From the March 2008 issue of Unity, the newsletter of Council 220 of the American Federation of Government Employees, which represents about 25,000 employees of the Social Security Administration:
A plan to charge $15.00 for each Social Security benefit verification came to an immediate halt recently when Union officials learned about the idea. A sign had been placed on the front door of the Foothill branch office in Oakland, Calif. It stated the fee would take effect in January, but Health and Safety Representa-tive Howard Egerman saw the no-tice and reported it to other Union members. Unfortunately by that time the practice had become widespread and signs had been posted in offices around the entire San Francisco Bay Area.
Dana Duggins, the third Vice President of AFGE Council 220, soon learned about the scheme and immediately wrote to SSA Com-missioner Michael Astrue.
“Before you knew it, the signs had come down,” Duggins said, “but I’d still like to know who put them up in the first place and whether anyone was ever charged. If they were, it was an illegal practice that has to be dealt with and those claimants surely have to be reimbursed.”
The agency’s own regulations state benefit verifications will be provided free to the public, and Duggins says that raises two other questions.
1 comment:
I believe that SSA will provide benefit verification letters directly to the recipient of the benefits but is and does charge for providing the information to a third party (such as a mortgage holder) with a signed release, of course. As a matter of fact, beneficiaries can request a verification on line without having to wait in a phone queue or office reception area.
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