Disability Law

Congress has passed an omnibus appropriations bill for fiscal year (FY) 2010, which was signed into law by President Obama. As expected, the Social Security Administration will receive a 10% increase over the FY 2009 appropriation.

 This increase will allow SSA to proceed with its ODAR hiring plans: 226 new Administrative Law Judges (ALJs), 950 support staff, 60 hearing office managers, and additional staff for the Appeals Council. By the end of the fiscal year, SSA expects to have 1,450 ALJs. Not too many years ago, the number of ALJs was around 1,000. The FY 2010 funding also will allow SSA to maintain the number of field office staff (increased in 2009) and provide additional funding for DDSs.

 Source: National Organization of Social Security Claimants Representatives