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Post by jagghagg on Dec 1, 2008 9:46:12 GMT -5
I have heard from more than one person that, back in the summer of 2008, SSA contacted them and asked them if they would be interested in being considered for cities not listed on their GAL. I'd like to hear from more individuals who had this contact made.
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Post by zero on Dec 15, 2008 12:02:08 GMT -5
What's the scoop on this? I keep hearing rumors about a new hearing office in my geo area but I can't find a peep about it online.
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Post by barkley on Dec 16, 2008 7:11:07 GMT -5
What's the scoop on this? I keep hearing rumors about a new hearing office in my geo area but I can't find a peep about it online. This is a separate issue from what JH is seeking. There have been announcements about the intended opening of 4 or 5 new offices. In a briefing, I heard that one was opening "near" my office in 2010. I imagine the start is delayed pending funding - then GSA has to find office space or build office space, equipment and office furniture must be ordered, etc. Can take a while. |
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Post by jagghagg on Dec 16, 2008 7:19:58 GMT -5
This is about people who were called by SSA, during the hiring process of the first and second cert, and asked if they would be interested in a city NOT on their GAL.
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Post by jennifer on Dec 21, 2008 15:06:15 GMT -5
Before the first certificate, there was all this clamor about a monstrous backlog & an ALJ shortage. You don't hear that much about it any more. Did the 2 certificates pretty much put ODAR where it wanted to be?
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Post by pm on Dec 21, 2008 15:25:08 GMT -5
Before the first certificate, there was all this clamor about a monstrous backlog & an ALJ shortage. You don't hear that much about it any more. Did the 2 certificates pretty much put ODAR where it wanted to be? No, there's still a monstrous backlog and a need for many more judges, as well as a need for more staff generally. |
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Post by hooligan on Dec 21, 2008 16:54:30 GMT -5
Before the first certificate, there was all this clamor about a monstrous backlog & an ALJ shortage. You don't hear that much about it any more. Did the 2 certificates pretty much put ODAR where it wanted to be? There is a huge fallacy at the center of all the rhetoric about judges. While more judges and more staff are necessary, the problem is not going to be resolved in the short term no matter what they do. Given the economic climate, it is likely to get worse. Assume the backlog is 700,000. Assume further that 150 judges are added, each doing 500 decisions a year. That would account for 75,000 decisions - assuming there were no new filings. If the current judges were just able to keep up with receipts, it would still take nearly 10 years for the additional judges to knock down the backlog. My view is that the backlog needs to be addressed at the State level. District Offices need to take a more realistic view regarding the cases they deny. Some areas only approve about 20% of initial claims, moving the burden to the hearings offices. The cases that fry me are the ones where DDS decides they need a CE (consultative medical exam), they send it out to a doctor they have chosen, and then they decide to deny the case because they don't accept what the doctor told them. There is no excuse for these cases cluttering up the system. If you need a CE, rely on it. If you can not rely on the doctor, take him off your referral list. Judges also need some authority to deal with delays and stalling tactics. If the case is not prepared, the hand holding should be limited. I get an unacceptably large number of cases where the claimant does not make any effort to submit information, respond to inquiries or appear at the scheduled hearing. Let me reduce the fees payable to Reps who don't do their jobs. Real courts have rules of procedure and consequences for failure to follow them. The rules in this court favor delay and incompetence. It is no wonder nothing can get done promptly. |
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