The White House has just released a new "Open Government Directive." Complying with this directive will require a major effort at all federal agencies, including Social Security. The entire directive is worth reading, but here are a couple of short excerpts that sets a very specific goal for each agency:
Within 45 days, each agency shall identify and publish online in an open format at least three high-value data sets ... These must be data sets not previously available online or in a downloadable format. ...What "high-value" data would you like for Social Security to release? Remember, Social Security is supposed to consult with the public about what is to be released. What you post here could actually make a difference.
High-value information is information that can be used to increase agency accountability and responsiveness; improve public knowledge of the agency and its operations; further the core mission of the agency; create economic opportunity; or respond to need and demand as identified through public consultation.
SSI overpayments--total numbers, total dollars, percent of recipients overpaid per year and at any one time,, length of time to initiate collection, numbers and dollar amounts waived or declared uncollectable.
ReplyDeleteI would like to see the number of fraud allegations that OIG receives vs. the number that are acted on.
ReplyDeleteTo Anonymous 8:12: Yes, and all the allegations OIG doesn't refer to US Attorneys because they aren't "high dollar" enough. Oh, not the stupid "payee misuse" cases where the noncustodial parent misuses $5K..they love those.
ReplyDeleteNetstat hearing office figures.
ReplyDeleteHow about the public phone number to field offices.
How about a public phone number for the people to contact Payment Centers, since they have set up a special number for attorneys to call.
How about publishing management line phone numbers so the FO's can be contacted when we have problems. Calls are never answered and when the are it is by machine which is never returned or the call drops of the system. how about local office public lines with a person to answer. The 800 line sucks and accomplishes. You cannot make a glass slipper out of a sows ear.
ReplyDeleteWe are in this business to help claimants correct SSA's errors and move claims to resolution.
"How about a public phone number for the people to contact Payment Centers, since they have set up a special number for attorneys to call."
ReplyDeleteThis is a terrible idea. PSC people, particularly authorizers, have their hands full working cases in non-Spike hours. In fact, taking Spike calls is a waste of their professional time and talents. Now you want them to take even more calls??? Don't you want them to get their work done?
My high-value suggestion is publishing the number of hours authorizers spend spiking, so the public can see how much of its time is being wasted babysitting callers instead of reducing the backlog.
"How about a public phone number for the people to contact Payment Centers, since they have set up a special number for attorneys to call."
ReplyDelete"This is a terrible idea. PSC people, particularly authorizers, have their hands full working cases in non-Spike hours."
They set up a special number for attorneys to call, so I guess the PC is too busy to talk to the common folk.