Social Security: Many Administrative Law Judges Oppose Productivity Initiatives

GAO discussed the Social Security Administration's (SSA) administrative law judges (ALJ). GAO found that: (1) SSA lacks the ability to validate its performance goals for ALJ; (2) although SSA has increased the number of ALJ and their support staff, staff shortages are still causing a decline in some performance indicators; and (3) the Office of Hearings and Appeals has begun to develop a work measurement system; and (4) use of monthly goals appears to have been effective in increasing the average disposition of cases.