An optimistic appeal question

[barkley]

I hate to ask this, because I am much to old to be this optimistic and feel rather pathetic about being so, but here it is. I have heard:

(1) OPM is not addressing appeals until the current successful applicants had scores.
(2) OPM will soon release scores/the list.
(3) SSA will start interviews in mid to late January.

If these three things are true, do the insiders have a sense of how the appeals will be handled. I doubt many appeals will be successful, but if they are, would OPM make an effort to test/interview in November/December so those applicants could be added to the list in time for the Agency interviews?

[Pixie]

I doubt that OPM will take any extra steps so that additional candidates can be added to the register before a certificate is requested by the agency. I think the examination process is over for a while. Of course it is terribly unfair if a candidate were excluded from the register due to an error by OPM. But don't look for OPM to go out of its way to make it right. That's just the way they operate. I doubt that few, if any, will be found to have been excluded because of an OPM error. Pix.

[ruonthelist]

barkley: I think that Pixie is right. Also, even if OPM does jump in and start immediately working on appeals, SSA may well have requested a register before OPM resolves any appeals.

SSA has already made transfer offers to sitting ALJs. That process is a necessary precondition to finalizing the list of cities on the certificate request.

The contract solicitation for background checks talked about beginning recruitment "around November 2007."

The political realities dictate SSA requesting a certificate soon after OPM announces that the register is open. For 6 months since the House hearing OPM has been on a crash program to meet the promised target date of the end of October. Once they have produced a register, the pressure moves from OPM to SSA. SSA cannot be seen as delaying things.

So even if OPM starts work immediately on appeals (which I doubt) I don't see them getting through the process of deciding appeals, and organizing administration of interviews and written tests in time for successful appellants to be on the register when SSA requests its first certificate.

I wish I could be more encouraging. Good luck.

[zero]

I'm not terribly well informed but I will say that it is my impression that the folks up at OPM are very disorganized and very paranoid that people are going to find out. Fall back on Krauthammer's razor (with apologies to Occam): In explaining any puzzling Washington phenomenon, always choose stupidity over conspiracy, incompetence over cunning. Anything else gives them too much credit.

The appeals will not be handled well. It's too much effort and there's nobody looking over their shoulder. I agree with Pix that few, if any, will be granted. But I disagree that the decisions will be connected to merit.