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Post by SPN Lifer on Feb 1, 2021 17:05:59 GMT -5
Just received an email cancelling the April 2019 ALJ application from USAjobs. Hmmmmmm…. Apparently Congress was not happy, which caused the 2018-19 budget to include language related to any hired ALJs having passed the OPM test. This was why, as I recalled, when SSA submitted for applicants for the now cancelled 2019 hire, they asked only those who had passed the OPM testing. Additionally, it would be absurd to use a register from 2 1/2 years ago as a basis for hiring. In the past, the Register went many years in a row without being refreshed. It is perfectly appropriate to use a register that is merely a few years old. I think it’s possible that Biden Admin may be working with congress on some legislation to codify the ALJ OPM process. Given the non-need for ALJs at the moment, it’s the perfect time to do something like that—be it good or bad for anyone who went to DC in summer 2019. The absurdity is just what noah points out. While it may fit the regs to use an old register, people change over time.
* * * *
So I'm not saying they're bad applicants, but the list should be fresh.
roymcavoy has it right. Clear the deck for new thinking on the process. The old register has traditionally been milked dry while they undertook creating a new testing mechanism. . . . Or they may use some portion of folks who interviewed in 2019. Or they may bring back the “old register” (I’m sure it’s lying around somewhere). I took the OPM Exam in July 2016, interviewed with SSA in March 2018, applied for the 2019 opening, and received the cancellation e-mail this morning. If SSA chooses to use the Register one last time, that will be up to The Powers That Be (TPTB), and all our speculation or discussion is unlikely to have much impact on that decision. Based on what Pixie and others have told us for years, the likelihood of this occurring is low. |
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Post by workdrone on Feb 1, 2021 22:25:11 GMT -5
Case backlog is now down to 300k range from a high of over a million in the 2010s. New case intake has tumbled due to field office closures from COVID and the Agency is now talking about quality instead of quantity for a change.
In light of the above, I wouldn't count on ALJ hiring from SSA until the case backlog starts going back up again instead of down.
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Post by bp on Feb 1, 2021 23:39:37 GMT -5
The register is a couple of years old now, but...
We had two tests under the old register administered within the last 3-4 years, from which only a handful of people were hired. For the most recent test, no one was hired. Those scores aren't stale. The people who took the exam may or not be interested anymore, but the scores are valid using the same test that OPM will reinstitute. Hundreds and hundreds of people paid their own way to DC to take those tests. IMO, the only way you can "right" the wrong is to restore the old registry and scores, and allow agencies to hire from those scores until OPM can hold a new test.
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Post by TigerLaw on Feb 2, 2021 1:38:57 GMT -5
Case backlog is now down to 300k range from a high of over a million in the 2010s. New case intake has tumbled due to field office closures from COVID and the Agency is now talking about quality instead of quantity for a change. In light of the above, I wouldn't count on ALJ hiring from SSA until the case backlog starts going back up again instead of down. Total pending is less than 400K, but it was almost 1.2 million since I was hired in 2014. I agree that new hires are not needed, but the transfer list may come back to life to move ALJ to busier parts of the country. I'm way out WEST, but I haven't heard of this "Quality" over "Quantity" concept! Don't comment much anymore, but the "Quality" over "Quantity" bs caught my attention. Tiger |
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ergo
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Posts: 21
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Post by ergo on Feb 2, 2021 10:11:29 GMT -5
The last round of OPM testing in DC was flawed. No one was allowed to appeal their written or interview score. I know of at least one ALJ who made the register after their written score was reviewed via appeal. I empathize with all those who spent additional funds to travel to DC for back to back interviews.
Blech all the way around.
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Post by roymcavoy on Feb 2, 2021 13:44:04 GMT -5
I’m not trying to be Debbie-downer here, but I have moved on from any idea that I will be an ALJ. That’s not to disparage the position, I just think my wife and kids are now in a place where other things are more important than taking a position in some far away state. All in all, I really don’t care if I get “the call” at this point. The email yesterday sealed it—even though I knew that ship had long ago left the harbor.
I think this realization has given me some objective insight. I treated this process like it was inevitable that I would get it, and that was a mistake. Not because it’s bad to hope or strive, but being an ALJ is not going to change my life a whole lot and there are 5000 factors outside of my control that matter a lot more than how well I did on the test and interview, like who POTUS happens to be. I have now paid for four trips to DC/N Virginia on my own dime, and I don’t think I will do that again. Would I accept if they offered now? I honestly don’t know. But I don’t think I will be starting the process anew.
The agency has changed a lot in the 10+ years since I started. I am not bragging, but like many of you, I spend lots of time fixing problems for ALJs that lead me to think I would be a good ALJ. But the entirety of the process, between “not having 7y experience” to having an interview and them then deciding not to hire anyone has just put me off.
This is not me and sour grapes. There are lots of people I know who feel much the same—that the process and result of getting ALJ is not worth it. These people who don’t want the job—I have decided many of them are the ones who should be ALJs. And maybe that is why it *seems* that SSA has moved from “one of the best places to work” back in the early 2010s, to where it is today.
Anyway, I’m not going anywhere, but I just wanted to let that out. I wish you all the best in your endeavors.
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Post by odarwinian on Feb 2, 2021 14:14:22 GMT -5
I’m not trying to be Debbie-downer here, but I have moved on from any idea that I will be an ALJ. That’s not to disparage the position, I just think my wife and kids are now in a place where other things are more important than taking a position in some far away state. All in all, I really don’t care if I get “the call” at this point. The email yesterday sealed it—even though I knew that ship had long ago left the harbor. I think this realization has given me some objective insight. I treated this process like it was inevitable that I would get it, and that was a mistake. Not because it’s bad to hope or strive, but being an ALJ is not going to change my life a whole lot and there are 5000 factors outside of my control that matter a lot more than how well I did on the test and interview, like who POTUS happens to be. I have now paid for four trips to DC/N Virginia on my own dime, and I don’t think I will do that again. Would I accept if they offered now? I honestly don’t know. But I don’t think I will be starting the process anew. The agency has changed a lot in the 10+ years since I started. I am not bragging, but like many of you, I spend lots of time fixing problems for ALJs that lead me to think I would be a good ALJ. But the entirety of the process, between “not having 7y experience” to having an interview and them then deciding not to hire anyone has just put me off. This is not me and sour grapes. There are lots of people I know who feel much the same—that the process and result of getting ALJ is not worth it. These people who don’t want the job—I have decided many of them are the ones who should be ALJs. And maybe that is why it *seems* that SSA has moved from “one of the best places to work” back in the early 2010s, to where it is today. Anyway, I’m not going anywhere, but I just wanted to let that out. I wish you all the best in your endeavors. When liking something is just not a strong enough response, you have to quote and say "how did you read my mind?" |
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Post by uboat on Feb 2, 2021 15:28:51 GMT -5
Well said roymcavoy. I too have moved on from my interest in the position. Thankfully, because I am now just a few months away from an early retirement from SSA and an increased focus on family, I would not even be tempted by the position if it were offered. It makes being jerked around by the crazy system a little easier to swallow. PS I am thankful to have had the community on this board to help make the process much more bearable! You all have been great, and a lot of fun! |
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Post by nylawyer on Feb 2, 2021 16:39:48 GMT -5
I understand those giving up hope. I can provide no reason to believe that there is any hiring imminent.
But, if you want a potential positive, for those who might be interested whenever hiring does begin again- it's possible that the days of having to be willing to pick up and move your family to a community where you have zero connection might be done.
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Post by neufenland on Feb 2, 2021 16:52:16 GMT -5
I understand those giving up hope. I can provide no reason to believe that there is any hiring imminent. But, if you want a potential positive, for those who might be interested whenever hiring does begin again- it's possible that the days of having to be willing to pick up and move your family to a community where you have zero connection might be done. Because everything will be virtual? |
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Post by jagvet on Feb 2, 2021 17:20:01 GMT -5
I understand those giving up hope. I can provide no reason to believe that there is any hiring imminent. But, if you want a potential positive, for those who might be interested whenever hiring does begin again- it's possible that the days of having to be willing to pick up and move your family to a community where you have zero connection might be done. Because everything will be virtual? That's why I think transfer list is dead. |
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Post by neufenland on Feb 2, 2021 17:50:25 GMT -5
Because everything will be virtual? That's why I think transfer list is dead. But without an assigned office, wouldn't you be able to move to wherever you wanted? This was a thing at VA in recent years (for counsel; not Judges). |
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Post by nylawyer on Feb 2, 2021 18:24:37 GMT -5
I understand those giving up hope. I can provide no reason to believe that there is any hiring imminent. But, if you want a potential positive, for those who might be interested whenever hiring does begin again- it's possible that the days of having to be willing to pick up and move your family to a community where you have zero connection might be done. Because everything will be virtual? Maybe. We could go all virtual. But even if not all virtual, the agency could move to a model with a heavier dose of video. For example, allow claimants to retain the right to a live hearing if they wish, but expand the distance they can be required to travel for that hearing. Or, in the alternative, they can have a virtual hearing from home or at the local SSA office where they applied. The agency could then close most of the hearing offices, keeping open just enough in higher population areas to handle the bulk of the claimants who do insist on a live hearing. ALJs would then be split into two groups- one group similar to what we had prior to the pandemic. The other group would not ever report to a physical office, they would largely be doing video hearings from whereever the live- but, they would on occasion have to take trip to cover live hearings in the more remote areas. Staff would be similarly split up. Or something else entirely. The point being, I don't think that this system is being implemented just for what will likely be a handful of hearings at the tail end of the pandemic. |
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Post by tripper on Feb 2, 2021 20:36:25 GMT -5
Because everything will be virtual? Maybe. We could go all virtual. But even if not all virtual, the agency could move to a model with a heavier dose of video. For example, allow claimants to retain the right to a live hearing if they wish, but expand the distance they can be required to travel for that hearing. Or, in the alternative, they can have a virtual hearing from home or at the local SSA office where they applied. The agency could then close most of the hearing offices, keeping open just enough in higher population areas to handle the bulk of the claimants who do insist on a live hearing. ALJs would then be split into two groups- one group similar to what we had prior to the pandemic. The other group would not ever report to a physical office, they would largely be doing video hearings from whereever the live- but, they would on occasion have to take trip to cover live hearings in the more remote areas. Staff would be similarly split up. Or something else entirely. The point being, I don't think that this system is being implemented just for what will likely be a handful of hearings at the tail end of the pandemic. This is my hope. Assign me to any office, let me work from home permanently. |
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Post by cruxmatter on Feb 2, 2021 21:30:08 GMT -5
I too got the notice for the SSA application i "recently submitted." Hilarious. If memory serves me correctly, I started the application process in April 2014. Finally had the interview with SSA at around the same time OMHA was hiring in 2019. I know we're talking about bureaucracy (or bureaucracies, to be clear), but even in that world, how can a seven year wait be called "recent"  I thank God every day for having planted me at OMHA. Best wishes to any of you with the intestinal fortitude to try to negotiate the next perverted gauntlet that may lead to becoming an ALJ. |
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Post by christina on Feb 3, 2021 19:04:33 GMT -5
I too got the notice for the SSA application i "recently submitted." Hilarious. If memory serves me correctly, I started the application process in April 2014. Finally had the interview with SSA at around the same time OMHA was hiring in 2019. I know we're talking about bureaucracy (or bureaucracies, to be clear), but even in that world, how can a seven year wait be called "recent" I thank God every day for having planted me at OMHA. Best wishes to any of you with the intestinal fortitude to try to negotiate the next perverted gauntlet that may lead to becoming an ALJ. Recent is a relative term, esp. in government speak |
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Post by roymcavoy on Feb 7, 2021 11:30:07 GMT -5
Just an update... as you all may recall, when SSA when to bat for budget allocations in FY2020, one of the barometers they used was argument that they needed resources to support 1320 ALJs by end of FY2020. According to the Case Process Management System, Dec-Jan attrition took the total number of ALJs below 1320.
I’d add that when our office was assigned a “video” judge last year, our overall ALJ number increased, while the ALJs home office total number of ALJs did not decrease. So it is likely that ALJs are being double counted and this number is lower by some degree.
And no, I don’t think this means hiring is imminent, I just think it’s interesting.
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Post by Thomas fka Lance on Feb 7, 2021 15:56:09 GMT -5
Just an update... as you all may recall, when SSA when to bat for budget allocations in FY2020, one of the barometers they used was argument that they needed resources to support 1320 ALJs by end of FY2020. According to the Case Process Management System, Dec-Jan attrition took the total number of ALJs below 1320. I’d add that when our office was assigned a “video” judge last year, our overall ALJ number increased, while the ALJs home office total number of ALJs did not decrease. So it is likely that ALJs are being double counted and this number is lower by some degree. And no, I don’t think this means hiring is imminent, I just think it’s interesting. Based on the "mandatory" training that has two classes, and one make up class, with a max of 980 attendants for each session there are 2,940, or fewer, judges. Edit My math ability strikes again |
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jb1
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Post by jb1 on Feb 8, 2021 13:05:22 GMT -5
Is there an accurate number of alj’s currently employed by ssa
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I thank God every day for having planted me at OMHA. Best wishes to any of you with the intestinal fortitude to try to negotiate the next perverted gauntlet that may lead to becoming an ALJ. 
