Duties and responsibilities of the OALC include but are not limited to:

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  Working with OGC to analyze significant complaints (including class action complaints) (See GN 03106.005A. for further information about complaints) to determine SSA's position on the litigation;

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  Directing and monitoring compliance with class action court orders and court orders in individual cases when OGC/OPL requests input;

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  Responding to discovery requests (including motions to produce and interrogatories);

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  Providing information on SSA's policies, procedures, and responding to requests for statistical data;

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  Coordinating SSA policy and operations component comments and formulating SSA's recommendation on whether a court order should be appealed;

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  Preparing various reports to track litigation activity;

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  Developing information necessary to respond to a Subpoena;

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  Coordinating with OGC when notified of a threatened contempt action because SSA overpayment collection violated a Bankruptcy order; and

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  Drafting Acquiescence Rulings when deemed appropriate.

Duties and responsibilities of the OPL include but are not limited to:

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  Forwarding court orders to the proper SSA component for effectuation and/or processing;

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  Monitoring SSA's compliance with court orders in individual court cases;

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  Preparing responsive legal documents and pleadings; and

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  Identifying court decisions that conflict with SSA policy.

Each Regional Office coordinates litigation activity on the regional level through ARC-MOS, or other designated component. The designated component's duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

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  Acting as a liaison between regional and field components locally and with the OALC centrally;

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  Alerting the OALC about significant court cases, activities and issues that arise in the region;

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  Coordinating implementation of class action litigation at the regional level; and

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  Tracking the implementation of individual court orders that affect title II/XVI claimants/recipients;

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  Obtaining "PACER" (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) summaries from the Federal Courts, when available, to determine the status of a legal action in the U.S. District Courts.

Each PC has Disability Specialists/Benefit Authorizers, or other designated positions, who coordinate litigation activities in the PCs. The duties and responsibilities of the designated position include, but are not limited to:

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  Acting as a liaison between PC components locally and with the OALC centrally;

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  Alerting OPL if a court order cannot be effectuated under SSA policy. (For example, the court orders payment of disability insurance benefits at a time when the claimant fails to meet the insured status requirements of the Social Security Act); and

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  Alerting OALC if problems arise with the processing of a class member claim arising under the implementation of a class action.