David Camp on LinkedIn: Social Security Administration updates overpayment policy | 60 Minutes (2024)

NOSSCR's report on the first 100 days of Commissioner O'Malley at Social Security, and the results generated by his collaborative data-driven approach called SecurityStat--part 6:"No to all" buttonWhen applying for benefits, SSI claimants had to spend a very long time going through page after page of "no" answers regarding financial resources. As a basic simplification in an extremely difficult application process, SSA now provides a "no to all" button. This is a common-sense improvement that saves time and helps the most vulnerable claimants who struggle with pain, mental illness, or access to a safe place to fill out a long form.

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NOSSCR’s copy of the Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT) is 32 years old.The Department of Labor says they can’t find a copy. So, let me know if you need me to look up a job. National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives (NOSSCR) Here’s one:

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SecurityStat is Commissioner O'Malley's management approach for Social Security. This was how he described it to the Senate last month:"On February 5, 2024, we launched SecurityStat, standing biweekly leadership meetings to track and align on key performance outcomes across rotating challenges. ... SecurityStat is based on the successes I had with CitiStat and StateStat in my prior roles. I have found in my past experience that a focus on data for all, combined with regular accountability and collaboration, helps to create a winnable game for employees and improve performance across the board, especially in large agencies. That is precisely what SecurityStat is about.The four central tenets of SecurityStat are: timely, accurate information shared by all; rapid deployment of resources; effective tactics and strategies; and relentless follow-up and assessment.SecurityStat is critical because the service delivery challenges that we face are cross-cutting. No one component of SSA, no matter how well-led, can solve any one of these problems by itself. Rather, we must work together across the agency in timely, agile, and collaborative ways as never before. SecurityStat provides a systematic and recurring method of doing that, by gathering the top leaders in a room together and engaging in data-driven performance management.So, every two weeks, in a rotating fashion, we gather together and focus intensely on the most important things SSA is charged with accomplishing for the American people and for you, their Members of Congress. For one blessed hour every two weeks we focus, together, on each of eight key challenges:• Field Operations• Human Resources• National 800 Number• Overpayments and Underpayments• Disability Determinations• Disability Hearings• Fraud• Notices"Social Security Administration National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives (NOSSCR)

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NOSSCR's report on the first 100 days of Commissioner O'Malley at Social Security, and the results generated by his collaborative data-driven approach called SecurityStat--part 5:Overpayments reform--and an end to "claw backs"oStarting Monday, March 25, SSA stopped the heavy-handed practice of intercepting 100 percent of an overpaid beneficiary’s monthly Social Security benefit by default if they fail to respond to our demand for repayment. Moving forward, the agency will now use a much more reasonable default withholding rate of 10 percent of monthly benefits — similar to the current rate in the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program.oSSA will be reframing procedures so that the burden of proof shifts away from the claimant in determining whether there is any evidence that the claimant was at fault in causing the overpayment.oFor the vast majority of beneficiaries who request to work out a repayment plan, SSA recently changed its policy so that it will approve repayment plans of up to 60 months. To qualify, Social Security beneficiaries would only need to provide a verbal summary of their income, resources, and expenses, and recipients of the means-tested SSI program would not need to provide even this summary. This change extended this easier repayment option by an additional two years (from 36 to 60 months).oSSA will be making it much easier for overpaid beneficiaries to request a waiver of repayment, in the event they believe themselves to have been without any fault and/or without the ability to repay.

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Amanda Kennedy is NOSSCR’s Director of Operations.She is responsible for all of our operational needs and manages NOSSCR’s day-to-day activities. Amanda is currently overseeing the set-up of NOSSCR’s new presence in Washington, D.C. and plays a vital role in facilitating NOSSCR’s exciting transition. She also serves as a valuable resource for members. Amanda relocated from Miami in 2014 and has worked in the downtown D.C. area since, previously serving as an Office Manager for an international television broadcasting company where she was responsible for overseeing all administrative operations involved with producing live on-air content.Come visit Amanda at our Nashville conference this May. To register, or to join NOSSCR, check out our website:www.nosscr.orgAmanda Kennedy National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives (NOSSCR)

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NOSSCR's report on the first 100 days of Commissioner O'Malley at Social Security, and the results generated by his collaborative data-driven approach called SecurityStat--part 4:Payroll Information Exchange (PIE)SSA recently published a proposed final rule to implement a payroll information exchange, which is another important step in reducing improper payments and streamlining wage reporting. This gets the data from payroll systems immediately to SSA--without delays in mailing or in-person delivery. This is an essential modernization that allows for return to work (and the soon-to-expand Ticket to Work program) without the same fear of overpayments caused by delayed earnings data reporting and processing.National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives (NOSSCR) Social Security Administration

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NOSSCR's report on the first 100 days of Commissioner O'Malley at Social Security, and the results generated by his collaborative data-driven approach called SecurityStat--part 3:Past Relevant WorkSSA is reducing the work development requirement from 15 years to 5 years in disability claims. They're currently preparing instructions for the frontlines to begin curtailing the workloads. Requiring claimants to describe the details of jobs 6-15 years ago has always produced inaccuracies (due to fading memories or lack of older paperwork), and the US economy changes so quickly these days that those older jobs are not so relevant to figuring out if someone could go back to do them. This is a common sense update that aligns SSA policy with the real world while saving time and paperwork for both claimants and SSA's frontline staff.National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives (NOSSCR) Social Security Administration

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Tom Krause is NOSSCR’s first Litigation Director. He is charged with identifying and pursuing impact litigation for the benefit of NOSSCR members and their clients.Tom has been a Sustaining Member of NOSSCR for 28 years and served on the NOSSCR Board for eight years. He has presented at numerous NOSSCR conferences and Eighth Circuit Social Security Disability Law conferences.Tom has represented claimants seeking disability benefits for more than 40 years. He worked for about 14 years for Legal Services Corp. of Iowa (now Iowa Legal Aid), initially representing clients on a variety of issues, but later focusing on Social Security Disability/SSI and Medicaid claims. Tom then spent 21 years in private practice, primarily handling federal court appeals of disability claims. From 2018 to 2023, Tom was a Senior Attorney and Assistant Litigation Director for Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services, leading SMRLS’ Social Security Practice Group.Tom’s first reported case was Baugus v. Secretary of Health and Human Services , 717 F.2d 443 (8th Cir. 1983) (accuracy of hypothetical question; on the brief). Class actions include Parker v. Barnhart , 174 F.Supp.2d 920 (N.D. Iowa 2001) (SSA User Fee challenge); Surrell v. Willman , 16 F.Supp.2d 1085 (D.Neb. 1998) (DDS class action); and Laird v. Stilwill , 969 F.Supp. 1167 (N.D. Iowa, 1997) (DDS class action).Other cases of note include Hesseltine v. Colvin, 800 F.3d 461 (8th Cir. 2015) (Listing 12.05C and Intellectual Disability); Hutchison for Hutchison v. Chater, 99 F.3d 286 (8th Cir. 1996) (non-acquiescence; SSI deeming); Newton v. Chater, 92 F.3d 688 (8th Cir. 1996) (Trial Work Period prior to award of benefits).Come see Tom and hear about NOSSCR’s new litigation at our Nashville conference this May. If you’d like to register, or join NOSSCR, visit us here:www.nosscr.orgThomas Krause National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives (NOSSCR)

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NOSSCR's report on the first 100 days of Commissioner O'Malley at Social Security, and the results generated by his collaborative data-driven approach called SecurityStat--part 2:SSI SimplificationO'Malley is simplifying how SSA calculates In-Kind Support and Maintenance (ISM). SSA announced removal of food in March. This means SSA will no longer need to calculate the value of food (!!) given to a poor person. This is a cost savings for SSA's operations, and basic American values. SSA will soon announce more final rules on the rental subsidy and definition of a public assistance household.To summarize--these changes will encourage family to support homeless disabled SSI claimants, rather than pushing them to shelters and streets. Again, operations savings for SSA and basic American values.National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives (NOSSCR) Social Security Administration

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