The New York Times has an article today on the furloughs at some state Disability Determination Services (DDS). The DDS offices make the initial and reconsideration determinations on Social Security disability claims. The news in this article is that the furloughs may spread to New York and New Jersey. Here are some excerpts:
“We pay the full freight,” Mr. Astrue said. “States do not save any money when they furlough or lay off these employees. They only delay payments to disabled citizens who rely on the monthly benefits.” ...Mr. Astrue has expressed “grave concern” over such personnel actions in letters to governors, including Jon Corzine of New Jersey and David A. Paterson of New York, both Democrats, and Mr. Schwarzenegger.
In a letter to New York employees last week, Mr. Paterson said he intended to lay off 8,700 state workers by July 1.
Peter E. Kauffmann, a spokesman for Mr. Paterson, said, “The governor is aware of the concerns raised by the Social Security Administration and will act carefully.”
3 comments:
The federal government needs to man-up and take those jobs away from the states, starting with the states that are laying off DDS workers.
Congress doesn't have the guts to pull the plug on the states.
Are the states that are requiring these furloughs also paying DDS personnel to work overtime during those weeks when they are not on furlough. If so, then there theoretically is no lost productivity?
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