Will I or Wont I get SSD?

Here is the handy website for looking up a particular Administrative Law Judge's approval statistics. It is fairly out of date now, but it is fun to look at.

Updates to SSD Hearing wait times

NOSSCR is reporting this month's wait times for an ALJ hearing at 330 days in hartford. that sounds about right.

The time Judges are taking to render their decisions seems to be considerably longer.

SSD Claimant's Have an Absolute Right to Refuse a Video Hearing

A March 20, 2010 memorandum from the Chief Administrative Law Judge to all of his subordinate ALJ's reiterates that a social security claimant has an absolute right to refuse to appear at a videotelephonic hearing (VTC) and demand a hearing before an ALJ in person. VTC hearings have become increasingly popular in districs where cases are backlogged for hearing. I have had instances where my client and I have been sitting in a hearing room in Hartford while the ALJ is sitting in Kansas City or some other distant city.

Pursuant to the Code of Federal Regulations, the ALJ must be notified as soon as possible by the claimant that he or she is declining a VTC hearing. The hearing shall then be automatically continued for good cause having been found.

Nice to know that we can still insist on the personal touch.

Can Social Security Payments be Garnished For Child Support?

SSD/SSI Expert blogger Jonathan Ginsberg answers this question in this recent post.

Social Security Wait Times

According to this quarter's edition of the NOSSCR Forum, the wait times for ALJ Hearings in Hartford presently stands at 380 days. The New haven office sits at 372 days and Springfield, Ma is at 335.

To give that some perspective, the New York screening unit has a 135 day processing time (the best) and Chicago, Il comes in dead last with a 783 day wait time.

The Forum is also reporting that Congress held a 2 hour hearing on March 24th with Social Security Commissioner Michael Astrue to address these long wait times. What will come out of that remains unknown.

If you have any questions about your rights to Social ecurity or SSI benefits, feel free to contact us.

Know Your ALJ

Social Security Administrative Law Judges are a unique breed. This website will allow you to check, by name of Judge, his or her productivity. Fascinating. Have Fun.

Wait time statistics For Hartford Social Security Cases

NOSSCR reports the most recent processing time for hearings before an ALJ in Hartford is 375 days. That is 17th best in the Nation. To put things in perspective, the shortest wait time is in Houston at 283 days, and the longest is Chicago at 712 days---close to two years.

Changes made Eliminating Revisions to medicare set-Asides

AttorneyAngelo Sevarino, the "Medicare Guru" for those of us in the field of WC law, has advised the Connewcticut Bar Association Worker's Compensation Section menbership of the following important update regarding Medicare set-asides.

"CMS has just released memorandum #11 dated August 25, 2008 and effective immediately it is no longer possible to petition CMS for a reduction or termination of an established set-aside. Previously we had the ability after 5 years to have CMS take a "second look" but that option is now" no longer available.

As always, if you think this change applies to your situation, feel free to contact the office.

Social Security Processing Times

The Spring Edition of Nosscr's Social Security Forum reports that the Hartford District Social Security Office ranks 29th in the nation with an average processing time of 386 days. New Haven is in 26th place at 383 days.

Harrisburg, PA ranks 1st at 296 days and Atlanta comes in last at number 146 with an average time of 838 days. Yikes!

Mainstream Media begins to Note SSD Backlogs

As a member of NOSSCR, I have rerpresented individuals in their quest for Social Security DisabilityBenefits since 1986. Anyone who has an even passing familiarity with this system knows that the backlog and roadblocks thrown up to thwart those seekinging SSD and SSI benefits are daunting. At last, the media is begining to sit up an take note. This video aired by CBS news nicely illustrates the realities of the situation.

The average wait in Hartford is 440 days for a hearing.