Author: Catherine M. Callery (Kate)| Louise M. Tarantino
Find Chief Judge Bulletins on SSA Website
The Social Security Administration (SSA) website includes a variety of great information for disability advocates. A recent discovery are the Chief ALJ Bulletins, known as the Chief Judge bulletins. These bulletins provide information to SSA personnel involved in the hearings process. They may include such things as workload changes, system enhancements, or serve as notification of imminent or recently-approved revisions in the HALLEX (Hearings, Appeals and Litigation Law Manual). They may also provide reminder items on a variety of topics. Recent topics have included guidance on fleeing felon cases and use of vocational expert interrogatories. https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/
View Training on Electronic Records Express (ERE) and FIT
In April 2009, Iowa Legal Aid (with help from SSA and local NOSSCR members) put on a continuing legal education seminar on electronic filing and Electronic Records Express. The video of the training, the written materials, and the FIT template (long form and instructions for installing) are now available online. To access this information:
Go to www.probono.net; if already registered, sign in. If not already registered, register and sign in. Find “Choose your state” (in the left column) and select Iowa. Select Civil Law (in the left column). Select Library (in the top row of choices). Scroll down to the “Social Security.” Section Select “Electronic Benefit Filing and ERE.”
Looking for Obsolete Listings?
Do you sometimes need to know the details of a rescinded listing? Unless you keep paper copies of past volumes of 20 C.F.R., it may be tough to find these old listings. Never fear. SSA keeps this stuff on its website, tucked away in an obscure part of the POMS. DI 340: Listing of Impairments – Current http://tinyurl.com/lxbw3a; DI 341: Obsolete Versions of Part A, the Listing of Impairments http://tinyurl.com/q8ejqg; DI 342: Obsolete Versions of Part B, the Listing of Impairments http://tinyurl.com/l29qd6.
What to do About Identity Theft
Don’t worry. SSA has an answer to identity theft problems. In an October 2007 pamphlet, Publication No. 05-10064, ICN 463270, the agency advises contacting SSA and The Federal Trade Commission at 1-877-IDTHEFT (1-877-438-4338). The pamphlet is available at www.ssa.gov/pubs/10064.html