Rick Fleming, NOSSCR President

As NOSSCR welcomes a new year, we also welcome a new Commissioner and a permanent leader. David Camp, who has served as NOSSCR’s interim CEO for the past five months, was hired by the Board this week for the position of CEO.  

NOSSCR was one of the first phone calls Commissioner O’Malley made once confirmed, and David and the Commissioner remain in close contact. One of the first results of this direct cooperation is the new status report that now shows a representative’s list of associated initial and reconsideration claims. NOSSCR and SSA worked for several weeks, including on Saturdays, to ensure this rollout came to light. This is a win for both sides: Representatives are now able to ascertain with which claims they are associated, and SSA should now receive fewer telephone calls inquiring if a 1696 has been processed. SSA issued guidance on this new IC/RC status report, which you can find on page 13-14 here. 

As NOSSCR members are acutely aware, there are several challenges facing SSA’s disability adjudication process. NOSSCR has identified the following top policy priorities for 2024 and remains committed to working with the Commissioner to find solutions to these problems: 

1. The growing claims backlog. 

2. The excessive number of overpayments with collection practices and policies that fail to consider equity and good conscience. 

3. Representation fees that limit access to quality advocates and the failure to annually adjust the representative fee cap.

4. SSA policies that unfairly harm disability claimants, slow the process, and increase costs. 

5. SSA’s outdated systems. 

In addition to our policy agenda, NOSSCR is working hard to provide valuable programming and resources for members. 2024 is full of member events, and we look forward to seeing you at as many of them as possible. Mark your calendars for a Litigation Update Webinar on Monday, January 29, with Litigation Director Tom Krause and a no-cost Legal Services CLE for Legal Services Members, our Non-Profit members, on February 6th.  

#SaveTheDate: As you plan your secured leave this year, refer to this helpful list of NOSSCR events in 2024. 

Thank you for your support of NOSSCR and we look forward to partnering with you to ensure a successful 2024.