The monthly Forum newsletter is only available to NOSSCR members. Below is an archive of topics from past issues. Click the first letter of the topic below to see a full list. Note that the entire articles are not available online; they can only be accessed through the print editions.
Please contact us if you are a member trying to access the monthly newsletter. If you are interested in more perspectives like these, consider a NOSSCR membership, which includes a subscription to the NOSSCR newsletter.
Substantial Absenteeism, Special Accommodations, and SGA(Roop v. Astrue) Dec/2/10
Alesia v. Astrue, 789 F.Supp.2d 921 (N.D.Ill. 2011) June/20/12
Farrell v. Astrue, 692 F.3d 767 (7th Cir. 2012) Nov/12/12
Russell v. Colvin, 9 F. Supp.3d 1168 (D.Ore. 2014) Jan/24/15
Saunders v. Colvin, 93 F.Supp.3d 179 (W.D.N.Y. 2015) Jan/22/16
Month/Page/Year
Government Agency to Study SSA Disability Adjudication Nov/1/11
ACUS: Social Security Disability Adjudication Study Feb/18/12
ACUS Issues Recommendation on Social Security Disability Adjudication (Improving Consistency in Social Security Disability Adjudications (June 13, 2013)) June/2/13
ACUS Recommends Options for Submission of Adverse Evidence July/1/13
SSA Asks ACUS to Review Impact of Closing the Record Feb/4/14
NOSSCR Comments on evaluation of self-reported symptoms June/8/14
ACUS Studies Social Security Federal Court Review: Is Variation a Problem? Sept/2/14
ACUS Report on Video Hearings Oct/14/14
NOSSCR Comments on ACUS Video Hearing Recommendations Nov/5/14
ACUS Incorporates NOSSCR Comments on Video Hearings; Many Claimants Opt for In-Person Hearings Dec/6/14
ACUS Issues Report on SSA Symptom Evaluation May/1/15
Administrative Conference Issues Report on SSA Federal Court Litigation Aug/3/16
GAO Reviews ALJ Hiring Process (Office of Personnel Management Should Review ALJ Program to Improve Hiring and Performance Management, GAO-10-14 (Jan. 2010) Jan/9/10
SSA Establishes New System Tracking Complaints of ALJ Misconduct Feb/1/10
ALJ Disposition Information Available Feb/2/10
Correction – ALJ Disposition Link Mar/2/10
SSA- Not ALJ- Now Allowed to Schedule Hearings in “Rare Instances” July/1/10
OIG Report: Why Do ALJs Allow More Cases Than the DDSs for Certain Impairments? Aug/1/10
Federal Register Update: Proposed Rule: Active State Bar Licensure for ALJs Oct/4/10
ALJ Disposition Data on SSA Website Jan/2/11
Minter v. Astrue, 722 F.Supp.2d 1279 (N.D.Ala. 2010) Jan/29/11
Spiva v. Astrue, 628 F.3d 346 (7th Cir. 2010) Feb/18/11
Class Action Alleges Bias of Five ALJs (Padro, et al v. Astrue, EDNY) Apr/3/11
Congress Asks OIG to Review ALJ Workloads and Adherence to SSA Policy in Light of Wall Street Journal Article June/4/11
House Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee letter to OIG on review of ALJs June/6/11
NOSSCR comments on proposed rule to eliminate requirement to recontact treating sources June/10/11
Oversight Hearing on Role of Social Security ALJs July/1/11
ODAR Policy Change Removes ALJ’s Identity from Hearing Notice Dec/1/11
NOSSCR letter to Commissioner Astrue and ODAR Deputy Commissioner re: new ODAR policy on ALJ identity Dec/3/11
Inspector General Reports on SSA’s Oversight of ALJs Congressional Response Report: Oversight of ALJ Workload Trends, Feb. 2012) Feb/1/12
SSA Issues Final Rule on Recontacting Treating Source Feb/1/12
Inspector General Issues Reports on ALJs(Congressional Response Report: Oversight of ALJ Workload Trends, Feb. 2012; SSA’s Review of ALJ Decisions (Mar. 2012); Congressional Response Report: Oversight of the Year-end Hearings Process (Mar. 2012)) Mar/1/12
Practice Tip: Credibility “Boilerplate” Warrants Remand: Bjornson v. Astrue, Smith v. Astrue Mar/7/12
Settlement of Class Action Lawsuit on Generalized Bias of Five ALJs (Padro et al. v. Astrue) Jan/1/13
Congress Asks OIG to Review ALJ Workloads and Adherence to SSA Policy in Light of Wall Street Journal Article June/4/11
House Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee letter to OIG on review of ALJs June/6/11
NOSSCR comments on proposed rule to eliminate requirement to recontact treating sources June/10/11
Oversight Hearing on Role of Social Security ALJs July/1/11
ODAR Policy Change Removes ALJ’s Identity from Hearing Notice Dec/1/11
NOSSCR letter to Commissioner Astrue and ODAR Deputy Commissioner re: new ODAR policy on ALJ identity Dec/3/11
Inspector General Reports on SSA’s Oversight of ALJs Congressional Response Report: Oversight of ALJ Workload Trends, Feb. 2012) Feb/1/12
SSA Issues Final Rule on Recontacting Treating Source Feb/1/12
Inspector General Issues Reports on ALJs(Congressional Response Report: Oversight of ALJ Workload Trends, Feb. 2012; SSA’s Review of ALJ Decisions (Mar. 2012); Congressional Response Report: Oversight of the Year-end Hearings Process (Mar. 2012)) Mar/1/12
Scapegoating Social Security Disability Claimants (and the Judges Who Evaluate Them. ACS Issue Brief) Mar/8/12
ALJ Allowance Decision Rates – FY 2010 Mar/26/12
AM-12053 Credibility Assessments and use of Social Media May/20/12
Aldea v. Astrue, 828 F.Supp.2d 396 (D.Mass. 2011) July/20/12
Betancourt v. Astrue, 824 F.Supp.2d 211 (D.Mass. 2011) July/21/12
Senate “Investigation” Questions Quality of Favorable ALJ Decisions Sept/1/12
Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations Minority Staff Report (excerpts) Sept/14/12
ODAR Workload and Performance Summary, National, ending 9/28/12 Oct/11/12
Settlement of Class Action Lawsuit on Generalized Bias of Five ALJs (Padro et al. v. Astrue) Jan/1/13
Twenty Years Later, SSA Publishes Procedure for Addressing ALJ Bias and Unfairness (SSR 13-1p) Jan/1/13
ALJ Hiring: What Does the Future Hold? Feb/15/13
ALJ Union Sues Over Production “Quotas” (AALJ et al v. Colvin, N.D.Ill Apr 18, 2013) Apr/1/13
Alleged ALJ Bias: Class Action Settlement Proposed (Padro v. Astrue) July/1/13
OIG Report:ALJ/Public Alleged Misconduct Complaints System (July 2013) July/3/13
Federal Register: Pilot program allowing SSA to schedule hearing is extended July/9/13
Statement of Richard Morris, Esq. at Padro settlement hearing July/10/13
ALJ Bias Class Action Settlmenet Receives Final Approval (Padro v. Astrue, Case No. 11-CV-1788) Oct/1/13
Disability Hearing Guide for ALJs Oct/10/13
Caseload Analysis Report – National Sept/18/10
New ALJ “Position Description” Approved: What Is the Impact on ALJ Decisional Independence? Dec/1/13
Longgrear v. Colvin, 26 F.Supp.3d 1066 (D. Colo. 2014) May/17/15
Ellis v. Colvin, 29 F.Supp.3d 288 (W.D.N.Y. 2014) June/13/15
Sun v. Colvin, 793 F.3d 502 (5th Cir. 2015) Oct/16/15
Medical Experts and the ALJ’s Opening Statement Nov/2/15
King v. Colvin, 128 F.Supp.3d 421 (D. Mass. 2015) May/23/16
Burns v. Colvin, 156 F.Supp.3d 579 (M.D.Pa. 2016) Sept/17/16
SSA Issues Guidance on Bench Decisions Jan/4/17
Month/Page/Year
Caldwell v. Astrue, 804 F.Supp.2d 1098 (D.Ore. 2011) Mar/29/12
Fisher v. Astrue, 788 F.Supp.2d 1219 (E.D.Wash. 2011) Apr/17/12
Eckermann v. Astrue, 817 F.Supp.2d 1210 (D.Idaho 2011) July/21/12
Month/Page/Year
Early Onset Alzheimer’s Disease Added to Compassionate Allowance List Feb/3/10
Month/Page/Year
Improving Appeals Council Practice July/1/10
Chief ALJ Memo re: Establishing a Quality Review Branch July/14/10
The New Quality Review Branches: What Can We Expect? Sept/3/10
Jackson v. Astrue, 705 F.3d 527 (5th Cir. 2013) Apr/21/13
Query: Direct Deposit and Multiple Attorney Firms July/2/13
New POMS on Electronic Filing Mandate(GN 03970.010, .017) Aug/4/13
User Fee Remains at 6.3% in 2013 Dec/6/13
Fee Payments Update Mar-April/1/14
Gunther v. Commissioner of Social Security, 943 F.Supp.2d 797 (N.D.Ohio 2013) May/21/14
Steele v. Commissioner of Social Security, 989 F.Supp.2d 686 (S.D.Ohio 2013) Aug/16/14
New Procedures for Form SSA-1695 Oct/4/14
OIG Report on Fee Petition Payments: SSA Can Improve the Process Oct/16/14
User Fee Remains at 6.3% in 2015 Dec/1/14
1099-MISC Forms to Be Sent in January 2015 Dec/2/14
SSA Issues Form 1099-MISC: Some Change in Procedures; Review Form 1099-MISC Now to Avoid Tax Problems Later Jan/1/15
Federal Register Update: Revision to Direct Fee Payment Rules Jan/3/15
Attorneys’ Fees: EAJA Apr/20/15
OIG Report Fees withheld in SSI cases not always accurate June/9/15
Moriarty v. Colvin, 76 F.Supp.3d 261 (D. Mass. 2014) Oct/16/15
SSA Issues Form 1099-MISCs Review Form 1099-MISC Now to Avoid Tax Problems Later Jan/1/16
User Fee Stays Steady in 2016 Jan/9/16
HALLEX Provisions Altered Feb/3/16
When Saying “Show Me The Money!” Isn’t Enough: Tips for Addressing Delayed Payment of Fees Mar/1/16
Correction: Fax Number for Fees Apr/3/16
Advocacy Groups Urge Acting Commissioner to Adjust Fee Cap Apr/4/16
How To Handle Delayed Payments Apr/19/16
Problem-Solving When Representatives Get Hired by SSA Aug/1/16
Updated Contact List for Federal Court Fee Petition Issues Sept/14/16
Heads Up! 1099 Forms are on Their Way to Representatives Dec/11/16
2017 User Fee Unchanged Jan/10/17
Fees Get Complicated When Multiple Firms Are Involved Apr/1/17
Month/Page/Year
SSA Holds Compassionate Allowance Hearing on Autoimmune Disease Mar/1/11
Month/Page/Year
Court Finds “After Conceived Child” Eligible for Survivors Benefits (Beeler v. Astrue, N.D. Iowa, Nov. 12, 2009) Jan/6/10
Final Rule: Entitlement Requirements for Stepchildren Aug/11/10
Fourth Circuit Denies Benefits to Posthumously-Conceived Child (Schafer o/b/o/ WMS v. Astrue, No 10-1500 (4th Cir. Apr 12, 2011)) Apr/24/11
U.S. Supreme Court to Decide Eligibility for Posthumously Conceived Children (Astrue v. Capato) Dec/8/11
U.S. Supreme Court Hears Oral Argument on Posthumously Conceived Children (Astrue v. Capato) Mar/1/12
Supreme Court Holds Posthumously Conceived Children Eligible Only Under State Intestacy Law (Astrue v. Capato) May/1/12
Update: Posthumously Conceived Children (Rescission of AR 05-1(9)) Nov/1/12
Supreme Court Decision Impacts Social Security and SSI Eligibility for Same-Sex Spouses (U.S. v. Windsor) June/1/13
SSA Begins Processing Claims for Same-Sex Couples Aug/1/13
Posthumously Conceived Children: A Post-Supreme Court Update Aug/3/13
SSA Begins to Pay Some Surviving Spouse Benefits for Same-Sex Couples Dec/4/13
Month/Page/Year
Forum Articles Index: January – December 2009 Jan/16/10
2009 List of Available Materials Feb/17/10
Listings/Grids Subscription Order Form for 2011 Oct/21/10
Listings/Grids Subscription Order Form for 2011 Nov/12/10
Forum Articles Index: January – December 2010 Jan/16/11
2010 List of Available Materials(Nos 1775- 1830) Feb/19/11
Listings/Grids Subscription Order Form for 2012 Nov/9/11
Access to the NOSSCR Available Material Dec/2/11
Listings/Grids Subscription Order Form for 2012 Dec/16/11
Forum Articles Index January – December 2011 Jan/32/12
List of Available Materials: January – December 2011 Feb/22/12
Listings/Grids Subscription Order Form for 2013 Dec/15/12
Forum Articles Index: January – December 2012 Jan/12/13
2012 List of Available Materials (1889-1958) Feb/20/13
Forum Articles Index: January to December 2013 Jan/18/14
2013 List of Available Materials (Nos. 1959-2020) Feb/14/14
Forum Articles Index: January to December 2014 Jan/14/15
Forum Articles Index: January to December 2015 Jan/15/16
2015 List of Available Materials (Nos. 2069-2115) Jan/15/16
Forum Articles Index: January to December 2017 Jan/27/17
2016 List of Available Materials (Nos. 2116-2150) Feb-Mar/19/17
Month/Page/Year
McDonald v. Astrue, 858 F.Supp.2d 927 (N.D.Ill. 2012) Jan/29/13
Kastner v. Astrue, 697 F.3d 642 (7th Cir. 2012) Mar/20/13
Fulfer v. Astrue, 917 F.Supp.2d 883 (E.D.Wis. 2013) Sept/17/13
Brock v. Colvin, 125 F.Supp.3d 671 (N.D. Ohio 2015) Apr/15/16
Month/Page/Year
No 2011 COLA- Benefits Will Not Increase Oct/1/10
2012 COLA is 3.6 Percent – First Increase Since 2009 Oct/1/11
2013 COLA is 1.7 Percent Oct/1/12
2014 COLA is 1.5 Percent Oct/3/13
2015 COLA is 1.7 Percent Oct/3/14
New Survey Finds Most Americans Would Pay More to Fix Social Security’s Finances and Improve Benefits Oct/15/14
Cost of Living Adjustment for 2017 Announced: 0.3% Increase Oct/3/16
Month/Page/Year
SSA Proposes Changes to Cancer Listings Dec/7/13
Month/Page/Year
Institute of Medicine Reports to SSA on Cardiovascular and HIV Listings Oct/5/10
New Compassionate Allowance Conditions July/3/11
Month/Page/Year
Washington v. Astrue, 698 F.Supp.2d 562 (D.S.C. 2010) Sept/20/10
Zenzel v. Astrue, 993 F. Supp.2d 146 (N.D.N.Y. 2012) Jan/25/15
Snow v. Colvin, 8 F. Supp.3d 1345 (N.D. Ala. 2014) Jan/25/15
Month/Page/Year
How to Convert an Encrypted E-file CD Jan/1/11
CD Encryption Problems? Mar/3/11
NOSSCR Encrypted CD Survey Apr/12/11
Month/Page/Year
Resources on the SSDI Program July/15/14
Month/Page/Year
What the 2012 Trustees; Report Shows About Social Security – Center on Budget and Policy Report (May 2012) May/10/12
New Report Defends Disability Insurance (CBPP SSDI Paper) Aug/1/12
“Top Ten Facts About Social Security” (CBPP Paper) Nov/13/12
“The Geography of Disability” (CBPP Paper) Dec/2/12
Charts Showing the Geography of Disability SSI Childhood Disability: “Just the Facts” (Reports from CBPP and NASI) Dec/10/12
Testimony of Kathy Ruffing, CBPP before the House Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee (Mar. 20, 2013) Apr/3/13
Off the Charts Blog posts, Kathy Ruffing, CBPP (2013) July/14/13
Resources on the SSDI Program July/14/13
Reports of Interest on SSA Administrative and Programmatic Funding June/14/16
Month/Page/Year
Practice Tip July/5/10
SSA Publishes SSR 14-1p on CFS and Rescinds SSR 99-2p Mar-April/1/14
Report on CFS Recommends New Name and Diagnostic Criteria Feb/1/15
Month/Page/Year
Second Circuit Strikes Down SSA’s Policy on Denial of Benefits for Violations of Probation or Parole (Clark v. Astrue, 602 F.3d 140 (2nd Cir. 2010)) Mar/3/10
Nationwide Class Certified re: SSA Policy Denying Benefits for Violations of Probation/Parole (Clark v Astrue, Case No. 1:06-cv-15521-SHS (S.D.N.Y. Mar. 18, 2011) Mar/16/11
SSA Stops Denials and Suspensions Based on Probation or Parole Violations (EM-11032, “Clark Court Case”) Apr/3/11
Relief to 100,000 Possible in Probation/Parole Violation Litigation (Clark v. Astrue) Jan/4/12
Relief to 1400,000 in Probation-Parole Violation Litigation (Clark v. Astrue, (S.D.N.Y. Apr. 13, 2012) Apr/10/12
Settlement of Class Action Lawsuit on Generalized Bias of Five ALJs (Padro et al. v. Astrue) Jan/1/13
Alleged ALJ Bias: Class Action Settlement Proposed (Padro et.al v. Astrue) July/1/13
Statement of Richard Morris, Esq. at Padro settlement hearing July/10/13
ALJ Bias Class Action Settlmenet Receives Final Approval (Padro v. Astrue, Case No. 11-CV-1788) Oct/1/13
SSA Sued on Seizure of Tax Refund for Old Overpayments May/14/15
Month/Page/Year
Practice Tip: Extending COBRA Coverage: A Bridge to Medicare Aug/6/12
Month/Page/Year
Williams v. Colvin, 757 F.3d 610 (7th Cir. 2014) Oct/18/14
Thomas v. Colvin, 745 F.3d 802 (7th Cir. 2014) Oct/18/14
Month/Page/Year
Early Onset Alzheimer’s Disease Added to Compassionate Allowance List Feb/3/10
Quick Bear v. Colvin, 128 F.Supp.3d 1163 (S.D.D. 2015) May/23/16
Month/Page/Year
Occupational Information Panel Request Comments May/2/10
Is a New SSA Occupational Information System in the Works? Dec/10/10
SSA’ Project to Replace the DOT Continues Mar/17/11
SSA’s Occupational Information System: An Update May/2/11
Law Review Article on Step 5 Analyzes Alternatives to the DOT June/4/11
GAO: SSA Can Do More to Modernize Disability Programs (Modernizing SSA Disability Programs: Progress Made, but Key Efforts Warrant More Management Focus (June 2012)) July/11/12
What’s Next for a New SSA “Occupational Information System”? Aug/1/12
OIS Update: SSA Works with Bureau of Labor Statistics to Develop DOT Replacement Dec/1/12
Highlights from the Indianapolis NOSSCR Conference: Updating the DOT and Occupational Information System May/1/14
Highlights from the Indianapolis NOSSCR Conference: Updating the DOT and Occupational Information System May/1/14
Smith v. Astrue, 961 F.Supp.2d 620 (D.Del. 2013) June/16/14
Beckers v. Colvin, 38 F. Supp.3d 362 (W.D.N.Y. 2014) Apr/21/15
Meloni v. Colvin, 109 F.Supp.3d 734 (M.D. Pa. 2015) Mar/19/16
Month/Page/Year
Direct Deposit – Results of NOSSCR Survey Mar/1 & 4-5/10
Treasury Department Issues Proposed Regulations Regarding Paper Checks June/1/10
Bank “Fact Sheet” for Direct Deposit of Fees Sept/1/10
Attorneys’ Fees in Social Security Cases Exempt from Direct Deposit Requirement Jan/4/11
Attorneys’ Fees Are Exempt from Direct Deposit Apr/1/12
House Holds Hearing on Direct Deposit of Benefit Payments to Beneficiaries Sept/1/12
OIG Reports: Direct Deposit Changes Initiated Through Financial Institutions and SSA’s Internet and Automated 800-Number Applications (Dec. 2012); Controls over the Enrollment Process with the Direct Express Debit Card Program (Dec. 2012) Feb/9/13
Query: Direct deposit and Multiple Attorney Firms July/2/13
Month/Page/Year
Chief ALJ memo re: Evaluation of Single Decision-maker RFC Assessments (note: this memo is later rescinded) June/10/10
Chief ALJ Memo on SDMs Rescinded – To Be Reissued Aug/11/10
Revised Memo-Chief ALJ Memo on the evaluation of Single Decision-maker RFC Assessments Sept/13/10
Single Decision-makers Cannot Provide Opinion Evidence Nov/11/10
Update: Single Decision-makers Cannot Provide Opinion Evidence (Nicholson v. Astrue) Feb/6/11
SSA Eliminates Decision Review Board – ALJ DSI Rules Remain in Place Apr/3/11
Decision Review Board Elimination: What Happens to Pending Court Cases? July/3/11
Update on DRB Court Cases: What Caused Sharp Increase in Appeals? Aug/12/11
Federal Register Update: Extension of prototypes June/5/12
Month/Page/Year
Recent Reports of Interest: SSI beneficiaries eligible as DACs (Disabled Individuals Potentially Eligible As Auxiliary Child Beneficiaries (June 2012) June/11/12
Month/Page/Year
Supreme Court Update: Encarnacion ex rel George petition for certiorari filed (Later denied) Feb/15/10
Practice Tip: Assessing Functional Equivalence in SSI Childhood Disability Cases (A.H. by Tarissa Williams v. Astrue) July/10/11
House Holds Hearings on Social Security and SSI Disability Programs Oct/1/11
GAO Finds Small Changes Could Improve the SSI Disability Program June/9/12
SSI Childhood Disability : “Just the Facts” (Reports from CBPP and NASI) Dec/14/12
OIG Report: Overall Processing Times for 2010 Childhood Supplemental Security Income Claims (Feb. 2013) Feb/9/13
M.G. v. Commissioner of Social Security, 861 F.Supp.2d 846 (E.D.Mich. 2012) Mar/20/13
Selected Congressional Bills: Allowing military families to secure SSI and Medicaid benefits for disabled children (S.1076 and HR 2249) July/12/13
AM-12053 Credibility Assessments and use of Social Media May/20/12
Consideration of CDI Investigation Reports in CDR Hearings Dec/12/12
OIG Report: Individuals hiding Self-Employment Income to Receive Disability Insurance Benefits (Jan 2013) Feb/9/13
House Holds hearing on Alleged SSDI Fraud in Puerto Rico Sept/3/13
Washington DC Update: Congress Addresses Alleged New York Fraud Scheme and UI-SSDI offset Jan/1/14
Congressional Hearing on “Fighting Disability Fraud” “Fraud and Error Prevention” Bill Introduced Feb/1/14
New Anti-Fraud Bill Introduced by Chairman of House Social Security Subcommittee July/4/14
Recent Reports of Interest [Program integrity workloads] Aug/7/14
OIG Special Report on Detecting and Preventing Fraud Sept/1/14
Social Security Discussed in Congressional Hearings June/1/15
Does a CDI Unit Report Support Discounting a Treating Source Opinion? Nov/1/15
The Proliferation of Evidence from Cooperative Disability Investigation (“CDI”) Units in Federal Cases Dec/1/15
SSA Clarifies Procedure for Cooperative Disability Investigation Evidence Sept/4/16
District Court Rules that Conn Redetermination Hearings Violate Beneficiaries’ Due Process Rights, But Remand Currently Stayed Nov/4/16
Ways and Means Subcommittees Consider Payees and Program Integrity Apr/3/17
Month/Page/Year
FOIA and the Secret ALJ Policy June/1/12
Filing a FOIA Request on the Secret ALJ Policy Nov/1/12
Secret ALJ Litigation Update Dec/1/12
Secret ALJ Policy Update: File a FOIA Request Jan/1/13
Learn the Name of Your ALJ by Filing a FOIA Request Feb/1/13
The Secret ALJ Policy Comes to an End Mar/1/13
Secret ALJ Litigation Update Mar/23/13
Federal Register Update: Fees for Nonprogram-Related Requests for Detailed Social Security Earnings Nov/17/14
Month/Page/Year
SSI Beneficiaries May be Eligible for VA Benefits: OIG Report (Supplemental Security Income Recipients Eligible for Veterans Benefits (Jan. 2010) Jan/2/10
GAO Reviews ALJ Hiring Process (Office of Personnel Management Should Review ALJ Program to Improve Hiring and Performance Management, GAO-10-14 (Jan. 2010) Jan/9/10
How Does Your ODAR Hearing Office Rate on Staffing (Hearing Office Performance and Staffing, Audit Report (Feb. 2010) Mar/7/10
OIG Finds Alabama DDS Allowance Rate “Goal” Creates Perception of Pressure to Allow Claims (Alabama Disability Determination Service’s Business Process for Adjudicating Disability Claims, Feb 2010) Mar/14/10
OIG Report: Why Do ALJs Allow More Cases Than the DDSs for Certain Impairments? (Disability Impairments on Cases Most Frequently Denied by Disability Determination Services and Subsequently Allowed by Administrative Law Judges, No. A-07-09-19083 (Aug. 2010) Aug/1/10
Quality of ODAR Decisions: The Inspector General Reports: ODAR Decision-Writing Process, Audit Report A-02-09-19068 (Nov. 2010) Nov/7/10
Reports Address Future Fiscal Implications for Disability Program (Congressional Budget Office, SSDI: Participation Trends and Their Fiscal Implications (7/22/10); GAO, Social Security Reform: Raising the Retirement Ages Would Have Implications for Older Workers and SSD Disability Rolls, GAO-11-125 (11/2010) Nov/10/10
ODAR’s First In/First Out (FIFO) Procedure – How Often Is It Applied? (Congressional Response Report: Office of Disability Adjudication and Review’s Scheduling Procedures for Hearings, A-12-10-20169 (Fen. 2011) Mar/15/11
CE Reports and Malingering (OIG Report: Consultative Examinations at the Indiana Disability Determination Bureau, A-05-10-21061 (Mar. 2011) Mar/18/11
SSA’s Response to State Furloughs of DDS Workers (OIG Report: The SSA’s Response to State Furloughs Impacting Its Disability Programs, A-01-11-11116 (Mar. 2011) Mar/18/11
Application of the Workers’ Compensation Offset (OIG Report: Accuracy of FY 2009 Title II Disability Insurance Benefit Payments Involving Workers’ Compensation Offsets, A-04-10-11-14 (Feb. 2011) Mar/19/11
Underpaid Disabled Widow(er)s, OIG Report Feb 2011 Mar/19/11
Inspector General Issues Report on Video Hearings (Use of Video Hearings to Reduce the Hearing Case Backlog, No. A-05-08-18070 (April 2011)) Apr/6/11
Inspector General Issues Report on Video Hearings (Use of Video Hearings to Reduce the Hearing Case Backlog, No. A-05-08-18070 (April 2011)) Apr/6/11
OIG Report- Congressional Response Report: The Social Security Administration’s Customer Service Delivery Plan, Audit No. A-07-11-01125 (July 2011) Aug/4/11
GAO Report – Disability Insurance: SSA Can Improve Efforts to Detect, Prevent, and Recover Overpayments, GAO-11-724 (July 2011) Aug/4/11
GAO Report: Incapacitated Adults: Oversight to Federal Fiduciaries and Court-Appointed Guardians Needs Improvement, GAO-11-678 (July 2011) Aug/5/11
Electronic Services for Claimant Representatives – Excerpts from SSA Inspector General Report (Aug/ 2011) Oct/12/11
SSI Windfall Offset Problems Delay Past Due Title II Payments OIG Report – Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance Benefits Withheld Pending SSI Windfall Offset, A-09-11-11130 (Nov. 2011)) Dec/7/11Inspector General Reports on SSA’s Oversight of ALJs (Congressional Response Report: Oversight of ALJ Workload Trends , Feb. 2012) Feb/1/12
Representative Payees – Beneficiaries in Suspended Payment Status Pending the Selection of a Representative Payee, No. A-09-10-11065 (Feb. 2012) Feb/21/12
Unnecessary medical determinations for SSI claims – Unnecessary Medical Determinations for SSI Disability Claims, No. A-01-10-20120 (Feb. 2012) Feb/21/12
SSI in excess of federal limits – SSI Recipients Receiving Social Security Administered Payments in Excess of Federal Limits, No. A-06-10-21066 (Feb. 2012) Feb/21/12
Inspector General Issues Reports on ALJs(Congressional Response Report: Oversight of ALJ Workload Trends , Feb. 2012; SSA’s Review of ALJ Decisions (Mar. 2012); Congressional Response Report: Oversight of the Year-end Hearings Process (Mar. 2012)) Mar/1/12
OIG Report on National Hearing Centers: The Role of National Hearing Centers in Reducing the Hearings Backlog(Apr. 2012) Apr/12/12
OIG recommends Ways to Expand Video Hearings ( Current and Expanded Use of Video Hearings (June 2012)) June/1/12
GAO Finds Small Changes Could Improve the SSI Disability Program June/9/12
How Often to ALJs Use VEs? OIG Finds Wide Variation (Availability and Use of Vocational Experts May 2012) June/10/12
Recent Reports of Interest: SSI beneficiaries eligible as DACs; Misuse of benefits by representative payees, Disability decision disagreements, SSI marriage reports, Older workers and unemployment, SSA technology modernization June/11/12
GAO: SSA Can Do More to Modernize Disability Programs (Modernizing SSA Disability Programs: Progress Made, but Key Efforts Warrant More Management Focus (June 2012)) July/11/12
Inspector General Questions SSI Payments to Multi-Beneficiary Households (Management Advisory Report: SSI, Payments to Multi-recipient Households (Aug 2012)) Aug/7/12
OIG Report (Significance of Administrative Finality in the Social Security Administrations’ Programs (July 2012)_ Aug/17/12
OIG Report: The Social Security Administration’s Selection Process for Quick Disability Determinations (July 2012) Aug/17/12
Are Claimants’ Representatives to Blame for Delay in Scheduling Hearing? The Inspector General Reports Sept/13/12
OIG Report: Claimant Representative Fees Paid But Not Withheld from Title II Past-Due Benefits (Oct. 2012) Oct/20/12
GAO Report: Income Security: Overlapping Disability and Unemployment Benefits Should Be Evaluated for Potential Savings (July 2012) Oct/20/12
OIG Report: Disabled Individuals with Mental Impairments in Need of a Representative Payee (Sept. 2012) Oct/21/12
OIG Report: SSI Recipients with Automated Teller Machine Withdrawals Outside the United States (Sept. 2012) Oct/21/12
OIG Report: Summary of Beneficiaries Incorrectly Identified as Prisoners (Oct. 2012) Oct/21/12
OIG Report: Termination of Disability Benefits Following a Continuing Disability Review Cessation Determination (Nov. 2012) Nov/7/12
OIG Report: SSI Applicants with Earnings Received After Their Disability Onset Dates and Before Favorable Hearing Decisions (Oct. 2012) Nov/7/12
OIG Report: Fiscal Year 2012 Inspector General Statement on SSA’s Major Management and Performance Challenges (Nov. 2012) Nov/7/12
OIG Report: Controls Over Payments Made to Claimant Representatives at the Hearings Level (Dec. 2012) Dec/3/12
GAO Report: SSI: SSA Has Taken Steps to Prevent and Detect Overpayments, but Additional Actions Could Be Taken to Improve Oversight (Dec. 2012) Dec/9/12
OIG Report: Training and Development of Hearing Office Group Supervisors (Dec. 2012) Dec/9/12
OIG Report: Accumulated Funds Payable to Beneficiaries or Their Representative Payees (Dec. 2012) Dec/9/12
OIG Report: Identifying and Monitoring Risk Factors at Hearing Offices (Jan. 2013) Feb/8/13
OIG Report: Quick Response Evaluation Report: Sanctioned Medical Providers and Medical Evidence of Record (Feb. 2013) Feb/8/13
OIG Report: Grants to the Disability Research Consortium. Congressional Response Report: The Social Security Administration’s Disability Research Consortium (Feb. 2013) Feb/8/13
OIG Report: Access to SSA Data at the Disability Determination Services (Jan. 2013) Feb/8/13
OIG Report: Usefulness of Department of Homeland Security Travel Data to Identify Supplemental Security Income Recipients Who Are Outside the United States (Feb. 2013) Feb/9/13
OIG Report: SSA’s Development of Earnings Alerts for SSI Recipients (Dec. 2012) Feb/9/13
OIG Report: Individuals hiding Self-Employment Income to Receive Disability Insurance Benefits (Jan 2013) Feb/9/13
OIG Report: Overall Processing Times for 2010 Childhood Supplemental Security Income Claims (Feb. 2013) Feb/9/13
OIG Reports: Direct Deposit Changes Initiated Through Financial Institutions and SSA’s Internet and Automated 800-Number Applications (Dec. 2012); Controls over the Enrollment Process with the Direct Express Debit Card Program (Dec. 2012) Feb/9/13
OIG Report: Interagency Agreements with the Office of Personnel Management for ALJ Services Feb/15/13
OIG Report: Are Cases Properly Rotated in Hearing Offices Mar/5/13
OIG Report: ALJ/Public Alleged Misconduct Complaints System (7/ 2013) July/3/13
OIG Report: Effects of the Senior Attorney Adjudicator Program on Hearing workloads: Audit report No. A-12-13-23002 (June 2013) July/8/13
OIG Report: Impact of Increases in State Unemployment Rates on the Social Security Administration’s Disability Programs: Evaluation Report (July 2013) July/8/13
OIG report: Single Decisionmaker Model – Authority to Make Certain disability Determinations Without a Medical Consultant’s Signature (Aug. 2013) Aug/12/13
OIG Report: Child Support and the Supplemental Security Income Program (July 2013) Aug/12/13
OIG Report: Employers Who Report Wages with Significant Errors in the employee Name and Social Security Number (Aug. 2013) Aug/13/13
GAO May Overestimate 0.5% SSDI “Improper” Payment Rate Due to Factors Not Analyzed Sept/1/13
Inspector General Report Supports Use of “Symptom Validity Tests” Sept/4/13
OIG Report: Sensitive Information at SSA offices (Oct 2013) Oct/13/13
OIG Report: SDW Payments made to Incarcerated beneficiaries(Oct. 2013) Oct/13/13
OIG Report: Cost Savings Planned and Achieved Through the SSA’s IT Development Initiatives (Oct. 2013) Oct/13/13
OIG Report: Disabled Individuals with Mental Impairments Acting as Representative Payees (Sept. 2013) Oct/13/13
Inspector General Ranks Hearing Offices on “Key Risk Factors” Jan/3/14
Recent Inspector General Reports [Appeals Council workloads; Claimant representatives at the State Agency level] Jan/3/14
Recent Inspector General Reports [Appeals Council workloads; Claimant representatives at the State Agency level] Mar-April/6/14
Recent Inspector General Reports on CDRs June/1/14
Recent OIG Reports of Interest [Appellate results of denials by low-allowance ALJs; Completeness of disability claims files] July/19/14
Recent Reports of Interest [Program integrity workloads; Reduction in field office hours; Veterans receiving SSDI with 100% VA disability rating] Aug/7/14
OIG Special Report on Detecting and Preventing Fraud Sept/1/14
OIG Report on Fee Petition Payments: SSA Can Improve the Process Oct/16/14
High Allowance Rate ALJs and Low Allowance Rate ALJs: Reason for Concern? Nov/1/14
National Ranking Report by Average Processing Time May/10/15
Recent Reports of Interest: Disabled beneficiaries eligible for higher Retirement benefits May/13/15
Recent Reports of Interest: Processing times at state agencies May/13/15
New Report on Psychological Testing and Symptom Validity Tests May/15/15
Office of Inspector General Report Finds Overpayments Rare June/3/15
Fees withheld in SSI cases not always accurate June/9/15
What is the Prognosis for the Disability Insurance Trust Fund? The 2015 Social Security Trustees Report July/1/15
Inspector General Report on Fee Payments to Representatives July/1/15
Level of Claimant Allowance Associated with Direct Payments July/9/15
Inspector General Reports on Treatment Noncompliance Aug/4/15
Inspector General Report on Effort to Eliminate the Hearings Backlog Sept/3/15
SSI and SSDI Allowance Rates, Initial and Recon, FY 2013, 2014, 2015 Oct/12/15
Why Are Non-Medical Denials Increasing? Dec/4/15
GAO Starts Study on SSA Services May/3/16
Office of Inspector General Releases Report on First Half of FY 2016 July/7/16
Recent Office of Inspector General Reports Aug/4/16
GAO Report Addresses Households with Multiple SSI Recipients Sept/12/16
Office of Inspector General Studies Appeals Council Remand Rates Feb-Mar/10/17
Month/Page/Year
SSA Proposed Limits on Garnishments of Accounts April/3/10
Lang v. Social Security Administration, 612 F.3d 960 (8th Cir. 2010) Oct/20/10
SSA Issues Interim Final Rules on Creditor Garnishments from Benefits Feb/1/11
Letter to the Editor Re: Administrative wage garnishment May/3/12
SSA Issues Final Rules on Creditor Garnishments from Benefits May/4/13
Sykes v. Bank of America, 723 F.3d 39 (2nd Cir. 2103) Nov/24/13
Practice Tip: Benefits Pending a CDR Appeal Aug/4/14
Federal Student Loan Debt Discharge for Disability Sept/3/14
Month/Page/Year
Fed. Reg. Update: Use of genetic information in documenting and evaluating disability Nov/8/13
Month/Page/Year
Proposed rule to revise Genitourinary Disorders listing Feb/4/13
Extension of expiration dates for Genitourinary Impairments and Hematological Disorders Sept/5/13
Final Rule Revises Genitourinary Disorders Listings Oct/7/14
Month/Page/Year
Perkins v. Colvin, 45 F. Supp.3d 1137 (D. Ariz. 2014) Apr/20/15
Chaparro v. Colvin, 156 F.Supp.3d 517 (S.D.N.Y. 2016) Sept/17/16
Rowe v. Colvin, 166 F.Supp.3d 234 (N.D.N.Y. 2016) Apr/18/17
Month/Page/Year
Proposed Change to Growth Disorders Listing May/15/13
GAO Reviews ALJ Hiring Process (Office of Personnel Management Should Review ALJ Program to Improve Hiring and Performance Management, GAO-10-14 (Jan. 2010) Jan/9/10
National Ranking Report: Average Processing Time By Hearing Office and Region 12/25/10 Jan/10/10
National Ranking Report, Average Processing Time by Hearing Office and Region 2/18/10 Feb/8/10
How Does Your ODAR Hearing Office Rate on Staffing (Hearing Office Performance and Staffing, Audit Report (Feb. 2010) Mar/7/10
Hearings Held By Hearing Office: FY 2010 through 1/29/10 Mar/15/10
Practice Tip: Video Hearings and Remands Apr/5/10
Reprint of CALJ Reminder: Claimants Right of Refusal to Appear By VTC at Place of Hearing Apr/12/10
ODAR Update: Hearing Receipts Continue to Climb May/1/10
ODAR Processing Times – April 2010 May/10/10
New ODAR Positions June/5/10
Correction: New ODAR Positions July/23/10
Caseload Analysis Report, National ODAR Workload and Performance Summary June/11/10
ODAR Processing Tomes (by hearing office) – May 2010 June/12/10
Hearing Requests Filed Continues to Rise June/17/10
SSA- Not ALJ- Now Allowed to Schedule Hearings in “Rare Instances” July/1/10
Federal Register Update: Review of certain determinations and decisions July/5/10
Latest ODAR Numbers: What Do They Tell Us? Aug/1/10
National Hearing Center – Directory Aug/8/10
Chicago NOSSCR Conference- Report on Efforts to reduce hearing Backlog, including Senior Attorneys in local hearing offices Sept/1/10
Fiscal Year 2010 Ends: Where Does ODAR Stand? Oct/1/10
Quality of ODAR Decisions: The Inspector General Reports Nov/7/10
ALJ Disposition Data on SSA Website Jan/2/11
Federal Register Update: New Security Regulations for Hearing Offices Mar/14/11
Federal Register Update: Attorney Advisor Program Extended Mar/14/11
ODAR’s First In/First Out (FIFO) Procedure – How Often Is It Applied? (Congressional Response Report: Office of Disability Adjudication and Review’s Scheduling Procedures for Hearings, A-12-10-20169 (Fen. 2011) Mar/15/11
ODAR’s First In/First Out (FIFO) Procedure – How Often Is It Applied? (Congressional Response Report: Office of Disability Adjudication and Review’s Scheduling Procedures for Hearings, A-12-10-20169 (Fen. 2011) Mar/15/11
New Office Openings FY 2009 or later (as of March 9, 2011) Mar/22/11
The Right to Decline Video Hearings Apr/1/11
Inspector General Issues Report on Video Hearings (Use of Video Hearings to Reduce the Hearing Case Backlog, No. A-05-08-18070 (April 2011)) Apr/6/11
ODAR Updates Hearing Level and Appeals Council at San Antonio NOSSCR Conference Oct/1/11
Federal Register Update: Review of certain determinations and decisions Oct/10/11
FOCUS: Do the Regulations Allow ME Testimony by Telephone? The Courts Weigh In (Edwards v. Astrue, Morlando v. Astrue, Ainsworth v. Astrue, Porter v. Barnhart) Nov/1/11
ODAR Policy Change Removes ALJ’s Identity from Hearing Notice Dec/1/11
NOSSCR letter to Commissioner Astrue and ODAR Deputy Commissioner re: new ODAR policy on ALJ identity Dec/3/11
Update: “ALJ Name Removal Policy” Jan/1/12
Requesting Direct Fee Payment? Electronic Filing Now Required in Appeals for Reconsideration or for Hearing Jan/1/12
President’s Message: ALJ Name Removal Policy Jan/2/12
National Ranking Report. ODAR Office By Average Processing Time Jan/26/12
Institute of Medicine Reports to SSA on Cardiovascular and HIV Listings Oct/5/10
SSA Proposes Changes to Listings Feb/12/14
Comment Periods Extended for HIV Infection and Neurological Listings Proposed Changes Mar-April/2/14
Month/Page/Year
Federal Register Update: SSI and homeless individuals Jan/31/12
Month/Page/Year
Lawson v. Astrue, 695 F.Supp.2d 729 (S.D.Ohio 2010) Sept/20/10
Hughes v. Astrue, 705 F.3d 276 (7th Cir. 2013) Apr/21/13
Roddy v. Astrue, 705 F.3d 631 (7th Cir. 2013) Apr/21/13
Suess v. Colvin, 945 F.Supp.2d 920 (N.D. Ill., 2013) Mar-Apr./20/14
Nichols v. Colvin, 10 F.Supp.3d 896 (N.D. Ill. 2014) Nov/17/15
Miller v. Colvin, 122 F.Supp.3d 23 (N.D.N.Y. 2016) May/22/16
Month/Page/Year
Shoulars v. Astrue, 671 F.Supp.2d 801 (E.D.N.C. 2009) Apr/17/10
Month/Page/Year
SSI Refugee Extension Ended September 30 Sept/3/10
Bipartisan Bill Would Extend SSI Benefits for Refugees Aug/10/11
Recent Reports of Interest: Foreign ATM withdrawals by SSI beneficiaries Oct/21/12
Month/Page/Year
SSA Proposes Changes to Listings Feb/12/14
Comment Periods Extended for HIV Infection and Neurological Listings Proposed Changes Mar-April/2/14
Month/Page/Year
Practice Tip: Use of Quad Cane and Ability to Perform a Full Range of Sedentary Work (ALJ decision) Nov/4/10
Month/Page/Year
Representation at the Initial Level: SSAB Report: Filing for Social Security Disability Benefits: What Impact Does Professional Representation Have on the Process at the Initial Application Level? (Sept. 2012) Nov/6/12
The monthly Forum newsletter is only available to NOSSCR members. Below is an archive of topics from past issues. Click the first letter of the topic below to see a full list. Note that the entire articles are not available online; they can only be accessed through the print editions.
Please contact us if you are a member trying to access the monthly newsletter. If you are interested in more perspectives like these, consider a NOSSCR membership, which includes a subscription to the NOSSCR newsletter.
Alphabetical Listing of Topics, A – K
A
Month/Page/Year
Substantial Absenteeism, Special Accommodations, and SGA(Roop v. Astrue) Dec/2/10
Alesia v. Astrue, 789 F.Supp.2d 921 (N.D.Ill. 2011) June/20/12
Farrell v. Astrue, 692 F.3d 767 (7th Cir. 2012) Nov/12/12
Russell v. Colvin, 9 F. Supp.3d 1168 (D.Ore. 2014) Jan/24/15
Saunders v. Colvin, 93 F.Supp.3d 179 (W.D.N.Y. 2015) Jan/22/16
Month/Page/Year
Government Agency to Study SSA Disability Adjudication Nov/1/11
ACUS: Social Security Disability Adjudication Study Feb/18/12
ACUS Issues Recommendation on Social Security Disability Adjudication (Improving Consistency in Social Security Disability Adjudications (June 13, 2013)) June/2/13
ACUS Recommends Options for Submission of Adverse Evidence July/1/13
SSA Asks ACUS to Review Impact of Closing the Record Feb/4/14
NOSSCR Comments on evaluation of self-reported symptoms June/8/14
ACUS Studies Social Security Federal Court Review: Is Variation a Problem? Sept/2/14
ACUS Report on Video Hearings Oct/14/14
NOSSCR Comments on ACUS Video Hearing Recommendations Nov/5/14
ACUS Incorporates NOSSCR Comments on Video Hearings; Many Claimants Opt for In-Person Hearings Dec/6/14
ACUS Issues Report on SSA Symptom Evaluation May/1/15
Administrative Conference Issues Report on SSA Federal Court Litigation Aug/3/16
GAO Reviews ALJ Hiring Process (Office of Personnel Management Should Review ALJ Program to Improve Hiring and Performance Management, GAO-10-14 (Jan. 2010) Jan/9/10
SSA Establishes New System Tracking Complaints of ALJ Misconduct Feb/1/10
ALJ Disposition Information Available Feb/2/10
Correction – ALJ Disposition Link Mar/2/10
SSA- Not ALJ- Now Allowed to Schedule Hearings in “Rare Instances” July/1/10
OIG Report: Why Do ALJs Allow More Cases Than the DDSs for Certain Impairments? Aug/1/10
Federal Register Update: Proposed Rule: Active State Bar Licensure for ALJs Oct/4/10
ALJ Disposition Data on SSA Website Jan/2/11
Minter v. Astrue, 722 F.Supp.2d 1279 (N.D.Ala. 2010) Jan/29/11
Spiva v. Astrue, 628 F.3d 346 (7th Cir. 2010) Feb/18/11
Class Action Alleges Bias of Five ALJs (Padro, et al v. Astrue, EDNY) Apr/3/11
Congress Asks OIG to Review ALJ Workloads and Adherence to SSA Policy in Light of Wall Street Journal Article June/4/11
House Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee letter to OIG on review of ALJs June/6/11
NOSSCR comments on proposed rule to eliminate requirement to recontact treating sources June/10/11
Oversight Hearing on Role of Social Security ALJs July/1/11
ODAR Policy Change Removes ALJ’s Identity from Hearing Notice Dec/1/11
NOSSCR letter to Commissioner Astrue and ODAR Deputy Commissioner re: new ODAR policy on ALJ identity Dec/3/11
Inspector General Reports on SSA’s Oversight of ALJs Congressional Response Report: Oversight of ALJ Workload Trends, Feb. 2012) Feb/1/12
SSA Issues Final Rule on Recontacting Treating Source Feb/1/12
Inspector General Issues Reports on ALJs(Congressional Response Report: Oversight of ALJ Workload Trends, Feb. 2012; SSA’s Review of ALJ Decisions (Mar. 2012); Congressional Response Report: Oversight of the Year-end Hearings Process (Mar. 2012)) Mar/1/12
Practice Tip: Credibility “Boilerplate” Warrants Remand: Bjornson v. Astrue, Smith v. Astrue Mar/7/12
Settlement of Class Action Lawsuit on Generalized Bias of Five ALJs (Padro et al. v. Astrue) Jan/1/13
Congress Asks OIG to Review ALJ Workloads and Adherence to SSA Policy in Light of Wall Street Journal Article June/4/11
House Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee letter to OIG on review of ALJs June/6/11
NOSSCR comments on proposed rule to eliminate requirement to recontact treating sources June/10/11
Oversight Hearing on Role of Social Security ALJs July/1/11
ODAR Policy Change Removes ALJ’s Identity from Hearing Notice Dec/1/11
NOSSCR letter to Commissioner Astrue and ODAR Deputy Commissioner re: new ODAR policy on ALJ identity Dec/3/11
Inspector General Reports on SSA’s Oversight of ALJs Congressional Response Report: Oversight of ALJ Workload Trends, Feb. 2012) Feb/1/12
SSA Issues Final Rule on Recontacting Treating Source Feb/1/12
Inspector General Issues Reports on ALJs(Congressional Response Report: Oversight of ALJ Workload Trends, Feb. 2012; SSA’s Review of ALJ Decisions (Mar. 2012); Congressional Response Report: Oversight of the Year-end Hearings Process (Mar. 2012)) Mar/1/12
Scapegoating Social Security Disability Claimants (and the Judges Who Evaluate Them. ACS Issue Brief) Mar/8/12
ALJ Allowance Decision Rates – FY 2010 Mar/26/12
AM-12053 Credibility Assessments and use of Social Media May/20/12
Aldea v. Astrue, 828 F.Supp.2d 396 (D.Mass. 2011) July/20/12
Betancourt v. Astrue, 824 F.Supp.2d 211 (D.Mass. 2011) July/21/12
Senate “Investigation” Questions Quality of Favorable ALJ Decisions Sept/1/12
Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations Minority Staff Report (excerpts) Sept/14/12
ODAR Workload and Performance Summary, National, ending 9/28/12 Oct/11/12
Settlement of Class Action Lawsuit on Generalized Bias of Five ALJs (Padro et al. v. Astrue) Jan/1/13
Twenty Years Later, SSA Publishes Procedure for Addressing ALJ Bias and Unfairness (SSR 13-1p) Jan/1/13
ALJ Hiring: What Does the Future Hold? Feb/15/13
ALJ Union Sues Over Production “Quotas” (AALJ et al v. Colvin, N.D.Ill Apr 18, 2013) Apr/1/13
Alleged ALJ Bias: Class Action Settlement Proposed (Padro v. Astrue) July/1/13
OIG Report:ALJ/Public Alleged Misconduct Complaints System (July 2013) July/3/13
Federal Register: Pilot program allowing SSA to schedule hearing is extended July/9/13
Statement of Richard Morris, Esq. at Padro settlement hearing July/10/13
ALJ Bias Class Action Settlmenet Receives Final Approval (Padro v. Astrue, Case No. 11-CV-1788) Oct/1/13
Disability Hearing Guide for ALJs Oct/10/13
Caseload Analysis Report – National Sept/18/10
New ALJ “Position Description” Approved: What Is the Impact on ALJ Decisional Independence? Dec/1/13
Longgrear v. Colvin, 26 F.Supp.3d 1066 (D. Colo. 2014) May/17/15
Ellis v. Colvin, 29 F.Supp.3d 288 (W.D.N.Y. 2014) June/13/15
Sun v. Colvin, 793 F.3d 502 (5th Cir. 2015) Oct/16/15
Medical Experts and the ALJ’s Opening Statement Nov/2/15
King v. Colvin, 128 F.Supp.3d 421 (D. Mass. 2015) May/23/16
Burns v. Colvin, 156 F.Supp.3d 579 (M.D.Pa. 2016) Sept/17/16
SSA Issues Guidance on Bench Decisions Jan/4/17
Month/Page/Year
Caldwell v. Astrue, 804 F.Supp.2d 1098 (D.Ore. 2011) Mar/29/12
Fisher v. Astrue, 788 F.Supp.2d 1219 (E.D.Wash. 2011) Apr/17/12
Eckermann v. Astrue, 817 F.Supp.2d 1210 (D.Idaho 2011) July/21/12
Month/Page/Year
Early Onset Alzheimer’s Disease Added to Compassionate Allowance List Feb/3/10
Month/Page/Year
Improving Appeals Council Practice July/1/10
Chief ALJ Memo re: Establishing a Quality Review Branch July/14/10
The New Quality Review Branches: What Can We Expect? Sept/3/10
Jackson v. Astrue, 705 F.3d 527 (5th Cir. 2013) Apr/21/13
Query: Direct Deposit and Multiple Attorney Firms July/2/13
New POMS on Electronic Filing Mandate(GN 03970.010, .017) Aug/4/13
User Fee Remains at 6.3% in 2013 Dec/6/13
Fee Payments Update Mar-April/1/14
Gunther v. Commissioner of Social Security, 943 F.Supp.2d 797 (N.D.Ohio 2013) May/21/14
Steele v. Commissioner of Social Security, 989 F.Supp.2d 686 (S.D.Ohio 2013) Aug/16/14
New Procedures for Form SSA-1695 Oct/4/14
OIG Report on Fee Petition Payments: SSA Can Improve the Process Oct/16/14
User Fee Remains at 6.3% in 2015 Dec/1/14
1099-MISC Forms to Be Sent in January 2015 Dec/2/14
SSA Issues Form 1099-MISC: Some Change in Procedures; Review Form 1099-MISC Now to Avoid Tax Problems Later Jan/1/15
Federal Register Update: Revision to Direct Fee Payment Rules Jan/3/15
Attorneys’ Fees: EAJA Apr/20/15
OIG Report Fees withheld in SSI cases not always accurate June/9/15
Moriarty v. Colvin, 76 F.Supp.3d 261 (D. Mass. 2014) Oct/16/15
SSA Issues Form 1099-MISCs Review Form 1099-MISC Now to Avoid Tax Problems Later Jan/1/16
User Fee Stays Steady in 2016 Jan/9/16
HALLEX Provisions Altered Feb/3/16
When Saying “Show Me The Money!” Isn’t Enough: Tips for Addressing Delayed Payment of Fees Mar/1/16
Correction: Fax Number for Fees Apr/3/16
Advocacy Groups Urge Acting Commissioner to Adjust Fee Cap Apr/4/16
How To Handle Delayed Payments Apr/19/16
Problem-Solving When Representatives Get Hired by SSA Aug/1/16
Updated Contact List for Federal Court Fee Petition Issues Sept/14/16
Heads Up! 1099 Forms are on Their Way to Representatives Dec/11/16
2017 User Fee Unchanged Jan/10/17
Fees Get Complicated When Multiple Firms Are Involved Apr/1/17
Month/Page/Year
SSA Holds Compassionate Allowance Hearing on Autoimmune Disease Mar/1/11
Month/Page/Year
Court Finds “After Conceived Child” Eligible for Survivors Benefits (Beeler v. Astrue, N.D. Iowa, Nov. 12, 2009) Jan/6/10
Final Rule: Entitlement Requirements for Stepchildren Aug/11/10
Fourth Circuit Denies Benefits to Posthumously-Conceived Child (Schafer o/b/o/ WMS v. Astrue, No 10-1500 (4th Cir. Apr 12, 2011)) Apr/24/11
U.S. Supreme Court to Decide Eligibility for Posthumously Conceived Children (Astrue v. Capato) Dec/8/11
U.S. Supreme Court Hears Oral Argument on Posthumously Conceived Children (Astrue v. Capato) Mar/1/12
Supreme Court Holds Posthumously Conceived Children Eligible Only Under State Intestacy Law (Astrue v. Capato) May/1/12
Update: Posthumously Conceived Children (Rescission of AR 05-1(9)) Nov/1/12
Supreme Court Decision Impacts Social Security and SSI Eligibility for Same-Sex Spouses (U.S. v. Windsor) June/1/13
SSA Begins Processing Claims for Same-Sex Couples Aug/1/13
Posthumously Conceived Children: A Post-Supreme Court Update Aug/3/13
SSA Begins to Pay Some Surviving Spouse Benefits for Same-Sex Couples Dec/4/13
Month/Page/Year
Forum Articles Index: January – December 2009 Jan/16/10
2009 List of Available Materials Feb/17/10
Listings/Grids Subscription Order Form for 2011 Oct/21/10
Listings/Grids Subscription Order Form for 2011 Nov/12/10
Forum Articles Index: January – December 2010 Jan/16/11
2010 List of Available Materials(Nos 1775- 1830) Feb/19/11
Listings/Grids Subscription Order Form for 2012 Nov/9/11
Access to the NOSSCR Available Material Dec/2/11
Listings/Grids Subscription Order Form for 2012 Dec/16/11
Forum Articles Index January – December 2011 Jan/32/12
List of Available Materials: January – December 2011 Feb/22/12
Listings/Grids Subscription Order Form for 2013 Dec/15/12
Forum Articles Index: January – December 2012 Jan/12/13
2012 List of Available Materials (1889-1958) Feb/20/13
Forum Articles Index: January to December 2013 Jan/18/14
2013 List of Available Materials (Nos. 1959-2020) Feb/14/14
Forum Articles Index: January to December 2014 Jan/14/15
Forum Articles Index: January to December 2015 Jan/15/16
2015 List of Available Materials (Nos. 2069-2115) Jan/15/16
Forum Articles Index: January to December 2017 Jan/27/17
2016 List of Available Materials (Nos. 2116-2150) Feb-Mar/19/17
B
Month/Page/Year
McDonald v. Astrue, 858 F.Supp.2d 927 (N.D.Ill. 2012) Jan/29/13
Kastner v. Astrue, 697 F.3d 642 (7th Cir. 2012) Mar/20/13
Fulfer v. Astrue, 917 F.Supp.2d 883 (E.D.Wis. 2013) Sept/17/13
Brock v. Colvin, 125 F.Supp.3d 671 (N.D. Ohio 2015) Apr/15/16
Month/Page/Year
No 2011 COLA- Benefits Will Not Increase Oct/1/10
2012 COLA is 3.6 Percent – First Increase Since 2009 Oct/1/11
2013 COLA is 1.7 Percent Oct/1/12
2014 COLA is 1.5 Percent Oct/3/13
2015 COLA is 1.7 Percent Oct/3/14
New Survey Finds Most Americans Would Pay More to Fix Social Security’s Finances and Improve Benefits Oct/15/14
Cost of Living Adjustment for 2017 Announced: 0.3% Increase Oct/3/16
C
Month/Page/Year
SSA Proposes Changes to Cancer Listings Dec/7/13
Month/Page/Year
Institute of Medicine Reports to SSA on Cardiovascular and HIV Listings Oct/5/10
New Compassionate Allowance Conditions July/3/11
Month/Page/Year
Washington v. Astrue, 698 F.Supp.2d 562 (D.S.C. 2010) Sept/20/10
Zenzel v. Astrue, 993 F. Supp.2d 146 (N.D.N.Y. 2012) Jan/25/15
Snow v. Colvin, 8 F. Supp.3d 1345 (N.D. Ala. 2014) Jan/25/15
Month/Page/Year
How to Convert an Encrypted E-file CD Jan/1/11
CD Encryption Problems? Mar/3/11
NOSSCR Encrypted CD Survey Apr/12/11
Month/Page/Year
Resources on the SSDI Program July/15/14
Month/Page/Year
What the 2012 Trustees; Report Shows About Social Security – Center on Budget and Policy Report (May 2012) May/10/12
New Report Defends Disability Insurance (CBPP SSDI Paper) Aug/1/12
“Top Ten Facts About Social Security” (CBPP Paper) Nov/13/12
“The Geography of Disability” (CBPP Paper) Dec/2/12
Charts Showing the Geography of Disability SSI Childhood Disability: “Just the Facts” (Reports from CBPP and NASI) Dec/10/12
Testimony of Kathy Ruffing, CBPP before the House Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee (Mar. 20, 2013) Apr/3/13
Off the Charts Blog posts, Kathy Ruffing, CBPP (2013) July/14/13
Resources on the SSDI Program July/14/13
Reports of Interest on SSA Administrative and Programmatic Funding June/14/16
Month/Page/Year
Practice Tip July/5/10
SSA Publishes SSR 14-1p on CFS and Rescinds SSR 99-2p Mar-April/1/14
Report on CFS Recommends New Name and Diagnostic Criteria Feb/1/15
Month/Page/Year
Second Circuit Strikes Down SSA’s Policy on Denial of Benefits for Violations of Probation or Parole (Clark v. Astrue, 602 F.3d 140 (2nd Cir. 2010)) Mar/3/10
Nationwide Class Certified re: SSA Policy Denying Benefits for Violations of Probation/Parole (Clark v Astrue, Case No. 1:06-cv-15521-SHS (S.D.N.Y. Mar. 18, 2011) Mar/16/11
SSA Stops Denials and Suspensions Based on Probation or Parole Violations (EM-11032, “Clark Court Case”) Apr/3/11
Relief to 100,000 Possible in Probation/Parole Violation Litigation (Clark v. Astrue) Jan/4/12
Relief to 1400,000 in Probation-Parole Violation Litigation (Clark v. Astrue, (S.D.N.Y. Apr. 13, 2012) Apr/10/12
Settlement of Class Action Lawsuit on Generalized Bias of Five ALJs (Padro et al. v. Astrue) Jan/1/13
Alleged ALJ Bias: Class Action Settlement Proposed (Padro et.al v. Astrue) July/1/13
Statement of Richard Morris, Esq. at Padro settlement hearing July/10/13
ALJ Bias Class Action Settlmenet Receives Final Approval (Padro v. Astrue, Case No. 11-CV-1788) Oct/1/13
SSA Sued on Seizure of Tax Refund for Old Overpayments May/14/15
Month/Page/Year
Practice Tip: Extending COBRA Coverage: A Bridge to Medicare Aug/6/12
Month/Page/Year
Williams v. Colvin, 757 F.3d 610 (7th Cir. 2014) Oct/18/14
Thomas v. Colvin, 745 F.3d 802 (7th Cir. 2014) Oct/18/14
Month/Page/Year
Early Onset Alzheimer’s Disease Added to Compassionate Allowance List Feb/3/10
Quick Bear v. Colvin, 128 F.Supp.3d 1163 (S.D.D. 2015) May/23/16
Month/Page/Year
Occupational Information Panel Request Comments May/2/10
Is a New SSA Occupational Information System in the Works? Dec/10/10
SSA’ Project to Replace the DOT Continues Mar/17/11
SSA’s Occupational Information System: An Update May/2/11
Law Review Article on Step 5 Analyzes Alternatives to the DOT June/4/11
GAO: SSA Can Do More to Modernize Disability Programs (Modernizing SSA Disability Programs: Progress Made, but Key Efforts Warrant More Management Focus (June 2012)) July/11/12
What’s Next for a New SSA “Occupational Information System”? Aug/1/12
OIS Update: SSA Works with Bureau of Labor Statistics to Develop DOT Replacement Dec/1/12
Highlights from the Indianapolis NOSSCR Conference: Updating the DOT and Occupational Information System May/1/14
Highlights from the Indianapolis NOSSCR Conference: Updating the DOT and Occupational Information System May/1/14
Smith v. Astrue, 961 F.Supp.2d 620 (D.Del. 2013) June/16/14
Beckers v. Colvin, 38 F. Supp.3d 362 (W.D.N.Y. 2014) Apr/21/15
Meloni v. Colvin, 109 F.Supp.3d 734 (M.D. Pa. 2015) Mar/19/16
Month/Page/Year
Direct Deposit – Results of NOSSCR Survey Mar/1 & 4-5/10
Treasury Department Issues Proposed Regulations Regarding Paper Checks June/1/10
Bank “Fact Sheet” for Direct Deposit of Fees Sept/1/10
Attorneys’ Fees in Social Security Cases Exempt from Direct Deposit Requirement Jan/4/11
Attorneys’ Fees Are Exempt from Direct Deposit Apr/1/12
House Holds Hearing on Direct Deposit of Benefit Payments to Beneficiaries Sept/1/12
OIG Reports: Direct Deposit Changes Initiated Through Financial Institutions and SSA’s Internet and Automated 800-Number Applications (Dec. 2012); Controls over the Enrollment Process with the Direct Express Debit Card Program (Dec. 2012) Feb/9/13
Query: Direct deposit and Multiple Attorney Firms July/2/13
Month/Page/Year
Chief ALJ memo re: Evaluation of Single Decision-maker RFC Assessments (note: this memo is later rescinded) June/10/10
Chief ALJ Memo on SDMs Rescinded – To Be Reissued Aug/11/10
Revised Memo-Chief ALJ Memo on the evaluation of Single Decision-maker RFC Assessments Sept/13/10
Single Decision-makers Cannot Provide Opinion Evidence Nov/11/10
Update: Single Decision-makers Cannot Provide Opinion Evidence (Nicholson v. Astrue) Feb/6/11
SSA Eliminates Decision Review Board – ALJ DSI Rules Remain in Place Apr/3/11
Decision Review Board Elimination: What Happens to Pending Court Cases? July/3/11
Update on DRB Court Cases: What Caused Sharp Increase in Appeals? Aug/12/11
Federal Register Update: Extension of prototypes June/5/12
Month/Page/Year
Recent Reports of Interest: SSI beneficiaries eligible as DACs (Disabled Individuals Potentially Eligible As Auxiliary Child Beneficiaries (June 2012) June/11/12
Month/Page/Year
Supreme Court Update: Encarnacion ex rel George petition for certiorari filed (Later denied) Feb/15/10
Practice Tip: Assessing Functional Equivalence in SSI Childhood Disability Cases (A.H. by Tarissa Williams v. Astrue) July/10/11
House Holds Hearings on Social Security and SSI Disability Programs Oct/1/11
GAO Finds Small Changes Could Improve the SSI Disability Program June/9/12
SSI Childhood Disability : “Just the Facts” (Reports from CBPP and NASI) Dec/14/12
OIG Report: Overall Processing Times for 2010 Childhood Supplemental Security Income Claims (Feb. 2013) Feb/9/13
M.G. v. Commissioner of Social Security, 861 F.Supp.2d 846 (E.D.Mich. 2012) Mar/20/13
Selected Congressional Bills: Allowing military families to secure SSI and Medicaid benefits for disabled children (S.1076 and HR 2249) July/12/13
AM-12053 Credibility Assessments and use of Social Media May/20/12
Consideration of CDI Investigation Reports in CDR Hearings Dec/12/12
OIG Report: Individuals hiding Self-Employment Income to Receive Disability Insurance Benefits (Jan 2013) Feb/9/13
House Holds hearing on Alleged SSDI Fraud in Puerto Rico Sept/3/13
Washington DC Update: Congress Addresses Alleged New York Fraud Scheme and UI-SSDI offset Jan/1/14
Congressional Hearing on “Fighting Disability Fraud” “Fraud and Error Prevention” Bill Introduced Feb/1/14
New Anti-Fraud Bill Introduced by Chairman of House Social Security Subcommittee July/4/14
Recent Reports of Interest [Program integrity workloads] Aug/7/14
OIG Special Report on Detecting and Preventing Fraud Sept/1/14
Social Security Discussed in Congressional Hearings June/1/15
Does a CDI Unit Report Support Discounting a Treating Source Opinion? Nov/1/15
The Proliferation of Evidence from Cooperative Disability Investigation (“CDI”) Units in Federal Cases Dec/1/15
SSA Clarifies Procedure for Cooperative Disability Investigation Evidence Sept/4/16
District Court Rules that Conn Redetermination Hearings Violate Beneficiaries’ Due Process Rights, But Remand Currently Stayed Nov/4/16
Ways and Means Subcommittees Consider Payees and Program Integrity Apr/3/17
Month/Page/Year
FOIA and the Secret ALJ Policy June/1/12
Filing a FOIA Request on the Secret ALJ Policy Nov/1/12
Secret ALJ Litigation Update Dec/1/12
Secret ALJ Policy Update: File a FOIA Request Jan/1/13
Learn the Name of Your ALJ by Filing a FOIA Request Feb/1/13
The Secret ALJ Policy Comes to an End Mar/1/13
Secret ALJ Litigation Update Mar/23/13
Federal Register Update: Fees for Nonprogram-Related Requests for Detailed Social Security Earnings Nov/17/14
G
Month/Page/Year
SSI Beneficiaries May be Eligible for VA Benefits: OIG Report (Supplemental Security Income Recipients Eligible for Veterans Benefits (Jan. 2010) Jan/2/10
GAO Reviews ALJ Hiring Process (Office of Personnel Management Should Review ALJ Program to Improve Hiring and Performance Management, GAO-10-14 (Jan. 2010) Jan/9/10
How Does Your ODAR Hearing Office Rate on Staffing (Hearing Office Performance and Staffing, Audit Report (Feb. 2010) Mar/7/10
OIG Finds Alabama DDS Allowance Rate “Goal” Creates Perception of Pressure to Allow Claims (Alabama Disability Determination Service’s Business Process for Adjudicating Disability Claims, Feb 2010) Mar/14/10
OIG Report: Why Do ALJs Allow More Cases Than the DDSs for Certain Impairments? (Disability Impairments on Cases Most Frequently Denied by Disability Determination Services and Subsequently Allowed by Administrative Law Judges, No. A-07-09-19083 (Aug. 2010) Aug/1/10
Quality of ODAR Decisions: The Inspector General Reports: ODAR Decision-Writing Process, Audit Report A-02-09-19068 (Nov. 2010) Nov/7/10
Reports Address Future Fiscal Implications for Disability Program (Congressional Budget Office, SSDI: Participation Trends and Their Fiscal Implications (7/22/10); GAO, Social Security Reform: Raising the Retirement Ages Would Have Implications for Older Workers and SSD Disability Rolls, GAO-11-125 (11/2010) Nov/10/10
ODAR’s First In/First Out (FIFO) Procedure – How Often Is It Applied? (Congressional Response Report: Office of Disability Adjudication and Review’s Scheduling Procedures for Hearings, A-12-10-20169 (Fen. 2011) Mar/15/11
CE Reports and Malingering (OIG Report: Consultative Examinations at the Indiana Disability Determination Bureau, A-05-10-21061 (Mar. 2011) Mar/18/11
SSA’s Response to State Furloughs of DDS Workers (OIG Report: The SSA’s Response to State Furloughs Impacting Its Disability Programs, A-01-11-11116 (Mar. 2011) Mar/18/11
Application of the Workers’ Compensation Offset (OIG Report: Accuracy of FY 2009 Title II Disability Insurance Benefit Payments Involving Workers’ Compensation Offsets, A-04-10-11-14 (Feb. 2011) Mar/19/11
Underpaid Disabled Widow(er)s, OIG Report Feb 2011 Mar/19/11
Inspector General Issues Report on Video Hearings (Use of Video Hearings to Reduce the Hearing Case Backlog, No. A-05-08-18070 (April 2011)) Apr/6/11
Inspector General Issues Report on Video Hearings (Use of Video Hearings to Reduce the Hearing Case Backlog, No. A-05-08-18070 (April 2011)) Apr/6/11
OIG Report- Congressional Response Report: The Social Security Administration’s Customer Service Delivery Plan, Audit No. A-07-11-01125 (July 2011) Aug/4/11
GAO Report – Disability Insurance: SSA Can Improve Efforts to Detect, Prevent, and Recover Overpayments, GAO-11-724 (July 2011) Aug/4/11
GAO Report: Incapacitated Adults: Oversight to Federal Fiduciaries and Court-Appointed Guardians Needs Improvement, GAO-11-678 (July 2011) Aug/5/11
Electronic Services for Claimant Representatives – Excerpts from SSA Inspector General Report (Aug/ 2011) Oct/12/11
SSI Windfall Offset Problems Delay Past Due Title II Payments OIG Report – Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance Benefits Withheld Pending SSI Windfall Offset, A-09-11-11130 (Nov. 2011)) Dec/7/11Inspector General Reports on SSA’s Oversight of ALJs (Congressional Response Report: Oversight of ALJ Workload Trends , Feb. 2012) Feb/1/12
Representative Payees – Beneficiaries in Suspended Payment Status Pending the Selection of a Representative Payee, No. A-09-10-11065 (Feb. 2012) Feb/21/12
Unnecessary medical determinations for SSI claims – Unnecessary Medical Determinations for SSI Disability Claims, No. A-01-10-20120 (Feb. 2012) Feb/21/12
SSI in excess of federal limits – SSI Recipients Receiving Social Security Administered Payments in Excess of Federal Limits, No. A-06-10-21066 (Feb. 2012) Feb/21/12
Inspector General Issues Reports on ALJs(Congressional Response Report: Oversight of ALJ Workload Trends , Feb. 2012; SSA’s Review of ALJ Decisions (Mar. 2012); Congressional Response Report: Oversight of the Year-end Hearings Process (Mar. 2012)) Mar/1/12
OIG Report on National Hearing Centers: The Role of National Hearing Centers in Reducing the Hearings Backlog(Apr. 2012) Apr/12/12
OIG recommends Ways to Expand Video Hearings ( Current and Expanded Use of Video Hearings (June 2012)) June/1/12
GAO Finds Small Changes Could Improve the SSI Disability Program June/9/12
How Often to ALJs Use VEs? OIG Finds Wide Variation (Availability and Use of Vocational Experts May 2012) June/10/12
Recent Reports of Interest: SSI beneficiaries eligible as DACs; Misuse of benefits by representative payees, Disability decision disagreements, SSI marriage reports, Older workers and unemployment, SSA technology modernization June/11/12
GAO: SSA Can Do More to Modernize Disability Programs (Modernizing SSA Disability Programs: Progress Made, but Key Efforts Warrant More Management Focus (June 2012)) July/11/12
Inspector General Questions SSI Payments to Multi-Beneficiary Households (Management Advisory Report: SSI, Payments to Multi-recipient Households (Aug 2012)) Aug/7/12
OIG Report (Significance of Administrative Finality in the Social Security Administrations’ Programs (July 2012)_ Aug/17/12
OIG Report: The Social Security Administration’s Selection Process for Quick Disability Determinations (July 2012) Aug/17/12
Are Claimants’ Representatives to Blame for Delay in Scheduling Hearing? The Inspector General Reports Sept/13/12
OIG Report: Claimant Representative Fees Paid But Not Withheld from Title II Past-Due Benefits (Oct. 2012) Oct/20/12
GAO Report: Income Security: Overlapping Disability and Unemployment Benefits Should Be Evaluated for Potential Savings (July 2012) Oct/20/12
OIG Report: Disabled Individuals with Mental Impairments in Need of a Representative Payee (Sept. 2012) Oct/21/12
OIG Report: SSI Recipients with Automated Teller Machine Withdrawals Outside the United States (Sept. 2012) Oct/21/12
OIG Report: Summary of Beneficiaries Incorrectly Identified as Prisoners (Oct. 2012) Oct/21/12
OIG Report: Termination of Disability Benefits Following a Continuing Disability Review Cessation Determination (Nov. 2012) Nov/7/12
OIG Report: SSI Applicants with Earnings Received After Their Disability Onset Dates and Before Favorable Hearing Decisions (Oct. 2012) Nov/7/12
OIG Report: Fiscal Year 2012 Inspector General Statement on SSA’s Major Management and Performance Challenges (Nov. 2012) Nov/7/12
OIG Report: Controls Over Payments Made to Claimant Representatives at the Hearings Level (Dec. 2012) Dec/3/12
GAO Report: SSI: SSA Has Taken Steps to Prevent and Detect Overpayments, but Additional Actions Could Be Taken to Improve Oversight (Dec. 2012) Dec/9/12
OIG Report: Training and Development of Hearing Office Group Supervisors (Dec. 2012) Dec/9/12
OIG Report: Accumulated Funds Payable to Beneficiaries or Their Representative Payees (Dec. 2012) Dec/9/12
OIG Report: Identifying and Monitoring Risk Factors at Hearing Offices (Jan. 2013) Feb/8/13
OIG Report: Quick Response Evaluation Report: Sanctioned Medical Providers and Medical Evidence of Record (Feb. 2013) Feb/8/13
OIG Report: Grants to the Disability Research Consortium. Congressional Response Report: The Social Security Administration’s Disability Research Consortium (Feb. 2013) Feb/8/13
OIG Report: Access to SSA Data at the Disability Determination Services (Jan. 2013) Feb/8/13
OIG Report: Usefulness of Department of Homeland Security Travel Data to Identify Supplemental Security Income Recipients Who Are Outside the United States (Feb. 2013) Feb/9/13
OIG Report: SSA’s Development of Earnings Alerts for SSI Recipients (Dec. 2012) Feb/9/13
OIG Report: Individuals hiding Self-Employment Income to Receive Disability Insurance Benefits (Jan 2013) Feb/9/13
OIG Report: Overall Processing Times for 2010 Childhood Supplemental Security Income Claims (Feb. 2013) Feb/9/13
OIG Reports: Direct Deposit Changes Initiated Through Financial Institutions and SSA’s Internet and Automated 800-Number Applications (Dec. 2012); Controls over the Enrollment Process with the Direct Express Debit Card Program (Dec. 2012) Feb/9/13
OIG Report: Interagency Agreements with the Office of Personnel Management for ALJ Services Feb/15/13
OIG Report: Are Cases Properly Rotated in Hearing Offices Mar/5/13
OIG Report: ALJ/Public Alleged Misconduct Complaints System (7/ 2013) July/3/13
OIG Report: Effects of the Senior Attorney Adjudicator Program on Hearing workloads: Audit report No. A-12-13-23002 (June 2013) July/8/13
OIG Report: Impact of Increases in State Unemployment Rates on the Social Security Administration’s Disability Programs: Evaluation Report (July 2013) July/8/13
OIG report: Single Decisionmaker Model – Authority to Make Certain disability Determinations Without a Medical Consultant’s Signature (Aug. 2013) Aug/12/13
OIG Report: Child Support and the Supplemental Security Income Program (July 2013) Aug/12/13
OIG Report: Employers Who Report Wages with Significant Errors in the employee Name and Social Security Number (Aug. 2013) Aug/13/13
GAO May Overestimate 0.5% SSDI “Improper” Payment Rate Due to Factors Not Analyzed Sept/1/13
Inspector General Report Supports Use of “Symptom Validity Tests” Sept/4/13
OIG Report: Sensitive Information at SSA offices (Oct 2013) Oct/13/13
OIG Report: SDW Payments made to Incarcerated beneficiaries(Oct. 2013) Oct/13/13
OIG Report: Cost Savings Planned and Achieved Through the SSA’s IT Development Initiatives (Oct. 2013) Oct/13/13
OIG Report: Disabled Individuals with Mental Impairments Acting as Representative Payees (Sept. 2013) Oct/13/13
Inspector General Ranks Hearing Offices on “Key Risk Factors” Jan/3/14
Recent Inspector General Reports [Appeals Council workloads; Claimant representatives at the State Agency level] Jan/3/14
Recent Inspector General Reports [Appeals Council workloads; Claimant representatives at the State Agency level] Mar-April/6/14
Recent Inspector General Reports on CDRs June/1/14
Recent OIG Reports of Interest [Appellate results of denials by low-allowance ALJs; Completeness of disability claims files] July/19/14
Recent Reports of Interest [Program integrity workloads; Reduction in field office hours; Veterans receiving SSDI with 100% VA disability rating] Aug/7/14
OIG Special Report on Detecting and Preventing Fraud Sept/1/14
OIG Report on Fee Petition Payments: SSA Can Improve the Process Oct/16/14
High Allowance Rate ALJs and Low Allowance Rate ALJs: Reason for Concern? Nov/1/14
National Ranking Report by Average Processing Time May/10/15
Recent Reports of Interest: Disabled beneficiaries eligible for higher Retirement benefits May/13/15
Recent Reports of Interest: Processing times at state agencies May/13/15
New Report on Psychological Testing and Symptom Validity Tests May/15/15
Office of Inspector General Report Finds Overpayments Rare June/3/15
Fees withheld in SSI cases not always accurate June/9/15
What is the Prognosis for the Disability Insurance Trust Fund? The 2015 Social Security Trustees Report July/1/15
Inspector General Report on Fee Payments to Representatives July/1/15
Level of Claimant Allowance Associated with Direct Payments July/9/15
Inspector General Reports on Treatment Noncompliance Aug/4/15
Inspector General Report on Effort to Eliminate the Hearings Backlog Sept/3/15
SSI and SSDI Allowance Rates, Initial and Recon, FY 2013, 2014, 2015 Oct/12/15
Why Are Non-Medical Denials Increasing? Dec/4/15
GAO Starts Study on SSA Services May/3/16
Office of Inspector General Releases Report on First Half of FY 2016 July/7/16
Recent Office of Inspector General Reports Aug/4/16
GAO Report Addresses Households with Multiple SSI Recipients Sept/12/16
Office of Inspector General Studies Appeals Council Remand Rates Feb-Mar/10/17
Month/Page/Year
SSA Proposed Limits on Garnishments of Accounts April/3/10
Lang v. Social Security Administration, 612 F.3d 960 (8th Cir. 2010) Oct/20/10
SSA Issues Interim Final Rules on Creditor Garnishments from Benefits Feb/1/11
Letter to the Editor Re: Administrative wage garnishment May/3/12
SSA Issues Final Rules on Creditor Garnishments from Benefits May/4/13
Sykes v. Bank of America, 723 F.3d 39 (2nd Cir. 2103) Nov/24/13
Practice Tip: Benefits Pending a CDR Appeal Aug/4/14
Federal Student Loan Debt Discharge for Disability Sept/3/14
Month/Page/Year
Fed. Reg. Update: Use of genetic information in documenting and evaluating disability Nov/8/13
Month/Page/Year
Proposed rule to revise Genitourinary Disorders listing Feb/4/13
Extension of expiration dates for Genitourinary Impairments and Hematological Disorders Sept/5/13
Final Rule Revises Genitourinary Disorders Listings Oct/7/14
Month/Page/Year
Perkins v. Colvin, 45 F. Supp.3d 1137 (D. Ariz. 2014) Apr/20/15
Chaparro v. Colvin, 156 F.Supp.3d 517 (S.D.N.Y. 2016) Sept/17/16
Rowe v. Colvin, 166 F.Supp.3d 234 (N.D.N.Y. 2016) Apr/18/17
Month/Page/Year
Proposed Change to Growth Disorders Listing May/15/13
GAO Reviews ALJ Hiring Process (Office of Personnel Management Should Review ALJ Program to Improve Hiring and Performance Management, GAO-10-14 (Jan. 2010) Jan/9/10
National Ranking Report: Average Processing Time By Hearing Office and Region 12/25/10 Jan/10/10
National Ranking Report, Average Processing Time by Hearing Office and Region 2/18/10 Feb/8/10
How Does Your ODAR Hearing Office Rate on Staffing (Hearing Office Performance and Staffing, Audit Report (Feb. 2010) Mar/7/10
Hearings Held By Hearing Office: FY 2010 through 1/29/10 Mar/15/10
Practice Tip: Video Hearings and Remands Apr/5/10
Reprint of CALJ Reminder: Claimants Right of Refusal to Appear By VTC at Place of Hearing Apr/12/10
ODAR Update: Hearing Receipts Continue to Climb May/1/10
ODAR Processing Times – April 2010 May/10/10
New ODAR Positions June/5/10
Correction: New ODAR Positions July/23/10
Caseload Analysis Report, National ODAR Workload and Performance Summary June/11/10
ODAR Processing Tomes (by hearing office) – May 2010 June/12/10
Hearing Requests Filed Continues to Rise June/17/10
SSA- Not ALJ- Now Allowed to Schedule Hearings in “Rare Instances” July/1/10
Federal Register Update: Review of certain determinations and decisions July/5/10
Latest ODAR Numbers: What Do They Tell Us? Aug/1/10
National Hearing Center – Directory Aug/8/10
Chicago NOSSCR Conference- Report on Efforts to reduce hearing Backlog, including Senior Attorneys in local hearing offices Sept/1/10
Fiscal Year 2010 Ends: Where Does ODAR Stand? Oct/1/10
Quality of ODAR Decisions: The Inspector General Reports Nov/7/10
ALJ Disposition Data on SSA Website Jan/2/11
Federal Register Update: New Security Regulations for Hearing Offices Mar/14/11
Federal Register Update: Attorney Advisor Program Extended Mar/14/11
ODAR’s First In/First Out (FIFO) Procedure – How Often Is It Applied? (Congressional Response Report: Office of Disability Adjudication and Review’s Scheduling Procedures for Hearings, A-12-10-20169 (Fen. 2011) Mar/15/11
ODAR’s First In/First Out (FIFO) Procedure – How Often Is It Applied? (Congressional Response Report: Office of Disability Adjudication and Review’s Scheduling Procedures for Hearings, A-12-10-20169 (Fen. 2011) Mar/15/11
New Office Openings FY 2009 or later (as of March 9, 2011) Mar/22/11
The Right to Decline Video Hearings Apr/1/11
Inspector General Issues Report on Video Hearings (Use of Video Hearings to Reduce the Hearing Case Backlog, No. A-05-08-18070 (April 2011)) Apr/6/11
ODAR Updates Hearing Level and Appeals Council at San Antonio NOSSCR Conference Oct/1/11
Federal Register Update: Review of certain determinations and decisions Oct/10/11
FOCUS: Do the Regulations Allow ME Testimony by Telephone? The Courts Weigh In (Edwards v. Astrue, Morlando v. Astrue, Ainsworth v. Astrue, Porter v. Barnhart) Nov/1/11
ODAR Policy Change Removes ALJ’s Identity from Hearing Notice Dec/1/11
NOSSCR letter to Commissioner Astrue and ODAR Deputy Commissioner re: new ODAR policy on ALJ identity Dec/3/11
Update: “ALJ Name Removal Policy” Jan/1/12
Requesting Direct Fee Payment? Electronic Filing Now Required in Appeals for Reconsideration or for Hearing Jan/1/12
President’s Message: ALJ Name Removal Policy Jan/2/12
National Ranking Report. ODAR Office By Average Processing Time Jan/26/12
Institute of Medicine Reports to SSA on Cardiovascular and HIV Listings Oct/5/10
SSA Proposes Changes to Listings Feb/12/14
Comment Periods Extended for HIV Infection and Neurological Listings Proposed Changes Mar-April/2/14
Month/Page/Year
Federal Register Update: SSI and homeless individuals Jan/31/12
Month/Page/Year
Lawson v. Astrue, 695 F.Supp.2d 729 (S.D.Ohio 2010) Sept/20/10
Hughes v. Astrue, 705 F.3d 276 (7th Cir. 2013) Apr/21/13
Roddy v. Astrue, 705 F.3d 631 (7th Cir. 2013) Apr/21/13
Suess v. Colvin, 945 F.Supp.2d 920 (N.D. Ill., 2013) Mar-Apr./20/14
Nichols v. Colvin, 10 F.Supp.3d 896 (N.D. Ill. 2014) Nov/17/15
Miller v. Colvin, 122 F.Supp.3d 23 (N.D.N.Y. 2016) May/22/16
I
Month/Page/Year
Shoulars v. Astrue, 671 F.Supp.2d 801 (E.D.N.C. 2009) Apr/17/10
Month/Page/Year
SSI Refugee Extension Ended September 30 Sept/3/10
Bipartisan Bill Would Extend SSI Benefits for Refugees Aug/10/11
Recent Reports of Interest: Foreign ATM withdrawals by SSI beneficiaries Oct/21/12
Month/Page/Year
SSA Proposes Changes to Listings Feb/12/14
Comment Periods Extended for HIV Infection and Neurological Listings Proposed Changes Mar-April/2/14
Month/Page/Year
Practice Tip: Use of Quad Cane and Ability to Perform a Full Range of Sedentary Work (ALJ decision) Nov/4/10
Month/Page/Year
Representation at the Initial Level: SSAB Report: Filing for Social Security Disability Benefits: What Impact Does Professional Representation Have on the Process at the Initial Application Level? (Sept. 2012) Nov/6/12