So, for example, if you're an ALJ, and an employee working for you leaves, you can't automatically assume that he or she will be promptly replaced; you may be "sharing" an employee with another judge or judges instead.

[aljsouth]

southerner said:

Not necessarily. Just because there are vacancies, SSA may not fill them. There could be many reasons, e.g., lack of funds, lack of personnel, decrease in case receipts, new offices could come about or result from splitting off from another office.

New England has the lowest pending. But I don't really believe ODAR is following the logical idea of putting judges in offices with the lowest pending. Ft. Lauderdale in Region 4 has a very low pending per judge but is on the list. About 300 per judge (yes the entire number of cases not just pulled and assigned to a judge list). Polictics is playing a role in the decision. I don't know what the pending of Portland, ME is per judge but it would be instructive to look at that list.

[oldtimer]

sez who? Don't confuse backlog with pending (as the media usually does, whenever they happen to report on the disability program). The Chief Judge himself (whose current initiatives include pushing judges to issue 500-700 dispositions annually) said in a recent video message that the ideal pending per ALJ is roughly 350 cases. Although I suspect this is less than Portland now faces, with only 3 judges remaining, other offices in the region, with probably fewer than 350 pending per ALJ, are capable of helping out, by means of "permanent case transfers." So goes life at ODAR.

[hooligan]

patriotsfan said:

Good grief. Could this process be any more bizarre? Isn't it enough that there is backlog in every single state?

Of course there is a backlog in every state and every individual office. That has never been the point. The first decision is the total number of judges that can be hired and trained within budget projections. The second decision is where to put them. Backlog is one consideration. Space availability is another consideration. Also, each Regional management team is consulted and asked what they want and where they want it. Not all Regions approach the matter in the same way.

On the subject of Region I - that is the smallest Region. They also were the testing ground for the electronic folder rollout. A great deal of extra resources were pumped into Region I to make the rollout work. They are patting themselves on the back and trying to demonstrate what good shape they are in.

Don't discount the political element of who gets rewards. Do you think it is an accident that three West Virginia offices are on the list? Senator Robert Byrd carries a big stick.

[3orangewhips]

seriously, patsfan. you took your chances and limited your geographical preference. you made a choice and it didnt work out. live with it, you will get selected eventually.