Are ALJs Unconstitutional?

<br /><br />     A panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit has held in Bandimere v. SEC that Administrative Law Judges are unconstitutional because they are not appointed by the President. The Social Security Administration employs most federal ALJs. This decision may receive en banc review, that is by the entire 10th Circuit instead of just a three judge panel. If en banc review

Are ALJs Unconstitutional?

     A panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit has held in Bandimere v. SEC that Administrative Law Judges are unco...

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Program Uniformity Rules To Become Final

<br /><br />     Social Security is publishing final rules on Ensuring Program Uniformity at the Hearing and Appeals Council Levels of the Administrative Review Process in the Federal Register tomorrow. These will be effective on January 15 but "compliance is not required until May 1, 2017" which is an odd way of doing things. These rules state that, with some exceptions, all evidence must be submitted at

Program Uniformity Rules To Become Final

     Social Security is publishing final rules on Ensuring Program Uniformity at the Hearing and Appeals Council Levels of the Administrativ...

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Status Of FY 2017 Appropriations

<br /><br /><br /><br />     Social Security and all other agencies are operating on continuing funding resolutions. This is likely to be the case until March. With news that the incoming Trump administration probably won't even submit a Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 budget much less a FY 2017 budget, the pending House and Senate appropriations bills become even more important than usual. Below is a summary of what the two

Status Of FY 2017 Appropriations

     Social Security and all other agencies are operating on continuing funding resolutions. This is likely to be the case until March. With...

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Many To Leave Social Security Because Of Change Of Administration?

<br /><br />    There are reports on the ALJ Discussion Forum that Acting Social Security Commissioner Carolyn Colvin told agency employees in an in-house television broadcast that she and many other unnamed officials will be leaving their jobs at Social Security at the time of the inauguration. There is nothing surprising about Colvin leaving. That was widely expected.  However, it is surprising that many

Many To Leave Social Security Because Of Change Of Administration?

    There are reports on the ALJ Discussion Forum that Acting Social Security Commissioner Carolyn Colvin told agency employees in an in-hou...

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ALJs Are Supposed To Schedule 45-50 Hearings A Month

<br />An e-mail from Social Security's Chief Administrative Law Judge Debra Bice:<br /><br /><br />Jack and I have spoken with many of<br /> you over the last few months and know that you share ODAR’s commitment <br />to public service by providing claimants with timely and policy <br />compliant dispositions. You also have shared some of the challenges you<br /> face in doing so. We are aware of the challenges you have been facing,<br />

ALJs Are Supposed To Schedule 45-50 Hearings A Month

An e-mail from Social Security's Chief Administrative Law Judge Debra Bice: Jack and I have spoken with many of you over the last few m...

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Wisconsin ALJ Taken Off Regular Duties Because Of Comments About Claimants

<br />     From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:<br /><br /><br />Administrative law judge John H. Pleuss has been removed from the list <br />of judges within the computer system at the Social Security’s Madison <br />Office of Adjudication and Review, and all of his 60 cases through the <br />end of 2016 have been reassigned, according to two whistle-blowers from <br />the administration and a copy of the list provided to the

Wisconsin ALJ Taken Off Regular Duties Because Of Comments About Claimants

     From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Administrative law judge John H. Pleuss has been removed from the list of judges within the comput...

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