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Oral argument argued before the Eighth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals on or about 09-21-2009

Oral argument argued before the Eighth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals on or about 09-22-2009

Eliminating the backlog of Social Security Disability claims is a moral imperative, according to a recent report issued by SSA Commissioner Michael J. Astrue to Social Security lawyers throughout the country. We agree! Too many disabled Americans are suffering financially while they wait for a Social Security hearing. The Commissioner has asked disability attorneys and great organizations such as NOSSCR to help in ...

... it to the American public to continue to offer the best possible support for older Americans, people with disabilities and their families in the coming decades," said Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security. "The Trustees Report is an important tool for those in the legislative and executive branches who will have to make the very difficult decisions about how best to ensure Social Security remains viable for the long term."

... to 144 Administrative Law Judges New Hires a Key Step in Reducing Agency???s Backlog of Disability Cases Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, today announced that the agency has begun making offers to 144 of the 175 ... New. ???In May of last year, I presented Congress with a detailed plan to reduce the backlog of disability cases,??? Commissioner Astrue said. ???I am pleased to report that, with the strong support of the President and Members of Congress from both parties, we have ...

... nearly 80 million baby boomers coming in," Social Security Commissioner Michael J. Astrue told The Associated Press. "We just don't have the infrastructure ... apply for their retirement or disability benefits 0n-line in 15 minutes or less. Astrue said a person who now goes to a Social Security office to apply spends about 45 ... and "we don't want it to substitute for the ability to deal with a real person." Astrue also gave assurances that people with more complicated applications or questions can still ...

... Nationwide Launch of Compassionate Allowances Process Will Fast Track Applications For People with Cancers and Rare Diseases Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, on October 27, 2008 announced the national rollout of the agency's ... , and it simply is not acceptable for people to wait years for a final decision on a disability claim, Commissioner Astrue said. I am committed to a process that is as fair and speedy as possible. The launch of Compassionate Allowances is another step to ...

Social Security has launched a nation wide Compassionate Allowance (CAL) program. Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, today announced the national rollout of the agency's Compassionate Allowances initiative, a way to ... benefits quickly to people with the most severe medical conditions is both the right and the compassionate thing to do," Commissioner Astrue said. "This initiative will allow us to make decisions on these cases in a matter of days, rather than months or years." The ...

Michael J. Astrue, the Commissioner of Social Security, says benefits for tens of thousands of people with disabilities are being delayed by furloughs and layoffs of state employees around the country. State officials have announced furloughs, layoffs and hiring ... of those employees and pays the full cost of benefits for people found to be disabled. "We pay the full freight," Mr. Astrue said. "States do not save any money when they furlough or lay off these employees. They only delay payments to ...

... ) that are being taken to attempt to fix the problem. On March 24, 2009, a congressional hearing was held at which SSA Commissioner Michael J. Astrue addressed the frustration of the current state of the Social Security disability backlog. Commissioner Astrue outlined the following goals of the SSA: Open 10 new hearing offices Establish 3 new National Hearing Center sites Hire 157 additional Administrative Law Judges ( ...