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Omaha Steve

(99,061 posts)
Fri Oct 23, 2015, 03:48 PM Oct 2015

Here Come the Judges -- Social Security Disability Crisis to be Addressed in NOLA 10/27-10/28


New Orleans to Host Gathering of the Nation’s Federal Judges Who Hear Social Security Cases, Acting Commissioner of SSA Carolyn Colvin to Address Meeting

M E D I A A D V I S O R Y

For immediate release -- October 23, 2015

Contact:

Jamie Horwitz, jhdcpr@starpower.net, 202/549-4921


Reform of a Disability System Projected to Run Low on Funds in 2016 Unless Congress Acts, Security Threats to Judges, and New Medical Developments,

Top Agenda


Judges to grant rare interviews to broadcast and print reporters


NEW ORLEANS – What happens when an American worker is denied a claim for disability benefits? Most people never know because disputed benefit claims are heard in America’s largest – and largely hidden – judicial system. Reporters and observers are barred from these courtrooms for medical privacy reasons. Next week in New Orleans, the curtain will be parted as the Association of Administrative Law Judges (AALJ), representing more than 1,400 jurists who work for the U.S. Social Security Administration, will convene in New Orleans for a conference focused on reforming Social Security benefits, courtroom security concerns, and new developments in medicine.


Who:

Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) who preside over America’s Social Security disability claims


What:

Conference on Benefit Claims and Security Issues, with address by Acting Social Security Commissioner Carolyn Colvin


When:

Tuesday, October 27 thru Thursday, October 29. Commissioner Colvin is the scheduled luncheon speaker on Tuesday, October 27


Where: Hotel Monteleone, 214 Royal Street, New Orleans


Note: Not all conference sessions are open to news media. For further information, contact Jamie Horwitz at 202/549-4921, jhdcpr@starpower.net.


The conference will offer a window into a largely hidden judicial system. Although more than 165 million Americans pay into Social Security and are eligible for disability payments, hearings on disputed claims are not open to the press or public. Judges also are generally barred from speaking to the press, although there is an exception for judges speaking in their capacity as representatives of the judges’ association.


Administrative Law Judges pay their own travel, lodging, and meal expenses at the annual educational gathering, said AALJ President Randall Frye, who also is a federal judge based in Charlotte, North Carolina.


“Our members are paying out of their own pockets so we can stay up to date on the latest developments in law, medicine and proposed reforms to SSDI,” said Frye. “A disputed benefit claim can be an extremely complex inquiry, with hundreds of pages of medical records and expert testimony. Judges must balance the rights and needs of individual claimants with our responsibility to the taxpayers who pay for Social Security.”


Security in hearing rooms is an ongoing concern for Administrative Law Judges, said Frye. “We’re often working without a bailiff, in hearing rooms that are not equipped to protect claimants, judges, or others in attendance,” said Frye. “These are high-stakes proceedings, and we need to ensure they take place in an environment that respects the safety of all concerned.”


More than 300 ALJs are expected to attend the New Orleans conference, where they will hear form Acting Social Security Commissioner Carolyn Colvin during a luncheon address on Tuesday, October 27.


As of September 2015, according to the Social Security Administration, more than 10.8 million injured workers and their dependents had received disability payments from the Social Security disability trust fund.


The Association of Administrative Law Judges (AALJ) was founded as a professional association in 1971 to promote knowledge and collegiality among judges. Today the organization represents the approximately 1,400 judges who handle Social Security Disability claims. AALJ provides training and education programs for judges, serves as an advocate for judges and represents the issues of judges before Congress. A recognized federal employees union, AALJ bargains on behalf of its members with the Social Security Administration. AALJ is an affiliate of the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers and the AFL-CIO.

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Here Come the Judges -- Social Security Disability Crisis to be Addressed in NOLA 10/27-10/28 (Original Post) Omaha Steve Oct 2015 OP
Wish we could send a little mouse to listen in on these sessions. jwirr Oct 2015 #1

jwirr

(39,215 posts)
1. Wish we could send a little mouse to listen in on these sessions.
Fri Oct 23, 2015, 04:33 PM
Oct 2015

As to the lack of money for SSDI I think that the government should take all people who are on SSDI and are now over 63 or who are collecting money from a parents funds and move them into regular SSA. That would make SSDI a program for those who are too young to collect regular SSA. This would mean that they would not have to transfer as much SSA money into the SSDI fund.

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