|
|
Post by dshawn on Feb 13, 2024 8:39:50 GMT -5
You can call it “senior status” to feel like an Art. III judge (they still get their full pay), but I’m pretty sure OPM will call it “part time employee.” Well, to give Lucia its due, “part time inferior officer.”[/quote] www.fedweek.com/ask/federal-retirement/reemployed-annuitant/[/quote] Fair enough. Call it what you want. See also comment above about SO. Often not wrong. |
|
|
|
Post by dshawn on Feb 13, 2024 8:43:16 GMT -5
And, FTR, I know exactly what my status is. No need or desire to feel like and Art. III judge. Offered by way of explanation only.
|
|
|
|
Post by legallysufficient on Feb 14, 2024 20:41:00 GMT -5
I highly doubt that many OMHA judges would want to take an SSA ALJ position. As noted earlier, many left SSA to go to OMHA in the first place. That said, anyone who knows folks that work at OMHA are aware that they over-hired back in 2018-2019 with the inception of several new field offices that were not necessary, even despite the court order. All accounts point to morale at OMHA being worse than ever. The question becomes how many attorneys at OMHA can be absorbed by other agencies?
|
|
|
|
Post by hopefalj on Feb 14, 2024 21:46:54 GMT -5
I highly doubt that many OMHA judges would want to take an SSA ALJ position. As noted earlier, many left SSA to go to OMHA in the first place. That said, anyone who knows folks that work at OMHA are aware that they over-hired back in 2018-2019 with the inception of several new field offices that were not necessary, even despite the court order. All accounts point to morale at OMHA being worse than ever. The question becomes how many attorneys at OMHA can be absorbed by other agencies? I think one’s perspective of wanting to go to or go back to SSA changes when the alternative is a RIF. How many attorneys are at OMHA? |
|
|
|
Post by Judge McJudgeypants on Feb 15, 2024 10:50:47 GMT -5
I highly doubt that many OMHA judges would want to take an SSA ALJ position. As noted earlier, many left SSA to go to OMHA in the first place. That said, anyone who knows folks that work at OMHA are aware that they over-hired back in 2018-2019 with the inception of several new field offices that were not necessary, even despite the court order. All accounts point to morale at OMHA being worse than ever. The question becomes how many attorneys at OMHA can be absorbed by other agencies? I think one’s perspective of wanting to go to or go back to SSA changes when the alternative is a RIF. How many attorneys are at OMHA? When the alternative is a RIF, one's perspective (especially where the "one" is the sole breadwinner for their family) definitely changes ... there are a lot of alternatives you consider (SAA or AA for any agency, IJ at DOJ, moving hundreds of miles to the DC area?) I've combed through the posts looking for info or anecdotes of ALJs who've transitioned to something else like SAA/AA or IJ--there are a few but not many examples. I am waiting for the FY25 budget to come out before I panic too much, but it is hard for the brain not to think about the potential NEED to let go of the ALJ job/title/benefits and do something else that (even if not factually accurate in everyday practice) some might see as a voluntary demotion. |
|
|
|
Post by neufenland on Feb 15, 2024 13:25:17 GMT -5
ALJ positions seem to be feast or famine. I guess it’s famine for the foreseeable future in OMHA and SSA. EOIR does seem to continue with hiring IJs (although, a lot of that is dependent on budget, which means Congress has to act, and they don’t like doing that, apparently).
|
|
|
|
Post by intothewild on Feb 20, 2024 14:22:15 GMT -5
Scary to hear about this. Glad I never jumped to OHMA.
|
|
|
|
Post by pumpkin on Feb 22, 2024 21:11:18 GMT -5
Any prognostication about the likelihood of a voluntary early out retirement for OMHA ALJ's (or ALJ's across-the-board)?
|
|
|
|
Post by Judge McJudgeypants on Feb 22, 2024 21:29:39 GMT -5
They already just offered VERA/VSIP. I believe the deadline is tomorrow to apply (but don’t hold me to that… I am too new to even think of retiring, so I have not paid much attention to deadlines.) I do know that those who elect to retire early must separate by March 31, 2024.
|
|
|
|
Post by Gaidin on Feb 23, 2024 15:47:36 GMT -5
I can actually see SSA trying to find the money to bring a few OMHA ALJs (especially former SSA ALJs) over into some very specific offices. It might be the easiest way to get those offices filled with "new" ALJs.
|
|
|
|
Post by arkstfan on Feb 24, 2024 17:44:43 GMT -5
When I went through training we had an OMHA ALJ and an attorney in our class. The ALJ as I recall had accepted a spot in one of the smaller cities that tended to have a lot of churn to get closer to family so the agency was giddy about someone who would go there and stay.
|
|
|
|
Post by jimmyjiggles on Mar 3, 2024 2:15:09 GMT -5
I think one’s perspective of wanting to go to or go back to SSA changes when the alternative is a RIF. How many attorneys are at OMHA? When the alternative is a RIF, one's perspective (especially where the "one" is the sole breadwinner for their family) definitely changes ... there are a lot of alternatives you consider (SAA or AA for any agency, IJ at DOJ, moving hundreds of miles to the DC area?) I've combed through the posts looking for info or anecdotes of ALJs who've transitioned to something else like SAA/AA or IJ--there are a few but not many examples. I am waiting for the FY25 budget to come out before I panic too much, but it is hard for the brain not to think about the potential NEED to let go of the ALJ job/title/benefits and do something else that (even if not factually accurate in everyday practice) some might see as a voluntary demotion. Amen to this. I checked the “be a judge” box of my career, I have no problem taking another job lower in supposed stature/title/social cache. Remote writing job with union protections? Sounding pretty good right about now!! Good for you for not freaking out. Nothing can happen until they get more info, but the decision is coming in the next few months I would think. A lot of tea had been spilled here in this thread, but unless you are here you really have no idea how low morale is or why. SSA ALJs - please appreciate all the nonsense you are spared by not being supervisors! I’m hopeful more appeals will come in, some folks will early out and transfer, and the situation will resolve itself. In the meantime, USAJOBS awaits! |
|
|
|
Post by ssaogc on Mar 3, 2024 21:25:45 GMT -5
SSA needs a HOCALJ in Denver, they keep advertising that job every year it seems. OMHA ALJs all have Supervisory experience and would be great candidates. In fact I believe SSA is having a hard time getting people to move these days. I currently have a 2.25 percent mortgage rate. Even if they pay for my move I am going to be worse off financially due to the hi mortgage rates.
|
|
|
|
Post by Gaidin on Mar 5, 2024 20:51:29 GMT -5
SSA needs a HOCALJ in Denver, they keep advertising that job every year it seems. OMHA ALJs all have Supervisory experience and would be great candidates. In fact I believe SSA is having a hard time getting people to move these days. I currently have a 2.25 percent mortgage rate. Even if they pay for my move I am going to be worse off financially due to the hi mortgage rates. Does SSA post the HOCALJ positions to OMHA judges? If not they probably should be. Moving right now would be hard for exactly the reason you mention ssaogc but if it was that or take a steep pay cut to be a writer I could probably figure it out. |
|
|
|
Post by Judge McJudgeypants on Mar 5, 2024 23:46:02 GMT -5
SSA needs a HOCALJ in Denver, they keep advertising that job every year it seems. OMHA ALJs all have Supervisory experience and would be great candidates. In fact I believe SSA is having a hard time getting people to move these days. I currently have a 2.25 percent mortgage rate. Even if they pay for my move I am going to be worse off financially due to the hi mortgage rates. Does SSA post the HOCALJ positions to OMHA judges? If not they probably should be. Moving right now would be hard for exactly the reason you mention ssaogc but if it was that or take a steep pay cut to be a writer I could probably figure it out. They don't (at least not that I have seen), and that would be great! |
|
|
|
Post by Burt Macklin on Mar 21, 2024 12:35:28 GMT -5
FY2025 Budget looks like an absolute disaster for OMHA.
Reduction from 117 Line ALJs to 78. 39 ALJs will be shown the door.
Attrition and details aren't getting OMHA there - seems like a RIF is a certainty at this point.
Edit: see pg 216 of the PDF (PDF pagination).
|
|
|
|
Post by okthen on Mar 21, 2024 20:24:44 GMT -5
FY2025 Budget looks like an absolute disaster for OMHA.
Reduction from 117 Line ALJs to 78. 39 ALJs will be shown the door.
Attrition and details aren't getting OMHA there - seems like a RIF is a certainty at this point.
Edit: see pg 216 of the PDF (PDF pagination).
Very sorry to see this. What’s the process for determining who goes/stays? Do you guys have a union? Or are you guys management judges? |
|
|
|
Post by okthen on Mar 21, 2024 20:30:33 GMT -5
FY2025 Budget looks like an absolute disaster for OMHA.
Reduction from 117 Line ALJs to 78. 39 ALJs will be shown the door.
Attrition and details aren't getting OMHA there - seems like a RIF is a certainty at this point.
Edit: see pg 216 of the PDF (PDF pagination).
Very sorry to see this. What’s the process for determining who goes/stays? Do you guys have a union? Or are you guys management judges? Found it - www.ecfr.gov/current/title-5/chapter-I/subchapter-B/part-930/subpart-B/section-930.210 |
|
|
|
Post by fowlfinder on Mar 22, 2024 7:03:32 GMT -5
FY2025 Budget looks like an absolute disaster for OMHA.
Reduction from 117 Line ALJs to 78. 39 ALJs will be shown the door.
Attrition and details aren't getting OMHA there - seems like a RIF is a certainty at this point.
Edit: see pg 216 of the PDF (PDF pagination).
Throwing this out there: HOCALJ openings for St. Louis NHC (close date April 11) and the Harrisburg PA (close date April 4) were just circulated yesterday, and Downtown Not sure if the agency is willing to consider those ALJs currently outside the agency but I thought I'd pass it on. EDIT: and Longbeach CA (closes April 5). |
|
|
|
Post by anciano on Mar 22, 2024 13:43:19 GMT -5
Unfortunately the postings state in Area of Consideration: "Current SSA-OHO ALJs". A failure to fill, could result in a reposting with a broadened area of consideration, but unlikely.
|
|
