Is there a Congressional consensus forming on cutting Social Security benefits? TPM fears there may be and that "it could happen swiftly, with very little notice."
I've stated this many times and will keep stating it. If these government employees who adjudicate ssa claims and these politicians who supposedly have honorable intent are so honorable then why not propose some government salary cuts? It would be a good step in the right direction.
Cutting government salaries would be exactly the wrong direction if you're looking to stimulate the economy, which is the way out of the recession. Even Hoover, after government salaries, restored the cuts.
First anon - Yeah, you've stated it many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many times.
The problem is that SSA's processing systems are so messed up that nobody in their right mind who has a clue would want to work there. Working at SSA is like trying to empty Lake Michigan with a fork. They are constantly understaffed on the workforce side and far overstaffed on management who don't produce a single meaningful thing (other than meaningless reports saying that the employees aren't working hard enough). They have 1-800-DIAL-AN-IDIOT with a large workforce turnover and who aren't held accountable to anybody for any minimal level of competency, production, or accuracy. The Baltimore PSC (which handles most of the workloads related to Title II disability claims) has recently managed to convince upper level management to allow it to totally sever telephone communications with the field offices. In short, the only way for field offices to contact them is now to send an electronic message requesting action. Based upon past experience before the current telephone pilots were implemented, they'll ignore that first message and the next 20 messages you send them. The backlog on benefit authorizer workloads is now 90 days, and claims authorizers 115 days (which represents how long you will have to wait for them to get around to even look at fixing a problem. And since they never manage to totally fix anything right the first time, double or triple those numbers and you might be about right). The only telephone contact now allowed with the Baltimore PSC by field offices is via manager to manager for "critical" and "public relations" problems (the definitions of which always vary depending upon whether the management official - they don't consider it critical/PR if they can avoid actually having to personally deal with the desperate claimant to explain why they should go away and starve or go live under a overpass somewhere or something....).
Things are about to get very, very bad in SSA. I figure it will begin to be immediately apparent within 6 months or so just how deep the pile of s#!t is going to get this time.
Privately, I'm buying a roll of stamps, some plain envelopes, and making up a note encouraging every claimant that has a problem I can't solve to mail to claimants on the sly telling them to call their congressional reps. Maybe if they get inundated enough something will get done.
Yeah, you've stated it many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many times.
The problem is that SSA's processing systems are so messed up that nobody in their right mind who has a clue would want to work there. Working at SSA is like trying to empty Lake Michigan with a fork. They are constantly understaffed on the workforce side and far overstaffed on management who don't produce a single meaningful thing. They have 1-800-DIAL-AN-IDIOT with a large workforce turnover and who aren't held accountable to anybody for any minimal level of competency, production, or accuracy. The Baltimore PSC (which handles most of the workloads related to Title II disability claims) has recently managed to convince upper level management to allow it to totally sever telephone communications with the field offices. In short, the only way for field offices to contact them is now to send an electronic message requesting action. Based upon past experience, they'll ignore that first message and the next 15 messages you send them. The backlog on benefit authorizer workloads is now 90 days, and claims authorizers 115 days (which represents how long you will have to wait for them to even look at fixing a problem. And since they never manage to totally fix anything right the first time, double or triple those numbers and you might be about right). The only telephone contact now allowed with the Baltimore PSC by field offices is via manager to manager for "critical" and "public relations" problems (the definitions of which vary depending upon the management official involved - most of them don't consider it critical/PR if they can avoid actually having to personally deal with the desperate claimant to explain why they should go away and starve or go live under a overpass somewhere....).
Things are about to get very, very bad in SSA. I figure it will begin to be immediately apparent within 6 months or so just how deep the pile of s#!t is going to get this time.
Privately, I'm buying a roll of stamps, some plain envelopes, and making up some cards encouraging every claimant that has a problem I can't solve to mail to claimants on the sly telling them to call their congressional reps. Maybe if they get inundated enough something will get done.
Please, please, please, recognize Anon #3 for what he/she is - one of those people we all know who is never satisfied with anything. The type to complain about winning the lottery because it puts them in a higher tax bracket. Are things at SSA perfect? Hell NO. But they have gotten better. I work in the field and my office is fully staffed for the first time in a long time and we are able provide the level of service our clients expect and deserve. The other offices in our district, after being severely understaffed and backlogged for years have turned the corner and have received additional staffing. They aren't where we are yet but they are moving in the right direction. Of the people I know in other offices this seems to be the trend. Unfortunately, some people just have a negative slant to their personality or are unlucky and work in an office that's poorly managed. I don't believe that's indicative of our Agency. I also suspect Anon #3 is either an AFGE (union) representative as they seem to be spewing the standard union propaganda.
"The Baltimore PSC (which handles most of the workloads related to Title II disability claims) has recently managed to convince upper level management to allow it to totally sever telephone communications with the field offices. In short, the only way for field offices to contact them is now to send an electronic message requesting action. Based upon past experience, they'll ignore that first message and the next 15 messages you send them."
Yeah, but they are OK with setting up a phone line that lets attorneys call direct to get info.
So if a beneficary wants their retroactive benefits, an MDW gets sent to the MOD and the MOD will take action when hell freezes over.
But if you are an attorney and want to know about where is your fee, no problem you call direct.
Consensus Forming On Cutting Social Security?
ReplyDeleteI've stated this many times and will keep stating it. If these government employees who adjudicate ssa claims and these politicians who supposedly have honorable intent are so honorable then why not propose some government salary cuts? It would be a good step in the right direction.
Cutting government salaries would be exactly the wrong direction if you're looking to stimulate the economy, which is the way out of the recession. Even Hoover, after government salaries, restored the cuts.
ReplyDeleteFirst anon - Yeah, you've stated it many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many times.
ReplyDeleteThe problem is that SSA's processing systems are so messed up that nobody in their right mind who has a clue would want to work there. Working at SSA is like trying to empty Lake Michigan with a fork. They are constantly understaffed on the workforce side and far overstaffed on management who don't produce a single meaningful thing (other than meaningless reports saying that the employees aren't working hard enough). They have 1-800-DIAL-AN-IDIOT with a large workforce turnover and who aren't held accountable to anybody for any minimal level of competency, production, or accuracy. The Baltimore PSC (which handles most of the workloads related to Title II disability claims) has recently managed to convince upper level management to allow it to totally sever telephone communications with the field offices. In short, the only way for field offices to contact them is now to send an electronic message requesting action. Based upon past experience before the current telephone pilots were implemented, they'll ignore that first message and the next 20 messages you send them. The backlog on benefit authorizer workloads is now 90 days, and claims authorizers 115 days (which represents how long you will have to wait for them to get around to even look at fixing a problem. And since they never manage to totally fix anything right the first time, double or triple those numbers and you might be about right). The only telephone contact now allowed with the Baltimore PSC by field offices is via manager to manager for "critical" and "public relations" problems (the definitions of which always vary depending upon whether the management official - they don't consider it critical/PR if they can avoid actually having to personally deal with the desperate claimant to explain why they should go away and starve or go live under a overpass somewhere or something....).
Things are about to get very, very bad in SSA. I figure it will begin to be immediately apparent within 6 months or so just how deep the pile of s#!t is going to get this time.
Privately, I'm buying a roll of stamps, some plain envelopes, and making up a note encouraging every claimant that has a problem I can't solve to mail to claimants on the sly telling them to call their congressional reps. Maybe if they get inundated enough something will get done.
Not holding my breath, though.
Yeah, you've stated it many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many times.
ReplyDeleteThe problem is that SSA's processing systems are so messed up that nobody in their right mind who has a clue would want to work there. Working at SSA is like trying to empty Lake Michigan with a fork. They are constantly understaffed on the workforce side and far overstaffed on management who don't produce a single meaningful thing. They have 1-800-DIAL-AN-IDIOT with a large workforce turnover and who aren't held accountable to anybody for any minimal level of competency, production, or accuracy. The Baltimore PSC (which handles most of the workloads related to Title II disability claims) has recently managed to convince upper level management to allow it to totally sever telephone communications with the field offices. In short, the only way for field offices to contact them is now to send an electronic message requesting action. Based upon past experience, they'll ignore that first message and the next 15 messages you send them. The backlog on benefit authorizer workloads is now 90 days, and claims authorizers 115 days (which represents how long you will have to wait for them to even look at fixing a problem. And since they never manage to totally fix anything right the first time, double or triple those numbers and you might be about right). The only telephone contact now allowed with the Baltimore PSC by field offices is via manager to manager for "critical" and "public relations" problems (the definitions of which vary depending upon the management official involved - most of them don't consider it critical/PR if they can avoid actually having to personally deal with the desperate claimant to explain why they should go away and starve or go live under a overpass somewhere....).
Things are about to get very, very bad in SSA. I figure it will begin to be immediately apparent within 6 months or so just how deep the pile of s#!t is going to get this time.
Privately, I'm buying a roll of stamps, some plain envelopes, and making up some cards encouraging every claimant that has a problem I can't solve to mail to claimants on the sly telling them to call their congressional reps. Maybe if they get inundated enough something will get done.
Not holding my breath, though.
"call their congressional reps"
ReplyDeleteI beleive that's a good idea,espeacially if you're a ssa employee.
It all starts with congress.
Please, please, please, recognize Anon #3 for what he/she is - one of those people we all know who is never satisfied with anything. The type to complain about winning the lottery because it puts them in a higher tax bracket. Are things at SSA perfect? Hell NO. But they have gotten better. I work in the field and my office is fully staffed for the first time in a long time and we are able provide the level of service our clients expect and deserve. The other offices in our district, after being severely understaffed and backlogged for years have turned the corner and have received additional staffing. They aren't where we are yet but they are moving in the right direction. Of the people I know in other offices this seems to be the trend. Unfortunately, some people just have a negative slant to their personality or are unlucky and work in an office that's poorly managed. I don't believe that's indicative of our Agency. I also suspect Anon #3 is either an AFGE (union) representative as they seem to be spewing the standard union propaganda.
ReplyDelete"The Baltimore PSC (which handles most of the workloads related to Title II disability claims) has recently managed to convince upper level management to allow it to totally sever telephone communications with the field offices. In short, the only way for field offices to contact them is now to send an electronic message requesting action. Based upon past experience, they'll ignore that first message and the next 15 messages you send them."
ReplyDeleteYeah, but they are OK with setting up a phone line that lets attorneys call direct to get info.
So if a beneficary wants their retroactive benefits, an MDW gets sent to the MOD and the MOD will take action when hell freezes over.
But if you are an attorney and want to know about where is your fee, no problem you call direct.