NHC, NM - sitting aljs or new hires?

[Asterisk]

This was recently posted on TOB:

" SSA National Hearing Center Vacancy Announcement
« Thread Started on May 22, 2008, 10:25pm »

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Announcement dated May 22, 2008. SSA will hire National Hearing Center ALJs for Albuquerque and Falls Church from current Federal ALJs (must be ALJ-3 or higher). Non-bargaining unit job (supervise one attorney adviser) and relocation expenses will be paid. Application must be received by June 5, 2008. 10 for Albuquerque and 5 more for Falls Church? "


-- The numbers really seem to be falling in place now..

133 hired before, leaving 17 to bring number up to 150, original goal for hirees;

+ another 25 to bring up to the total goal fort the'08 of 175;

+ another 15 to replace the sitting ALJs who will be going to Falls Church and ALb, NM...

so... 17 + 25 + 15 = 57, RIGHT AT THE NUMBER SPECULATED AS BEING CURRENT SIZE OF PRESENT CERT (rather, number of selectees being 55-57). Just sounds right...

[zia234]

Thanks, Extang.

Someone told me that SSA doesn't want "baby ALJ's" for Albuquerque, which is one of my few cities. The other two cities I picked are kind of glam spots, so I don't know what my chances are for those.

[morgullord]

NHC hiring has nothing to do with the Albuquerque hearing office unless a judge transfers from there to the NHC.

[morgullord]

If JH says it, I believe it and that settles it.

Thus closes another thread.

[oldjag]

I think it will all depend on how many takers they may get from sitting ALJs in SSA and other agencies. They will need to staff the center so if they don't get enough interest from sitting federal ALJs they will probably staff it with new judges

[happy]

I respectfully disagree. The tone here at HQ is that the immediate efficacy of the NHCs is paramount. A learning curve is not part of the plan.

[rutle]

Can Happy or anyone else tell us folks who are already aljs and considering the NHC what it's like there at the NHC. I know they want high numbers, etc. But what is the office environment like? What about the staff

Also, for those who live in the FC area, are there any areas close by that are affordable/desirable? I know these are very subjective terms, but fire away. Do most people commute a great distance? Drive? Train? Carpool?

Any help would be appreciated. You can PM me if this stuff is considered too "sensitive".

[happy]

From what I hear, folks are fairly satisfied. I guess the ALJs going in had a realistic idea what to expect. The interesting concept of the NHC is the office/hearing room. ALJs hold hearings from their desks. Everything is still in flux, though, as they still have not named a permanent NHC Director.

The Crystal City and Ballston areas have some really nice condo communities if you like urban life. Although Skyline is not near a Metro stop, there are regular shuttles from three locations in Crystal City and at least one from Ballston (I'm not sure the #).

Suburban, I guess it's a matter of opinion. Anything south on I-95 will be a nightmare commute (Woodbridge, Dale City, Stafford, Frederickburg on the outside). Anything west on 66 also not a great commute (Manassas, Sterling) but some really decent home prices. Loudon County is supposed to have great schools, if that's a consideration for you.

I understand that the average commute is 45 minutes to an hour. Options for commute include the train (VRE), which is actually not bad, but again, nothing direct, so you have to pick up the shuttle or a bus to Skyline. The VRE runs both north/south and east/west. There are commercial bus routes that you can sign up for, but then you're bound to their schedules. There's also this practice called "slugging," which is organized, structured hitchhiking. There are rules of etiquette and established pick-up and drop off points all over the full metro area. For more info on slugging, check out www.slug-lines.com.

Hope that gives you a starting point. I'm sure others have their own takes on it . . . .

[rutle]

Thanks Happy,

That's what I was looking for. The nearby condos would be fine for me. Not looking for a long commute.

[doctorwho]

There are also houses in the Pentagon City/Crystal City area in the 700,000 range.

[testtaker]

I don't have an answer as to the sitting vs. new alj question, but Social Security News reported the following information provided during Lisa DeSoto's speech at the Miami NOSSCR conference:

There are now five ALJs in the national hearing center in Falls Church, VA. They are helping out with cases from Cleveland, Atlanta and Detroit. She plans to add five more ALJs to this national hearing office.

A second national hearing office is to be added in Albuquerque. This office is to have six ALJs.

For more interesting info from her speech, go to socsecnews.blogspot.com/

[Asterisk]

Also for what it is worth:

As stated by SSA in their Semiannual Report for Fiscal year 2008, the NHC Chief Judge "reports" to the NHC in 12/07; 2 SSA ALJs were to report in 1/08; and another in 2/08"

Obviously, another also has reported (unknown when), but the point is it has been done piecemeal, not an all at once set up deal. Who knows how the NM NHC will be set up? But if it is anything like the FC model, then they will take their time, sprinkling the ALJs like "Pixie dust??" over a period of months...

Speaking of...Anyone hear from our beloved Pixie..do they go into hibernation??? Is she just tired of us mortals and hanging out with all her Faerie buddies?

Hope to see everyone on board...on board...- at some ALJ conference in the not too distant future! Take care, all.

GT