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Post by hopefalj on Mar 11, 2022 12:32:14 GMT -5
Interesting. I actually thought there might be a short burst where they prioritized scheduling the claimants who insisted on (or required) in person hearings but were very much staying in touch before they went after the backlog of claimants who are lost in the wind. I think they may be required to schedule by hearing request date, which would limit their flexibility. To your earlier question, it’s hard to say how our policies would affect a big schedule without knowing exactly how we’re going to proceed. The type of case I would include would be those where we’ve never heard from them, can’t locate them, and have no medical for last 2-3 years. If they show up, great. I’ll meet with them, advise them if the right to PP for representation, get updated medical/personal information, get a new 827, let them know they have a responsibility to keep us informed, and tell them I’ll see them in a few months when I have a better idea of what is going on in their case. That was a pretty common occurrence for me in the pre-Covid days with similar cases. Doesn’t usually take a lot of time. |
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Post by nylawyer on Mar 11, 2022 14:28:46 GMT -5
Interesting. I actually thought there might be a short burst where they prioritized scheduling the claimants who insisted on (or required) in person hearings but were very much staying in touch before they went after the backlog of claimants who are lost in the wind. I think they may be required to schedule by hearing request date, which would limit their flexibility. Boy, I hope that isn't true. That would just be pure bureaucratic nonsense if instead of scheduling someone who actually needs an in person hearing into one of the scarce live slots, the agency was instead scheduling someone who they have zero reason to believe will ever show up. |
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Post by christina on Mar 11, 2022 15:02:53 GMT -5
But some of those no shows we need to do so we can finally dismiss case
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Post by nappyloxs on Mar 11, 2022 22:08:21 GMT -5
But some of those no shows we need to do so we can finally dismiss case And a high % will be right back on remand. Right now, dismissals are going through reviews which catches errors, but that will end. So better make sure staff did what they needed to do. Plus, there are a few very reasonable justifications that claimants could raise on appeal. Public forum, so I won’t list them. |
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Post by hopefalj on Mar 12, 2022 9:40:54 GMT -5
But some of those no shows we need to do so we can finally dismiss case And a high % will be right back on remand. Right now, dismissals are going through reviews which catches errors, but that will end. So better make sure staff did what they needed to do. Plus, there are a few very reasonable justifications that claimants could raise on appeal. Public forum, so I won’t list them. Maybe, but that’ll be office and judge dependent. Those that did prehearing contacts, ran queries, etc. before dismissing cases prior the closure and had low dismissal rates will still have lower rates, which is consistent with your point. Abandonment dismissals aren’t highly appealed anyway because they often occur because the individual has fallen off the face of the Earth. If they don’t get hearing notices, reminders, or our calls, they usually don’t get our dismissals to appeal them. Anyway, it’s not as if reasonable justifications are needed to get cases kicked back. People can just write down anything on the request for review, and the AC will send it back for good cause. |
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Post by roymcavoy on Mar 12, 2022 11:49:49 GMT -5
And a high % will be right back on remand. Right now, dismissals are going through reviews which catches errors, but that will end. So better make sure staff did what they needed to do. Plus, there are a few very reasonable justifications that claimants could raise on appeal. Public forum, so I won’t list them. Maybe, but that’ll be office and judge dependent. Those that did prehearing contacts, ran queries, etc. before dismissing cases prior the closure and had low dismissal rates will still have lower rates, which is consistent with your point. Abandonment dismissals aren’t highly appealed anyway because they often occur because the individual has fallen off the face of the Earth. If they don’t get hearing notices, reminders, or our calls, they usually don’t get our dismissals to appeal them. Anyway, it’s not as if reasonable justifications are needed to get cases kicked back. People can just write down anything on the request for review, and the AC will send it back for good cause. per the percentage of CEOs I have done, lots of these “non-contact” dismissals will result because the CM doesn’t want to talk to us because they are working and don’t know what to do with their prior claim |
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Post by karaj on Mar 19, 2022 11:12:56 GMT -5
where are you getting your info from? I am an ALJ, and have heard nothing about a resuscitation of the retired ALJ program, and I have recently inquired about it.
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Post by workdrone on Mar 19, 2022 12:06:52 GMT -5
where are you getting your info from? I am an ALJ, and have heard nothing about a resuscitation of the retired ALJ program, and I have recently inquired about it. There are retired ALJs being rehired for this FY. But I think each Regional HQ has a lot of say in it and individual ALJ reputation is critical, as selection is completely discretionary. So YMMV. |
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Post by nylawyer on Mar 19, 2022 16:18:22 GMT -5
where are you getting your info from? I am an ALJ, and have heard nothing about a resuscitation of the retired ALJ program, and I have recently inquired about it. There are retired ALJs being rehired for this FY. But I think each Regional HQ has a lot of say in it and individual ALJ reputation is critical, as selection is completely discretionary. So YMMV. Any idea what the scope of the retiring is? Part time? For a full year or something less? I'm wondering, is this in anticipation of a flood of cases coming from the FOs once they re-open? If so, it feels it a little premature, I'd think we are at least 6 months away before the first of that wave could even begin to start hitting OHO, and that's probably optimistic. Or- are they going to hire a bunch of retired ALJs to come in for 3 months and assign them the backlog of cases that are all dismissals waiting to happen? |
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Post by Thomas fka Lance on Mar 19, 2022 22:26:54 GMT -5
There are retired ALJs being rehired for this FY. But I think each Regional HQ has a lot of say in it and individual ALJ reputation is critical, as selection is completely discretionary. So YMMV. Any idea what the scope of the retiring is? Part time? For a full year or something less? I'm wondering, is this in anticipation of a flood of cases coming from the FOs once they re-open? If so, it feels it a little premature, I'd think we are at least 6 months away before the first of that wave could even begin to start hitting OHO, and that's probably optimistic. Or- are they going to hire a bunch of retired ALJs to come in for 3 months and assign them the backlog of cases that are all dismissals waiting to happen? The way I have seen in operation was for a retired judge come into an office for 6 months (rumor I heard was they only call former HOCALJs, idk if that's true) holds a standard docket and goes back into retirement at the end of the 6 months |
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Post by pumpkin on Mar 22, 2022 18:07:33 GMT -5
www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/opm1655.pdfThe application form for retired ALJ’s to apply to become a “SALJ” (Senior ALJ). It appears you can check whether you are interested in working part time or full time, the agency or agencies with which you would be willing to work, and whether or not you would be willing to travel for the job.
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Post by Thomas fka Lance on Mar 22, 2022 18:20:47 GMT -5
www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/opm1655.pdfThe application form for retired ALJ’s to apply to become a “SALJ” (Senior ALJ). It appears you can check whether you are interested in working part time or full time, the agency or agencies with which you would be willing to work, and whether or not you would be willing to travel for the job. Wow pumpkin, that is helpful info for those retired folks. Thanks |
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Post by superalj on Mar 23, 2022 16:56:12 GMT -5
Any idea what the scope of the retiring is? Part time? For a full year or something less? I'm wondering, is this in anticipation of a flood of cases coming from the FOs once they re-open? If so, it feels it a little premature, I'd think we are at least 6 months away before the first of that wave could even begin to start hitting OHO, and that's probably optimistic. Or- are they going to hire a bunch of retired ALJs to come in for 3 months and assign them the backlog of cases that are all dismissals waiting to happen? The way I have seen in operation was for a retired judge come into an office for 6 months (rumor I heard was they only call former HOCALJs, idk if that's true) holds a standard docket and goes back into retirement at the end of the 6 months Rumor is untrue regarding former HOCALjs. My objection stands to senior ALJs. First, there are not enough cases for the line ALJs and more importantly, SSA should bring in new ALJs hungry to learn the job. |
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Post by nylawyer on Mar 23, 2022 17:07:17 GMT -5
The way I have seen in operation was for a retired judge come into an office for 6 months (rumor I heard was they only call former HOCALJs, idk if that's true) holds a standard docket and goes back into retirement at the end of the 6 months Rumor is untrue regarding former HOCALjs. My objection stands to senior ALJs. First, there are not enough cases for the line ALJs and more importantly, SSA should bring in new ALJs hungry to learn the job. While I hope for hiring, and believe it is in the long term interest of OHO to start doing so, I feel compelled to note your first objection kind of undermines your second. If there isn't enough work for line ALJs, then it makes even less sense to add new ALJs than it does temporary senior ALJs. |
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Post by superalj on Mar 23, 2022 22:01:12 GMT -5
Yep I lose what little logic I have rooting for a new class. Let me rephrase, if there are enough cases in the pipeline to warrant an expanded ALJ corps, it should be with a new class hungry to learn instead of our colleagues that had their chance at this great job. To me, retiring is like breaking up with a significant other-you do it for a reason.
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Post by sandyeggan on Apr 1, 2022 15:00:23 GMT -5
Some may have retired for reasons other than to "break up" from SSA, such as the need to return to our real home for family reasons and ending the geographic bachelor/ette status. For such a retiree the opporutnity to work from the family home area, unavailable via the transfer list, would be a blessing and a good use of available, well-trained, ready-to-go resources.
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Post by cookie on Apr 1, 2022 15:17:09 GMT -5
Some may have retired for reasons other than to "break up" from SSA, such as the need to return to our real home for family reasons and ending the geographic bachelor/ette status. For such a retiree the opporutnity to work from the family home area, unavailable via the transfer list, would be a blessing and a good use of available, well-trained, ready-to-go resources. Speaking of the transfer list, I know of only 1 actual offer from the most recent inquiries. I’m curious if anyone is willing to share whether they have also received a reassignment offer (not inquiry)? |
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Post by Topperlaw on Apr 2, 2022 9:23:06 GMT -5
Some may have retired for reasons other than to "break up" from SSA, such as the need to return to our real home for family reasons and ending the geographic bachelor/ette status. For such a retiree the opporutnity to work from the family home area, unavailable via the transfer list, would be a blessing and a good use of available, well-trained, ready-to-go resources. Speaking of the transfer list, I know of only 1 actual offer from the most recent inquiries. I’m curious if anyone is willing to share whether they have also received a reassignment offer (not inquiry)? I know of a transfer to a TX office as well as a transfer to an office in the KC Region. Also, it looks like they're working the list HARD, because within hours of a judge announcing a departure, I got an Inquiry about the same city (a city that had not been on the current list). |
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Post by nylawyer on Apr 2, 2022 13:00:10 GMT -5
It's too bad we don't know what the future is going to look like in terms of video/phone hearings from home and the two hour rule.
If, for example, ALJs were only expected to be in the office 4 days a month and there were no 2 hour rule I bet the transfer list might look quite a bit different.
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Post by christina on Apr 2, 2022 13:05:14 GMT -5
I’m aware of a transfer out west
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