Advocacy Update: The Conn Cases (Copy)

For those of you who were at our conference in May, we hope that you had the opportunity to stop by AppalReD’s table in the exhibitor’s hall or to hear from the Nancy G. Shor Leadership Award winner Ned Pillersdorf about the ongoing efforts to help the victims of Eric C. Conn and ALJ Daugherty.  

While we all feel the daily impact of the Conn/Daugherty crimes with the implementation of the “all-evidence” rule, the loss of the “treating physician” rule, and the introduction of SSRs 22-1p and 22-2p, many of those who had the misfortune of being represented by Conn continue to experience first-hand turmoil with cases that have not yet resolved. It is hard to believe that more than a decade later, many are still fighting for their benefits and facing steep overpayments for the crimes of others.  

NOSSCR knows that these victims deserve swift and just resolutions to their cases, and we have continued to fight for relief for these victims behind the scenes with senior staff at SSA. Redetermination hearings are still taking place—stalwart members like NOSSCR PAC Chair Ann Atkinson have represented claimants at redetermination hearings as recently as last week. While these cases are nuanced and our advocacy has taken many forms, our two primary asks have been that (1) SSA waive overpayments for these victims, and that, (2) instead of continuing their obfuscated system of “redetermining” disability in a vacuum with evidence that pre-dates the original ALJ’s determination (and that largely no longer exists), that they instead consider all evidence, including whether or not the person can currently prove disability (a modified CDR).  

This has been an exciting year for NOSSCR where much of our advocacy has focused on proposed policy changes that can be swiftly implemented while achieving the greatest impact—and we are proud of those wins and grateful for the culture shift that we have seen within SSA under the decisive leadership of Commissioner O’Malley. However, we wanted to pause for a moment to remind our members that we continue long-term advocacy for many tough issues, and, with the ongoing support of our members, we will continue to fight for improvements in all forms.  

President’s Corner (Copy)

Rick Fleming, NOSSCR President

I hope your summer is going well and that you have been able to enjoy some downtime with family and friends. This month, I would like to point out a couple of things on the horizon.

Election Season

You may have heard a thing or two about an election this fall. But are you aware that NOSSCR is having elections in August?

Make sure you are ready to vote! This summer the NOSSCR Board is having elections for Board seats. You will receive an electronic ballot from SimplyVoting on August 1. The email will come from vote@simplyvoting.com and/or you may access the voting portal at nosscr.simplyvoting.com. Ballots must be received by SimplyVoting by August 15. Results will then be announced at the virtual membership meeting on August 30 at 6 p.m. Eastern.

Advocacy

NOSSCR continues to work extremely hard to advocate for improvements to the Social Security disability programs and to ensure that individuals with disabilities applying for Social Security Disability and Supplemental Security Income benefits have access to highly qualified representation and receive fair decisions. Our work takes us to the Hill and to Woodlawn. Want to continue seeing progress? NOSSCR members can give to the NOSSCR PAC to assist us in advocating for you and your clients. Contributions to the NOSSCR PAC are an investment in the practice and in the disability advocacy community. Let’s keep the momentum going. 

Upcoming Events

Mark your calendars. Registration is open for the following events:

• September 20-21 is FOSSCR, the Fifth Circuit Conference in San Antonio, TX, at the Hotel Valencia Riverwalk. Come sharpen your skills and meet up with friends and colleagues.

• October 10-12 is the NextGen Retreat in Portland, OR, at the Kimpton Hotel Vintage Portland. Have you been practicing law for less than ten years or are you under the age of 40?  Come meet and connect with colleagues starting their careers and have an experience like no other. The small group size is perfect for getting to know your peers and expanding your network.  

• October 24-25 is the Southeast Regional Conference in Raleigh, NC, at Dock 1053 in Raleigh’s Creative Community. This event will have approximately 10 hours of continuing education over two days with lots of time to network and build valuable local and regional connections.  

• November 7-8 is the Eighth Circuit Conference in Fayetteville, AR, at the Graduate Hotel. The local committee has truly outdone themselves with an agenda full of interesting and important continuing education topics.

• December 10-11 is the NOSSCR Virtual Conference. Finish 2024 with all the continuing education credits you need and enter 2025 with new skills!

If your firm is interested in sponsoring any of these events, reach out to us at nosscr@nosscr.org!

Is there a topic you feel needs to be covered? Interested in speaking at a NOSSCR event? Our call for presenters for our virtual conference is now open! Submit your proposal here. You can always reach out to us at nosscr@nosscr.org with questions or suggestions.

NOSSCR Online

In need of some retail therapy? The NOSSCR Store is open 24/7: Let there be swag! You know you need a mouse pad, socks, and a mug. And while you’re at it, t-shirts, tumblers, and pet bowls are the perfect gift! Check out the NOSSCR Store.
 
Need CLE? NOSSCR has an ever-growing library of just what you need to sharpen your skills. Take a look at the self-study courses available here. 

Exciting News

In case you have not already marked your calendar, effective November 30, 2024, the fee cap will increase to $9,200 and thereafter will increase annually.  Make sure your fee agreements contain escalation clauses. Review our prior article on fee agreements here.

NOSSCR Foundation

The NOSSCR Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization supporting the work of NOSSCR. Gifts to the NOSSCR Foundation support investments in others, such as the Rudolph Patterson Scholarship and scholarships for NOSSCR members employed by legal services programs. Gifts to the NOSSCR Foundation also support disability advocacy community in general through its Impact Litigation Fund. Donate here.

Interested in including NOSSCR in your estate planning or funding a scholarship fund? Contact NOSSCR to discuss your wishes, and thank you for your generous donations to the NOSSCR Foundation.   

Thank you for your continued support of NOSSCR. We look forward to standing beside you as you fight for the rights of your clients. 

Contributions to the National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives PAC (NOSSCR PAC) are not tax-deductible as a charitable contribution for federal income tax purposes. Contributions to NOSSCR PAC will be used to support federal and state candidates, political parties, and other political committees.  Contributions are strictly voluntary.  You may refuse to contribute without reprisal.  Any proposed contribution level is merely a suggestion, and you are free to contribute more or less than suggested.  You will not benefit or be disadvantaged by reason of the amount of your contribution or a decision not to contribute.  Federal law requires NOSSCR PAC to use its best efforts to collect and report the name, mailing address, occupation and employer of persons whose contributions exceed $200 in a calendar year.  You must be a U.S. citizen or lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the U.S. to contribute.

SSA’s New Policy on Collateral Estoppel – Mostly Good News (Copy)

John S. Whitelaw, Advocacy Director at Community Legal Aid Society, Inc. in Delaware

Introduction

Earlier this month, SSA issued a new policy regarding how it will apply Collateral Estoppel.  This new policy addresses the debacle that has existed since 2019 when, as a direct result of the 2017 changes in the Mental Impairment Listings, SSA ceased using Collateral Estoppel in a wide variety of cases. While not perfect, this new policy will significantly reduce denials for claimants who are receiving benefits under one Title or “program” who then apply for a “different” benefit. This change occurred because of a group of advocates who continually work to improve SSA policies, and we should welcome this change. This change will also, in a small way, reduce the number of cases that are referred to state DDS agencies for adjudication and once again return some decision-making authority to the field offices.

What is Collateral Estoppel and when does it apply?

In this context, Collateral Estoppel applies when a current recipient of disability benefits applies for disability benefits under a different Title or category. The issue is whether SSA will simply “adopt” the current finding of disability or conduct new de novo analysis of whether the applicant is disabled. Some examples will help put this concept into perspective:

• An SSI or T.II recipient getting benefits on their own work record becomes eligible for Disabled Widow(er)’s benefits in a higher amount after the death of their estranged spouse.  Assume that they meet the technical requirements to receive these benefits. 

• An SSI recipient since age 21 becomes entitled to Childhood Disability Benefits (CDB) on the account of a recently deceased/retired/disabled parent.

• A Disabled Adult Child (DAC) receiving CDB benefits on one parent’s account becomes entitled to a higher benefit amount on the other parent’s account.

• A concurrent SSI and T.II recipient relocates to Puerto Rico for two years. SSI is terminated and T.II continues during that time period. Upon their return to the mainland, they reapply for SSI.

What happened in 2019 and why was it so bad?

In 2019, through a series of emergency transmittals and changes to the POMS, SSA altered how it applied Collateral Estoppel in two significant ways. First, the decision on whether to apply Collateral Estoppel was switched from the field offices to DDS. The second “change” was not a real change in policy, but a massive change in how the policy played out. 

The longstanding policy was and remained that if the prior approval was based on meeting a Listing, and there had been a substantial change in the Listing since the claimant’s approval, then Collateral Estoppel would not apply and a new disability determination would be warranted. Before 2019, this was a relatively minor issue as very few Listings had changed in a significant time period. In thirty years, I personally had never encountered a single case where a current recipient had been denied on a new claim under a different title or program. That changed dramatically in 2017 when the current Mental Listings became effective. We began seeing a significant number of cases where the claimant was receiving benefits because they met the pre-2017 Mental Listings. Even though the person was receiving disability benefits at the time of the new application, their new claim was denied, often without any attempt to obtain the prior file or any of the medical evidence in it. This failure was particularly problematic in cases where the claimant had been receiving benefits for many years. (The previous relevant POMS contained a list of the affected Listings with relevant dates, the two most important being mental and musculoskeletal).

In addition, not surprisingly, DDS also made errors in applying the “new” policy and applied it in non-Listings cases where Collateral Estoppel should still have applied. The policy itself was also analytically incoherent in that Listing level cases were reevaluated de novo whereas step five cases were approved using Collateral Estoppel. 

The policy additionally created confusion and fear. Claimants and their representatives understandably thought that the new denial threatened their existing benefits. In actuality, the denial of the new claim had no direct impact on the original claim on which the person continued to receive benefits. It was not the equivalent of a CDR, but much confusion existed. And, it is certainly true that a new denial could trigger a CDR, although few if any actually occurred.

The failure to apply Collateral Estoppel also created extra and unnecessary work for already strapped state DDS agencies.

What are the recent changes?

Having seen a significant number of these cases, advocates worked together to propose to SSA that the Collateral Estoppel policy be changed to eliminate the exception for a change in the Listings.

In March 2024, the recently confirmed SSA Commissioner Martin O’Malley informed advocates that he had authorized a change in the Collateral Estoppel policy. On July 13, SSA published the new policy in the POMS.

Under the “new” policy, the field office will again have primary responsibility for deciding whether Collateral Estoppel applies.

Substantively and most importantly, Collateral Estoppel will be applied even where there has been a significant change in the Listings. This change reverses long-standing policy in a positive manner. The new policy is set forth at POMS DI 27515.001.

The biggest change is that any changes to the Listings that occur after the initial approval are no longer relevant.  This is the single most important change.

Here are the other important parts to the new policy:

1. The old and new claim must cover the same time period. This is especially important in CDB cases where disability onset must be before age 22. For example, where a person on SSI with an onset date of age 25, applies for CDB, Collateral Estoppel will not apply.  Note, it is still critical that the SSI file be obtained as it will likely have relevant evidence for showing an onset date before age 22.
2. No cessation based upon medical improvement.
3. No termination on the prior claim. For example, where an SSI recipient has been terminated even for issues unrelated to disability, Collateral Estoppel does not apply.
4. There is no reason to believe that the initial approval was made in error.

The one possible significant limitation in the new policy is that Collateral Estoppel will not apply where the claimant has engaged in SGA since the prior established onset date. This limitation has some obvious problems, but it is unclear how many folks will actually be affected by it.

The one clear example where it does not make sense to apply at all is where the claimant is currently engaging in SGA. If that is the case, the new application will be denied at step 1.

We are hopeful that this new policy will significantly reduce the number of cases where the claimant is currently receiving disability benefits, applies for a different set of disability benefits, and then is denied on the basis that they are not disabled.

Where are the “rules” for Collateral Estoppel?

The rules in the federal register are at 20 CFR 404.950(f); 416.145(f).  The text of the rule is as follows and has not changed significantly in years:

Collateral estoppel—issues previously decided. An issue at your hearing may be a fact that has already been decided in one of our previous determinations or decisions in a claim involving the same parties, but arising under a different title of the Act or under the Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act. If this happens, the administrative law judge will not consider the issue again, but will accept the factual finding made in the previous determination or decision unless there are reasons to believe that it was wrong.

For cases at OHO, the HALLEX essentially mirrors the federal regulation. HALLEX I-2-2-30.

The federal regulation is irrelevant at the field office.  What happens at the field office is controlled by the POMS as described above in detail. 

John is the Advocacy Director at Community Legal Aid Society, Inc. in Delaware and has been representing clients before the SSA for more than 35 years.  Please feel free to contact him if you have cases involving Collateral Estoppel. JWhitelaw@declasi.org, 302-575-0663.

This is a guest column provided by a NOSSCR member. The views expressed in this column are the views of the author alone, and do not represent the views of NOSSCR, NOSSCR’s leadership, or NOSSCR’s staff. 

Last Call for Virtual Conference Speakers! (Copy)

This is your last chance to submit a speaker proposal for our upcoming Virtual Conference on December 10th and 11th!

Have you always wanted to share your expertise with a targeted audience of Social Security professionals? Our members would love to hear from you! We are always looking for exciting new voices to feature in our education courses, so submit those proposals today!

Initial submissions (including outlines and a basic synopsis) are due by August 1, 2024! If you have any questions about submitting a proposal, please reach out to us at nosscr@nosscr.org.

Speakers who are selected will receive a discounted admission to the conference.

Piemonte’s Perspective (Copy)

George Piemonte, NOSSCR 11th Circuit Board Representative

Another of my favorite limitations is limited endurance, which prevents full-time work. Let’s review some ways to prove this.

Remember that limited endurance can be physical or mental. And perhaps your claimant has both. You will need to prove the claimant’s specific response to fatigue. Do they need to sit and rest or lie down? Does fatigue interfere with their ability to focus and concentrate? It would be best if you discussed fatigue with your claimants and learn how they respond to it or how it affects them, and then you can figure out how to prove it.

You need to connect the response to a diagnosis. For example, fibromyalgia can cause fatigue or brain fog. Some people have severe fatigue after a seizure or a migraine.

One excellent way to prove the response is to have your claimant keep a log. For our clients with migraines, we give them a log to record their headaches. We have them chart the date, duration, intensity, and recovery time for their headaches. Be creative. Anything episodic and not likely to occur when they are at the doctor, you can have them keep a log about it. We also tell our claimants to give copies of their logs to their doctors. This does two things: 1) it helpfully informs the doctor and may assist them in devising a course of treatment, and 2) that log will become part of the medical records. Logs can be gold.

Other ways to prove the response are from lay witnesses. Whether a written statement or testimony at the hearing, someone else corroborating what your claimant says can provide the proof you need.

Of course, if you can get a medical opinion that connects the diagnosed condition to your claimant’s response, that is always good proof.

Improving Return-to-Work Policies (Copy)

On June 18, 2024, the Senate Finance Committee held a hearing on “Work and Social Security Disability Benefits: Addressing Challenges and Creating Opportunities.” Social Security also published a notice in the Federal Register soliciting comment on the “Development of Participation in a Vocational Rehabilitation or Similar Program.” NOSSCR believes that Social Security’s return-to-work programs could be far more beneficial and successful than they have historically been, and we continue to advocate for improvements in these programs. We submitted comments in response to both the Hearing and the Federal Register notice, and those comments can be read or downloaded below.

Legislative Spotlight — SSA Funding Update (Copy)

Betsy Osborn, NOSSCR Government Relations Director

As you may know, President Biden’s 2025 budget proposed a nine percent increase to the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) discretionary funding over 2023 levels. In dollars, this would amount to $15.4 billion. Additionally, the President’s budget included $325 billion for SSA to implement and administer a National Paid Leave Program.

Among other things, the proposed increase in SSA’s funding would allocate $1.5 billion for technology modernization at the agency and $1.6 billion to bolster program integrity, including allowing SSA to take corrective action on incorrect or improper payments.

Commissioner O’Malley has asked for additional funding over the President’s budget proposal for the agency. The Commissioner proposes an increase to $16.4 billion ($1 billion over the President’s ask) over 2023 levels. O’Malley contends that the additional funding is necessary to hire adequate staff and improve customer service at SSA.

On July 10, 2024, the House Appropriations Committee voted along party lines (31-25) to cut SSA’s budget by $450 million for the next fiscal year. Republicans who lead the committee suggested that the cuts were due to reduced in-person staffing at SSA’s headquarters in Maryland. The cuts were included in the fiscal 2025 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies bill, which may be voted on by the full House in August.

The Senate Appropriations Committee has not yet voted on funding for SSA.

Just Ask Jennifer: The Importance of a Timely Disability Report (Copy)

Jennifer Cronenberg, NOSSCR Senior Counsel, Director of Legal Information

When starting an online third-party application for a new client, many representatives complete the first portion of the application early in the process, pausing (sometimes for weeks) before completing the Disability Report (Form SSA-3368). With the recent changes in the past relevant work rules, this pause may no longer be necessary.

Most clients are able to recall their work history for the past 5 years without additional research. Simple Google searches can typically fill in any gaps (such as employer address) that the claimant might be missing. The same is true for treating sources—while many claimants misremember their doctors’ names, they can typically provide enough information that a corresponding Google search will provide the needed detail (“it’s that place by the Arby’s on Hill St. near the gas station” is actually helpful information if you’re willing to look). If you ask, most claimants can walk to their kitchen or bathroom and read the labels to you from all of their current medications. And don’t forget my favorite question: is there anything else? An impressive majority of claimants will provide additional treating sources and medications when asked targeted follow-up questions (What about PT? Counseling? Sleep meds?).

My point here is this: never underestimate the value of already having your client on the phone. When possible, seek to get as much information from your client as you can as early as possible in the process. This will have the added benefit of allowing you to complete the application earlier, which should reduce processing time. SSA does not consider an application complete until the Disability Report is received; however, they do start counting processing time as soon as the application is started.  

That said, accuracy is still important. If you have your staff assisting claimants with Disability Reports, it is crucial that you train your staff in the importance of these reports. These aren’t simply a box to check in the application process—rather they are vital evidence that can haunt claimants for years if completed inaccurately. How many hours did you walk/stand/sit should never total more than the number of hours worked per day. An educational level that’s misreported could disallow an otherwise appropriate grid award.  

We know that SSA has a backlog issue at the initial claim level. SSA knows this too. NOSSCR continually advocates for improvements in SSA’s processing and local office response times. We should also be doing all that we can to ensure timely and accurate application completion.

The Krause Chronicles: Developing the Claim File—From Paper to Electronic Folders (Copy)

Tom Krause, NOSSCR Litigation Director

I started representing disability claimants in 1982. Over the years, I watched the technological transition at SSA and in my work, including the change from paper to electronic files. What a long, strange trip it’s been. And the journey is not over yet.  

When I started working for Legal Aid, we had a photocopier – and that’s all it did. No scanning, no faxing, no collating, no stapling, just copying. We used hand-held recorders with micro-cassette tapes. The support staff had a Dictaphone to transcribe the dictation. The transcriber used a foot pedal to start and stop the tape hands-free. And we did not have a computer or a word processor, just electric typewriters.[1]

SSA’s claims files were paper. SSA numbered the exhibits starting with “Ex. 1/1.” SSA assigned non-medical exhibits (such as the application) lower numbers and medical records higher numbers. The exhibit and page numbers were hand-written in the lower right corner. The numbers were written in pencil, so they could be changed. Often the numbers smudged and, even if not smudged, the photocopied exhibit numbers were hard to read.

At that time, many of the medical records were handwritten. I recall spending hours and hours reviewing handwritten medical records. At least we didn’t have to wade through five pages of boilerplate language to find the one paragraph of new notes.  

Another big problem – SSA often lost folders. SSA had huge warehouses for storing files (and probably still does), including a “Megasite.” The Megasite is a 130,000-square-foot facility with 14-tier shelving and catwalks. The building holds 10 million folders. We often compared SSA’s file storage system to the last scene in Raiders of the Lost Ark (https://youtu.be/Fdjf4lMmiiI).

The next step in developing the claim folder was the five-pocket Paper Modular Disability Folder (MDF).[2] There are a few of these around, primarily for cessation cases. The MDF first used the now-familiar file organization:

• Part A (Yellow Tab – front) – Payment Documents/Decision
• Part B (Red Tab) – Jurisdictional Documents/Notices
• Part C (Green Tab) – Current Development/Temporary
• Part D (Orange Tab) – Non-Disability Development
• Part E (Blue Tab) – Disability-Related Development and Documentation
• Part F (Yellow Tab – back) – Medical Records

Hallex I-2-1-10. For concurrent claims, the MDF contained the Title II application and documentation. A brown folder stapled to the back of the MDF contained the Title XVI application and related documents.

SSA began providing representatives with copies of the claims file on a CD in the early 2000s. The eDib initiative aimed to transition the disability claims process from paper to electronic files. By the mid-2000s, it became standard practice for SSA to provide representatives with electronic copies of claims files on CDs. SSA first allowed representatives to access claims files online through the Electronic Records Express (ERE) system in August 2007. ERE provided representatives secure online access to their clients’ electronic disability claims files. In 2018, SSA added the Hearing Office Status Report and, a year later, the Appeals Council Status Report.  

More recently, SSA added Initial Claims and Reconsideration Claims (IC/RC) and IC/RC reports to ERE. Just last month, SSA began including additional fields on the IC/RC report. NOSSCR is working with SSA to improve representatives’ online access to their claimants’ files, and we expect to see ongoing improvements in the coming years as SSA works to modernize their systems. But what a journey it has been—while we are all longing for more electronic access, I just thought it would be fun to pause for a moment and appreciate that at least we aren’t still wandering through a cave looking for lost documents (at least, not most of the time…).

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[1] Yes, an Addresser, DOT No. 209.587-010, was a real job then.

[2] See POMS DI 81010.030.

Local Voices: NOSSCR’s Ground Level Advocacy (Copy)

Miles Mitzner, NOSSCR 10th Circuit Board Representative

On Tuesday, June 25, 2024, NOSSCR CEO David Camp, 10^th Circuit Board Members Gary Jones and I, hosted United States Senator James Lankford in Gary’s home, an unbelievably gorgeous, turn-of-the-century craftsman home in old Oklahoma City, Heritage Hills. Gary’s wife, Susie, provided divine charcuterie, hand-held desserts and other delicacies.

Unfortunately, Senator Lankford’s wife Cindy was unable to attend, though she had planned to be there. Cindy’s Mother, Jeannette Hennessey, was in the last days of Hospice and passed the following day. We wished their family love and prayers at the reception. Many Oklahoma state officers of the Republican Party were in attendance, and we were all invited to ask any question we had. The Senator’s responses were unbelievably candid, responsive, and more than enlightening as to what really goes on up on the Hill and in the White House. All in all, it was a festive, thoroughly enjoyable evening, and we all learned a lot more about our Senator and the goings on in Washington. I highly recommend that other NOSSCR members host such a reception with your Members of Congress. The more we can make friends with our Congress, the more likely our agenda is both heard and acted on.

New Member Logos: Elevate Your Professional Brand (Copy)

We’re thrilled to announce that our refreshed logo is now available for you, our valued members, to use in your email signatures and on your websites! This isn’t just a new look for us, it’s a celebration of the incredible contributions you make to our organization. By incorporating our logo, you not only proudly display your membership but also elevate your own brand by associating yourself with the disability representative organization committed to advocating for claimants and providing the highest quality representation.

Please review the logo guidelines here. You are welcome to incorporate these updated logos into your email signatures and websites. Thank you for being a NOSSCR member!

Upcoming NOSSCR Webinars (Copy)

Litigation Update Webinar: July 29 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm Eastern

Mandamus Primer: Tackling Fee Delays: August 1 @ 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm Eastern

Case Study – Untangling Complex Employment Income Issues: August 15 @ 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm Eastern

NextGen Virtual Coffee Break: August 16 @ 11:00 am – 11:30 am Eastern

Overpayments Training: August 21 @ 1:00 pm – August 22 @ 4:30 pm Eastern

So How Does This Affect Me? Loper Bright and the Demise of Chevron Deference: August 26 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm Eastern

Daily Dose of Data from SSA (Copy)

This month Social Security released the following updates:

• Monthly Statistical Snapshot, June 2024: A monthly snapshot of statistics on Social Security beneficiaries and Supplemental Security Income recipients

• SSI Monthly Statistics, June 2024: These monthly tables provide statistics for federally administered payments and awards under the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program

SSA released it’s Quarterly Scam Update to Congress:

• Social Security’s Office of the Inspector General Releases Scam Report to Congress

Chief Actuary Steve Goss provided the following written testimony to Congress:

• Testimony to the House Committee on Ways and Means, Subcommittee on Social Security and Answers to Questions for the Record: Social Security Actuarial Status: The 2024 Trustees Report

• Testimony to the House Budget Committee: Social Security: Examining Solvency and Impacts to the Federal Budget

And the agency presented at various conferences, providing slides that shed light on their inner-workings:

• Summary of Policy Options: 2024 National Academy of Social Insurance Summer Intern Academy: Demystifying Social Insurance

• What Effect Does Earnings Dispersion Have On Social Security Financing?: NBER Summer Institute 2024: Economics of Social Security

PAC Contributor List (Copy)

THANK YOU TO OUR NOSSCR PAC CONTRIBUTORS

As of July 2024

Contributions to the National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives PAC (NOSSCR PAC) are not tax-deductible as a charitable contribution for federal income tax purposes. Contributions to NOSSCR PAC will be used to support federal and state candidates, political parties, and other political committees.  Contributions are strictly voluntary.  You may refuse to contribute without reprisal.  Any proposed contribution level is merely a suggestion, and you are free to contribute more or less than suggested.  You will not benefit or be disadvantaged by reason of the amount of your contribution or a decision not to contribute.  Federal law requires NOSSCR PAC to use its best efforts to collect and report the name, mailing address, occupation and employer of persons whose contributions exceed $200 in a calendar year.  You must be a U.S. citizen or lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the U.S. to contribute.

Useful Resources (Copy)

Follow the links below to find the most recent OHO caseload analysis report, contact information for every Field Office and Regional Communications Director, SSA’s updated rules and regulations, ALJ statistics, and other publicly released data.

‣ OHO Caseload Analysis Report, June 2024

‣ Dataset with Contact Information for Each Field Office

‣ Regional Communications Directors

‣ HALLEX Contents & Recent Changes

‣ Chief Judge Bulletins (CJBs)

‣ POMS Recent Changes

‣ Emergency Messages (EMs)

‣ ALJ Disposition Data

‣ FOIA Reading Room – Proactive Disclosures