More fall out from special government employee, Elon Musk’s Department of Governmental Efficiency (DOGE). Acting SS Commissioner, Michelle King, has resigned in protest of access being denied DOGE. President Trump has named Leland Dudek, a long-term SS employee, as Acting Commissioner. Frank Bisigano has been nominated by the President to be permanent Commissioner.
The AARP (American Association of Retired Persons) Bulletin reports that as of January 2025 Social Security beneficiaries can no longer just drop by their local district office with a question or to get an issue resolved. Most people must call for an appointment. Exceptions are made for military personnel, people with terminal illnesses and those…
Summer 2021 Newsletter STILL STANDING…AND PRACTICING I published the first issue of Social Security & You in Spring of 1993. Some years I’ve published more issues than others. The most recent issue was dated Spring 2019: over 2 years ago. The world was a much different place then. Especially for me. Read the full newsletter…
Spring 2019 Newsletter An Opioid Story I’ve changed his name. Let’s call him Gerald. He was a laborer. And by that I don’t mean that he just did physical work. He was a card-carrying member the Labor’s Union local. And that meant a lot to him. I represented him for Social Security disability and Michigan…
Just a few years ago the processing times for hearing a Social Security Disability or SSI appeal in the Michigan ODARs were among the longest in the nation. The addition of the Mt. Pleasant, Livonia & Toledo, Ohio ODARs, in addition to hiring more ALJs, have shortened the processing times greatly.
While Grand Rapids remains an exception (163rd out of 165), the other ODARs covering Michigan have improved dramatically, relative to the rest of the nation. Flint is now 17th (292 days), Oak Park is 28th (304 days), Lansing is 43rd (321 days), Livonia is 50th (325 days), Detroit is 54th (328 days) and Mt. Pleasant is 59th (332 days).
The gains could be mitigated due to changes caused by the sequester.