... The National Academy of Public Administration -- a congressionally chartered organization -- worked with SSA to make 29 recommendations on how the agency should modernize and reform itself by 2025. Chief among the suggestions was to more aggressively embrace new technology to deliver services to Social Security recipients, and to move away from in-person customer support in favor of “virtual channels” such as phone, online and videoconferencing options. ...
“With a shrinking workforce, the agency cannot afford to continue to operate in this [old] way,” the panelists wrote. “Furthermore, as more work is automated, it becomes less necessary to maintain the current structure.”
While NAPA did not make any specific estimates of potential job cuts -- Project Director Roger Kodat said it was “too early to make that judgment” -- the union representing SSA employees said the results would be drastic. The American Federation of Government Employees estimated if fully implemented, the recommendations made in the report would result in 30,000 job cuts and the elimination of all 1,250 SSA field offices. ...
Internet options such as video chat would have alot of good applications with social security issues and be convient for a claimant/beneficiary. But ssa would still need sufficient employees. And some americans may not have access to effective affordable broadband.
ReplyDeleteInternet options such as video chat would have alot of good applications with social security issues and be convient for a claimant/beneficiary. But ssa would still need sufficient employees. And some americans may not have access to effective affordable broadband.
ReplyDeleteWell, lets see. The agency has been trying to automate its workloads since the first Title II modernization release in 1986/1987.
ReplyDeleteAnd, after 27 years of trying and hundreds of millions of dollars spent, they still ain't anywhere close to getting there.
This report is simply a delusional fantasy by a bunch of idiots who don't have an actual clue about the state of SSA, the illogical policies it follows, and how it actually conducts business.
There are a some efficiencies that technology brings and the useful ones should be embraced. However, the main current users of Social Security, the elderly and people with severe disabilities, are often not tech savvy, lack access, and do not do too well with phone and online options. Many aspects of "the old way," that the panelists attack, such as in-person service, remain necessary. I don't think the panel fully appreciated the diverse needs of the people being served by SSA.
ReplyDeleteAll of these moronic ideas are based on a complete lack of awareness, let alone understanding, of the burden that SSI places upon the agency. Erase SSI, and maybe some of this is doable,. Absent that, people who espouse these things are simply nuts.
ReplyDeleteDepending upon computer technology to be the salvation of the system is fool-hardy. I have used computers in my work since 1978, so I'm not computer-illiterate. However, I tried to apply for my retirement benefits online for about 6 weeks and could never get access. One day, I finally got access, but got a message with no explanation saying that it couldn't be processed. I had to go to my local field office, wait for 45 minutes, then had a pleasant young lady quickly process my application within 10 minutes. No explanation for the problem was ever given. Until SSA gets the technology to work correctly, it will accomplish NOTHING! The only people made happy are those who want to abolish social security benefits.
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