Escalating Travel Costs of Claimant Representatives at Hearings Conducted by Office of Hearings and Appeals. Management Advisory Report

摘要

The report addresses the Office of Hearing and Appeals' (OHA) concern about a potential vulnerability in the current provisions of the 1986 Pulido Regulations. The regulations govern reimbursement of travel costs for claimant representatives to attend disability or Medicare hearings before Administrative Law Judges (ALJs). The report shows that the OHA is justifiably concerned about rapidly escalating travel costs of claimant representatives to attend ALJ hearings. The current statute appears to contain a significant vulnerability for abuse or misuse of the Social Security Trust Fund and potentially for Medicare funds as well. It recommends that the SSA should submit a legislative proposal to restrict reimbursement of legal counsels' and other representatives' travel expenses to the maximum allowable cost to travel within the designed Hearing Office service area. The OHA's Office of Management should continue to monitor and analyze travel vouchers of claimants, witnesses, and representatives on a semi-annual basis.