Blog
-
Just when the Social Security Agency finally had a progressive, engaged commissioner in former mayor of Baltimore and governor of Maryland, he’s gone. Effective November 29th Martin O’Malley is resigning to run for chairman of the Democratic National Committee. Among other positive changes made during O’Malley’s all too brief tenure as commissioner was modification of…
2 days ago -
The annual cost of living adjustment (COLA) for more than 72.5 million Social Security and SSI recipient for 2025 will be 2.5% as inflation comes under control. The COLA for 2024 was 3.2%. The average retiree will receive $48 more per month next year. The earnings limit for workers younger than full retirement age will…
a month+ ago
News
-
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…
3+ years ago -
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…
5+ years ago
HOW WILL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN AFFECT SSA?
Just as occurred in 1996 when Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich (R) GA and Bill Clinton faced off, President Obama & the Republican led House of Representatives have partially shut-down the federal government. The Congress has not passed a budget or continuing financing resolution over the issue of funding (or at least delaying) implementation of the Affordable Care Act, known as “Obamacare”.
How is this shut-down affecting Social Security? Quite a bit.
It’s pretty quiet behind the scenes at the Office of Disability Adjudication and Review (ODAR). Other than 1 employee at the reception desk the only employees at work are the Administrative Law Judges. They have a union and they are protected so long as they show up for work. They will receive retroactive pay when the shutdown ends.
The scheduled hearings will be held. The hearing monitors and vocational experts are contract employees and they will be paid. But all other employees of the ODARs are off work.
So although the cases will be heard and decisions made by the ALJs, decisions won’t be written, hearings won’t be scheduled, electronic files won’t be prepared for access, cases won’t be exhibited for hearing, the phone won’t be answered and cases won’t be screened for “on-the-record” decisions.
In other words, the ODARs are effectively dead in the water.
| < previous Social Security & You: Fall 2013 | next > ODAR STAFF BACK AT WORK |
Call today if you have questions about the Michigan Social Security Disability Attorney and Lawyer Services provided by William Crawforth.
To schedule an appointment call 800-864-1244 or fill out the contact form at the top of this page.
