Back in 2007, the head judge sent a friendly request out to the rest of the ALJs. He asked that they work hard to decide on more cases each year, at least 500 to 700. Many judges, he wrote, were already meeting that number, so it shouldn’t be a big deal.
But what if this push for judges to meet “quotas” means they won’t wait until an important witness for your case is available to testify? Or that they decide before you’re able to track down a piece of helpful evidence from a doctor or previous employer?
Quotas for ALJ Decisions: Are They Legal?
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Representatives for claimants aren’t the only ones raising these important questions. ALJs are so up in arms over the requested quotas that their union’s decided to sue over the issue. Their argument is that asking judges to decide on a specific number of cases each year will impact how they make decisions and take away their autonomy.
Now, I’d be the first person to tell you that ALJs make mistakes from time to time and sometimes bring bias into hearings, but that’s not the point. If they’re being hired to offer their judgment, then they need to be given the space and time they deem necessary to come to an accurate decision.
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Beyond this, there’s another question buried in the carefully worded request from the head ALJ: is this attempt to set quotas a veiled way to get more judges to rule against claimants on their Social Security Disability appeal? The text of the letter specifically denies this, but with so much emphasis placed on saving money in the last several years, it does beg the question.
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For now, all you can do is work with your attorney to build the strongest case possible and stay up to date on the latest Social Security Disability news by following our blog. And those who’re still trying to figure out the whole Social Security puzzle before applying or appealing a denial should download our free eBook for some clarity.
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