[Mz Migraine]

Every year, you read the same story. Only the projected year changes. Gets worse around election time


CLICKY CLICK--> Social Security disability fund projected to run dry in 2016 *sigh*

[LIT LOVE]

I won't be shocked if reforms come at some point. I tend to think they'll push to eliminate the GRID Rules, rather than decreasing benefits for current beneficiaries.

[Rayandnay]

Originally Posted by Mz Migraine

Every year, you read the same story. Only the projected year changes. Gets worse around election time


CLICKY CLICK--> Social Security disability fund projected to run dry in 2016 *sigh*

They could save a lot of money by eliminating the first two phases of disability, and going straight to hearing, very few if anyone wins. It's pretty much a rubber stamp process at that point, and fire underachieving ALJs.

[LIT LOVE]

Originally Posted by Rayandnay

They could save a lot of money by eliminating the first two phases of disability, and going straight to hearing, very few if anyone wins. It's pretty much a rubber stamp process at that point, and fire underachieving ALJs.

That's just not true. 1/3 of applicants are approved at the first stage.

You're also not considering the fact that the work done developing the case file prior to the hearing is necessary for the ALJs to make their determinations.

[Hopeless]

Originally Posted by LIT LOVE

That's just not true. 1/3 of applicants are approved at the first stage.

You're also not considering the fact that the work done developing the case file prior to the hearing is necessary for the ALJs to make their determinations.

Thanks Lit Love, that is so true.

The reconsideration step has been eliminated in some states and puts more burden upon and backlogs ALJ's.

Some cases could have been decided at the reconsideration phase but go straight from initial denial to an ALJ in areas where this step has been eliminated. This adds to the workload of the ALJ's.

I would be curious to know why this step was eliminated in some areas and not others.

[Hopeless]

Originally Posted by Rayandnay

They could save a lot of money by eliminating the first two phases of disability, and going straight to hearing, very few if anyone wins. It's pretty much a rubber stamp process at that point, and fire underachieving ALJs.

In my opinion, the SSDI process is anything BUT rubber stamp. I see NO rubber stamp in ANY steps in the process. Each and every case is decided upon its merits and individually.

[LIT LOVE]

Originally Posted by Rayandnay

They could save a lot of money by eliminating the first two phases of disability, and going straight to hearing, very few if anyone wins. It's pretty much a rubber stamp process at that point, and fire underachieving ALJs.

If outlier ALJ's were to be terminated, the ones that are approving too a high percentage of applicants would also be fired, not just the ones that have a low approval rating.

[Rayandnay]

Originally Posted by Hopeless

In my opinion, the SSDI process is anything BUT rubber stamp. I see NO rubber stamp in ANY steps in the process. Each and every case is decided upon its merits and individually.

Check out Alaska or Montana, you may think differently. There's a judge in Montana with a zero percent approval rating.

[LIT LOVE]

Originally Posted by Rayandnay

Check out Alaska or Montana, you may think differently. There's a judge in Montana with a zero percent approval rating.

How many cases has s/he disposed of? Can you provide a link?

These statistics show the lowest ALJ approval rating in Montana was 22% and the ALJ only disposed of 18 cases, in 2013.

http://www.ssdfacts.com/montana

[Rayandnay]

Originally Posted by LIT LOVE

How many cases has s/he disposed of? Can you provide a link?

These statistics show the lowest ALJ approval rating in Montana was 22% and the ALJ only disposed of 18 cases, in 2013.

http://www.ssdfacts.com/montana

http://www.disabilityjudges.com/state/montana/billings