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Post by fowlfinder on Jun 13, 2023 10:36:08 GMT -5
Does anybody have a handle on how the debt limit agreement could affect things like ALJ hiring? In my rudimentary understanding, the deal will basically maintain FY 2023 non-defense discretionary spending levels in FY 2024, with a tiny (1%) increase in FY 2025. Assuming some inflation in 2024 and 2025, I guess this amounts to an effective budget cut for federal agencies compared with what they would have received if not for the deal. At the same time, though, I suppose some agencies might fare better than others, depending on how the (somewhat diminished) pie is sliced. So will this affect ALJ hiring, and if so, by how much? Wild speculation is welcome here. Speculation hat on: I do not think it will make any difference to the 2023 FY plan. Now it may effect hiring in 2024. But I don't expect it to make a difference on the number of hires in 2023. No inside information. Pure speculation, so entirely objectionable. The court reporter can now strike my comment. |
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Post by legallysufficient on Jun 13, 2023 11:37:07 GMT -5
Agree-probably wont make a difference in 2023. 2024 seems rather uncertain for that reason and the possibility of budget battles for FY 24.
Looks like the agency is hiring a couple hundred attorneys - would hope they get as many judges as they can this fiscal year.
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Post by rmspringfield on Jun 13, 2023 13:46:27 GMT -5
SSA is now putting out a podcast (who knew). The first episode was mildly informative. www.ssa.gov/news/audio-series.htmlThere is apparently a new centralized hiring department. News to me. I'm not sure if this is just in reference to FO hires, or if ALJs will be addressed by this new office. As an ALJ is a "public facing" position, I suspect it might be. Not sure what this means for time tables, but its a data point (or maybe its just noise). But something I didn't know before today and thought someone might want to know it, or may know more about it. According to the transcript of the podcast posted by fowlfinder, it looks like per the Commissioner SSA actually got a funding increase this year specifically to promote hiring and replenish SSAs diminishing ranks. Of course the increase fell far short of what the president asked for. So with that the ALJ hiring for this year should be set. Who can say for next year? |
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Post by legallysufficient on Jun 13, 2023 13:59:53 GMT -5
Exactly- so all the more reason to hire as many as possible this year.
Is it safe to assume this will be the last group hired off of the April 2022 posting?
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Post by neufenland on Jun 13, 2023 14:16:43 GMT -5
Exactly- so all the more reason to hire as many as possible this year. Is it safe to assume this will be the last group hired off of the April 2022 posting? I don’t know if it’s necessarily safe to assume it, but it is certainly my opinion that this is it for that announcement. Last year’s interviews happened in July 2022, so that’s coming up on a year. Not sure the announcement can close for some, but not for all (since “newer” interviews were much more recent). I don’t pretend to know the ins and outs of OPM/fed HR rules, but my take is that this it it for the announcement. |
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Post by roymcavoy on Jun 13, 2023 17:33:27 GMT -5
Exactly- so all the more reason to hire as many as possible this year. Is it safe to assume this will be the last group hired off of the April 2022 posting? I don’t know if it’s necessarily safe to assume it, but it is certainly my opinion that this is it for that announcement. Last year’s interviews happened in July 2022, so that’s coming up on a year. Not sure the announcement can close for some, but not for all (since “newer” interviews were much more recent). I don’t pretend to know the ins and outs of OPM/fed HR rules, but my take is that this it it for the announcement. the old rule was that the interview was good for 12M—I don’t know that we have seen it explained, but it’s possible. It seemed that EOIR adopted the same timeline, FWIW. |
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Post by Gaidin on Jun 14, 2023 9:24:09 GMT -5
I don’t know if it’s necessarily safe to assume it, but it is certainly my opinion that this is it for that announcement. Last year’s interviews happened in July 2022, so that’s coming up on a year. Not sure the announcement can close for some, but not for all (since “newer” interviews were much more recent). I don’t pretend to know the ins and outs of OPM/fed HR rules, but my take is that this it it for the announcement. the old rule was that the interview was good for 12M—I don’t know that we have seen it explained, but it’s possible. It seemed that EOIR adopted the same timeline, FWIW. The old rule was the interview was good for the life of the register. You only got one interview. |
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Post by hillsarealive on Jun 14, 2023 9:52:57 GMT -5
the old rule was that the interview was good for 12M—I don’t know that we have seen it explained, but it’s possible. It seemed that EOIR adopted the same timeline, FWIW. The old rule was the interview was good for the life of the register. You only got one interview. This makes sense. I seem to recall people being hired years after interviewing under the old process. However, I think you also mentioned that references were re-interviewed after one year, right? If reference checks get stale at one year, then I suppose last summer's reference checks would be getting stale soon. So, if there's yet another round of hiring off of the register-like list, perhaps TPTB would want to talk to some references again. |
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Post by roymcavoy on Jun 14, 2023 10:07:19 GMT -5
the old rule was that the interview was good for 12M—I don’t know that we have seen it explained, but it’s possible. It seemed that EOIR adopted the same timeline, FWIW. The old rule was the interview was good for the life of the register. You only got one interview. sorry, yeah. Late night. Not sure why I said “old rule.” My intended point was that the newly conducted “agency” interviews seem to be good for 12 months. |
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Post by ssaogc on Jun 14, 2023 18:42:59 GMT -5
A fellow ALJ I know from when we were hired told me she will be participating in Train the trainer training next month in anticipation of New ALJ train8ng in August and September. No further information but seems hiring is still on track for this fiscal year.
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Post by legallysufficient on Jun 15, 2023 9:41:37 GMT -5
Any additional info on when a potential start date may be? Last I heard on here was 8/7 which is the middle of a pay period. Any updates on this?
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Post by peanutfancy on Jun 15, 2023 11:52:17 GMT -5
Every time I see this thread update, I assume the offers have started, and I didn't get one. It's nerve-wracking. But can I walk away?? No, I can't. Ugh.
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Post by neufenland on Jun 15, 2023 12:14:10 GMT -5
Every time I see this thread update, I assume the offers have started, and I didn't get one. It's nerve-wracking. But can I walk away?? No, I can't. Ugh. I pretty much say "I wish I knew how to quit you" every time I log on (which is a lot these days).  If it helps, if offers/calls start to go out, I'd expect a new thread vs. commentary on this one. That has happened in the past, but there may very well be initial scuttle/gouge/RUMINT on this thread. I am very grateful for this Board, but it can be a double-edged sword sometimes (a lot of anxiety as offers are anticipated, and then a small group of folks get it, and are excited, while others don't get a call and have the massive letdown). I can say "I'm prepared to be disappointed" to myself a million times, and I do say it every day the silence continues, but it will still sting when it inevitably comes. It is easier to get over disappointment than deal with anxiety, though. That's my take on it, but call me next month and see how I feel... Also, we all understand that "we'll know when we know" is the only answer, but we also all understand that it isn't a helpful one when it comes to managing anxiety. |
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Post by legallysufficient on Jun 15, 2023 12:47:54 GMT -5
If interviews started week of 7/4 last year and they are good for a year, offers would need to go out by that date this year, no?
Hope the offers come soon so folks can have celebrations or closure.
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Post by hillsarealive on Jun 15, 2023 14:14:58 GMT -5
If interviews started week of 7/4 last year and they are good for a year, offers would need to go out by that date this year, no? Hope the offers come soon so folks can have celebrations or closure. I think it was the reference interviews that were only good for one year under the old process. Last year, reference interviews started in late June (I think), so about a week before candidate interviews. Even so, I doubt that will affect the timing of calls. We don't know if the one-year rule still applies, or the exact terms of the rule, or whether it really is/was a rule as opposed to a guideline or best practice that can be shrugged off when necessary. I do hope the offers come soon. I bet they'll come by the end of this month, but if takes until mid-July, that's not so bad either. |
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Post by rmspringfield on Jun 15, 2023 14:36:50 GMT -5
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Post by fowlfinder on Jun 15, 2023 15:59:18 GMT -5
Ah yes, the basket of Corgis. Can't have just one/ein. |
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Post by Ortolan bunting on Jun 15, 2023 17:03:17 GMT -5
Every time I see this thread update, I assume the offers have started, and I didn't get one. It's nerve-wracking. But can I walk away?? No, I can't. Ugh. I pretty much say "I wish I knew how to quit you" every time I log on (which is a lot these days). If it helps, if offers/calls start to go out, I'd expect a new thread vs. commentary on this one. That has happened in the past, but there may very well be initial scuttle/gouge/RUMINT on this thread. I am very grateful for this Board, but it can be a double-edged sword sometimes (a lot of anxiety as offers are anticipated, and then a small group of folks get it, and are excited, while others don't get a call and have the massive letdown). I can say "I'm prepared to be disappointed" to myself a million times, and I do say it every day the silence continues, but it will still sting when it inevitably comes. It is easier to get over disappointment than deal with anxiety, though. That's my take on it, but call me next month and see how I feel... Also, we all understand that "we'll know when we know" is the only answer, but we also all understand that it isn't a helpful one when it comes to managing anxiety. Well said. I am mostly ambivalent at this point and just want to know one way or the other. But, yeah, call me next month and see how I feel. |
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Post by bourbonmanhattan on Jun 16, 2023 20:59:18 GMT -5
I heard from a bird who recently visited the sun for enlightenment of a far east apostle who weaves a tale of disciples already selected and being called to service next week.
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Post by arkstfan on Jun 17, 2023 1:28:25 GMT -5
B-52's are retiring and doing a farewell residency in Las Vegas this summer. I'm going in August. TBH I don't understand the appeal of Vegas. Give me the mountains any day. The appeal (for me) is seeing a favorite band from my youth one last time. |
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