Paul Burkhalter, NOSSCR President

TIMES LIKE THESE

We are you.

It’s easy to think of NOSSCR as a distant organization in Washington—one that puts on great CLE programs, provides updates on policy changes, and lobbies on behalf of claimants and those who represent them. But the truth is, we see the world just like you do.

I am a partner in a five-attorney Social Security Disability firm. I’ve worked as an associate attorney at a Social Security Disability law firm, as an attorney for SSA, and at Legal Services of New York City. I know what it’s like to fight for people who desperately need their Social Security benefits. And I’m not alone.

Our CEO, David Camp, started his career in a legal services program before leading a firm focused on helping homeless clients secure benefits. Our Chief Strategy Officer, Laura Beth Waller, represented disability claimants in federal courts throughout the Fourth Circuit. Our Senior Counsel, Jennifer Cronenberg, worked as an associate attorney, appearing daily before ALJs on behalf of claimants. Our Litigation Director, Tom Krause, spent years representing claimants at Legal Services Corp. of Iowa before transitioning to private practice, where he focused on federal court appeals.

We understand firsthand the struggles of practicing Social Security disability law.

In my own practice, I worry every day about whether hearing office delays will prevent my clients from getting the benefits they need to pay rent and feed their families. I stress over whether SSA will pay my fees promptly so I can pay my staff. I feel my team’s frustration when they wait on hold for over 30 minutes with SSA—only for the call to be dropped. And I know that when I send a client to a field office for in-person help, they may wait for hours just to be seen.

Because we know these realities, we are deeply concerned about recent changes—such as the closure of SSA field offices and remote hearing sites in locations like White Plains, NY; Logan, WV; Carlsbad, CA; Roanoke Rapids, NC; Batesville, AR; Columbus, OH; Okemos, MI; Nacogdoches, TX; Green Bay, WI; and Las Vegas, NV. We also worry about further reductions to SSA’s already overstretched workforce. (Source: Doge.gov; ProPublica.org – Anxiety Mounts Among Social Security Recipients as DOGE Troops Settle In, 2/22/25).

These changes—and likely more to come—will impact our clients’ ability to receive the benefits and medical coverage they desperately need. They will also affect our ability, as representatives, to reach SSA employees to help us get assistance for our clients.

Given these challenges, we want to hear from you. If you notice a decline (or improvement) in the quality of SSA services, let us know. More importantly, encourage your clients to contact their Congressional representatives when they experience problems.

Rest assured, NOSSCR is taking action. We are in the room when Congress considers these changes. Former Congressman Drew Ferguson, who previously chaired the House Subcommittee on Social Security, has joined NOSSCR as our new Senior Political Advisor. Be sure to register for the free NOSSCR PAC Webinar on March 10th at 4 PM ET to hear directly from him. We also maintain open lines of communication with SSA leadership, including Acting Commissioner Leland Dudek—who will speak at our upcoming Spring conference—and we look forward to engaging with Commissioner nominee Frank Bisignano. Our many allies within SSA continue to keep us informed as changes unfold.

Finally, I want to address the emergence of new groups claiming to represent Social Security claimant attorneys and representatives—offering CLE, software, and little else. I urge you to look closely at who is behind these organizations. Do they truly share your interests? Do they personally represent clients struggling to secure healthcare, pay rent, and obtain Social Security disability benefits? Or are they simply trying to sell you a Medicare plan or software? Do they advocate for legislation that benefits you and your clients—or just their own business interests?

At NOSSCR, I promise we remain committed to fighting for what is best for the claimants we represent and the businesses that serve them.