While most Americans were focused on the holiday season and making plans for New Year’s Eve, Congress and the White House finalized the FY23 Omnibus spending bill, avoiding a potential government shutdown. The all-encompassing spending bill passed the U.S. Senate 68-29, with the House following up the next day with a 225-201 vote for passage. NOSSCR was pleased to see...

A recent article in the Washington Post brought much-needed light to the Social Security Administration’s practice of using an obsolete job listings publication to deny disability benefits to claimants. Social Security uses the Dictionary of Occupational Titles, containing thousands of entries that haven’t been updated in more than 40 years. Many of the jobs – including those like “nut sorter”...

On behalf of the NOSSCR staff and board, we want to wish you and your loved ones a holiday season filled with joy, love and laughter.

The NOSSCR PAC had a very successful 2022 election cycle. Our PAC contributed to 37 campaigns from both political parties and 100% of our candidates won their races. This included incumbent members of key U.S. House and Senate committees that impact Social Security policy. With divided power in Congress, NOSSCR will have both challenges and opportunities in the coming year....

Guest Blog By: Susan Michele Schaefer, Cardea Law Group, LLC Every year, one week before Thanksgiving, National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week brings to light the struggles many people have with hunger and lack of shelter. As part of the awareness effort, I am sharing my experience helping the homeless and others facing barriers with their Social Security disability claims....

This week’s announcement that the Social Security Administration (SSA) will be increasing the ALJ jurisdictional authorization limit for fee petitions to $12,000 was a major victory for NOSSCR members. The new limit will be effective on November 30, 2022. “We understand how this limit effectively works as a cap for representatives who routinely request the jurisdictional maximum to avoid further...

This Sunday marks the 50th anniversary of the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program. Administered by the Social Security Administration (SSA), SSI is a vital lifeline for older Americans and people with disabilities that helps them put food on the table and keep a roof over their heads by providing modest income support. The maximum monthly benefit amount that participants will...

The Social Security Administration announced this morning that Social Security beneficiaries will receive an 8.7 percent increase in 2023. That is good news for people with disabilities and older Americans who rely on Social Security or Supplemental Security Income benefits. The average Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefit is expected to increase from $1,364/month in 2022 to $1,483/month in 2023....

NOSSCR President David Camp was quoted in a Washington Post story this morning that provided a stinging critique of the Social Security Administration. The article exposed the widespread impact the agency's decline in service has had for people applying for disability and other benefits. Among the facts included in the article were: During the first week in September, 21 percent...

The U.S. Senate version of the bill to keep the federal government funded beyond September 30 includes $400 million for the Social Security Administration (SSA). The so-called “anomaly” included in the Continuing Resolution will prevent SSA from having to institute a hiring freeze and cut overtime pay for employees. While NOSSCR and the disability community had been seeking $800 million...