We realize it may be a stretch for ordinary people to want to keep up with the comings and goings of the Social Security Administration, but sometimes circumstances permit where someone does want to follow the latest news regarding the agency due to a possible retirement or disability interest. This blog is an ongoing piecemeal of recent stories that have involved Social Security. Some are tidbits and some are important things that should be known in the world of retirement or disability and others are just interesting stories and nothing more.
Death At A Social Security Office
Threats of violence at Social Security offices are all too common especially when someone is denied benefits, but when the threat leads to real violence, where people are seriously injured and one person ends up dead, that is extremely rare.
Unfortunately that is exactly what happened when a man stabbed two people at a southwest Mississippi Social Security office July 9 and was then shot and killed by a security guard, according to a report by WIVB4. Pike County Sheriff Kenny Cotton informed a news outlet that the attacker, Branen Carter, 21, confronted and stabbed his mother and grandmother who accompanied him to the McComb Social Security office. After the stabbing a security officer shot Carter in the abdomen and he later died at the Southwest Regional Medical Center. Last report showed the two stabbing victims were in critical, but stable condition.
Extension Of Attorney Advisor Program
Social Security has asked the Office of Management and Budget to approve the final regulations on the Attorney Advisor Program. The program, which is set to expire Aug. 3, 2018, allows attorney advisors to conduct certain pre-hearing proceedings to allow for fully favorable disability decisions. If approved, the program would extend into August of 2019. The Attorney Advisor Program is one tool Social Security uses to limit the massive backlog of claimants who are waiting for a disability hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). Below is some background on the program courtesy of the Federal Register.
On August 9, 2007, we issued an interim final rule permitting some attorney advisors to conduct certain pre-hearing proceedings and issue fully favorable decisions when the documentary record warrants doing so. 72 FR 44763. We instituted this practice to provide more timely service to the increasing number of applicants for Social Security disability benefits and Supplemental Security Income payments based on disability. We considered the public comments we received on the interim final rule, and on March 3, 2008, we issued a final rule without change. 73 FR 11349. Under this rule, some attorney advisors may Start Printed Page 28993develop claims and, in appropriate cases, issue fully favorable decisions before a hearing.
Where To Find Office Closures
Recently Social Security has announced closures of several field offices across the country, so before you head out to a Social Security office you should check to see that it is still open. Social Security does list office closures if they are permanent or temporary due to weather conditions or renovations. You can find the closures on Social Security’s website, which can be found here.
