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.
Former New Jersey Social Security Employee Sentenced
Nicholas Pao, 38, was sentenced to 34 months in prison for using his access as a Social Security employee to falsify records and steal close to $100,000 from Social Security.
According to this article, federal prosecutors contend Pao fraudulently reinstated benefits for some people and changed their addresses so he could collect pre-paid debit cards that were issued to them.
Prosecutors say that Pao accessed numerous accounts to achieve his objections from December 2014 to July 2018.
National Disability Forum Scheduled For Dec. 3
Social Security’s annual National Disability Forum is scheduled for Dec. 3, 2019. The forum, which is open to the public, provides an opportunity to share insights on disability topics. Below is a description on this year’s forum from Social Security.
This inclusive and collaborative approach helps us develop responsive, effective, and efficient policies in order to empower individuals with a disability, minimize their financial hardship, and ensure proper use of Disability Trust funds. The activities under the Disability Forum supplement, but do not replace, the rule-making process followed by SSA under the Administrative Procedure Act.
We feel that engaging interested parties in a public forum such as the National Disability Forum can help us capture innovative ideas – ensuring that our vision for the disability program continues to keep pace with advances in medicine, technology, health care delivery, and the modern workplace.
Will This Change Saul’s Intention Of Ending Telework?
The Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) sided with the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) in a dispute over telework for Social Security employees. The NTEU represents attorneys and decision writers who work for Social Security’s Office of Hearings Operation (OHO). Social Security Commissioner Andrew Saul recently announced telework for Social Security employees would be ending because the employees can serve the public better by not being allowed to work from home part of the time. Below is the panel’s decision.
The contract language allows for temporary suspensions or changes to the telework program. In response to concerns raised in the Informal Conference regarding the interpretation of that language, the Union offered further clarification to make it clear that management can make temporary changes (for example, for emergencies). As for permanent changes to the program, the Telework Enhancement Act and the Labor Statute intend for the Telework program to be negotiated and any changes to the program to be negotiated with the Union. The Agency presented evidence to demonstrate that the workload for Decision Writers, due to the success of addressing the backlog, has begun to diminish. However, although the parties have been bargaining for a year, the Agency failed to present any specific program changes they are seeking to make in the bargaining unit workload that would impact eligibility under the telework program. While the Agency asserted that they “may” need flexibility to redirect other work, the Agency offered no specific to do so, or any demonstration that the other work cannot also be done while teleworking. Without any specifics, the Union has not had the opportunity to bargain over any potential changes. With the conclusion of this bargaining, going forward permanent change will need to be proposed and bargained when the contract reopens, unless the parties mutually agree otherwise. As such, the Panel orders the parties to adopt the Union’s proposal, including the additional clarification providing for temporary suspensions.
