Judges Who Decide Social Security Claims Say Agency Goads Them to Deny Benefits
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Many of the judges who decide claims for Government disability and health insurance charge that they are being harassed by the Social Security Administration in an effort to reduce costs. Many of the judges who decide claims for Government disability and health insurance charge that they are being harassed by the Social Security Administration in an effort to reduce costs. ”We have gotten allegations from administrative law judges of coercion, threatened transfers and other kinds of pressures,” said Representative Barney Frank, Democrat of Massachusetts, who is chairman of a House Judiciary subcommittee that will hold hearings on the allegations next month. ”The harassment is all in the interest of keeping awards down for sick and needy people,” Mr. Frank said. Denial by Agency The agency denies that it harasses the law judges. It says it monitors them to increase their productivity and reduce costs. More : query.nytimes.com |