Even the seemingly simple things have become so difficult at Social Security. God help you if you need to get the agency to recognize a name change during the pandemic.
There will be so much to unwind once field offices reopen.
Nonsense. Like almost everything else complained about, a very small percentage of the 2 million or so marriages per year and the name changes needed in the U.S. run into problems. Most are from lack of knowledge of the docs needed. A lot of people thing you can submit copies. The PCs have little to do with name changes. And why on earth should anyone expect service to be the same, let alone better, with offices closed and staff working at home. A little perspective please.
Is it stated in POMS anywhere that any employee of SSA needs to immediately defend the agency against any news story noting an error occurred as not representative of the agency?
Do people understand that Covid is never going to go away? It is here and will remain here for the long foreseeable future. Regardless of vaccine, Covid is now a part of life. Like measles and rubella, we have a vaccine but it is going to be around and will flare and mutate.
Is the SSA Union plan to never ever open again? Back to work or work elsewhere.
@10:52 It is true that COVID19 will not ever be completely eliminated. But, it is also hopefully true that it can be greatly reduced in its scope at which point offices can then be safely reopened.
I was told today by an SSA employee that they cannot forward my client's Request for Recon to the State agency as it is a paper file and despite having 11 months to figure this out, SSA has not figured out a way to deal with this situation. (Or more likely has given little to no effort to trying)
30+ year SSA senior attorney here. Good point. FYI, I was just informed to begin to process non-disability cases for decision writing. Ever since the advent of eView and CPMS we have been told repeatedly that such cases could not be done electronically, but HAD to be paper. Well, guess what? It's a miracle! There is now a way to process them electronically! I just issued my first ever income/resources decision using the eView equivalent for non-DIB cases. Whodathunkit?
Paper folders can still be sent to DDS but to do so would have to include someone in management in the office to actually put it together and forward the file. Mgmt is quite busy in addition to regular management duties they are opening, scanning and profiling 300+ pieces of mail daily, keeping an eye on the 600+ calls our office now receives daily, etc. And only half are there to do that so it's a bit of work but they should be able to get your paper file to DDS.
Umm.. paper files are being sent to work. So many bitter miserable souls commenting here. It must be true- fee payments are not coming in... yes... let’s open FOs to the very high risk and aged population to sit together during pandemic in a lobby so we can let the virus run like wild fire through these vulnerable populations. Fantastic idea.
Fortunate for all of us that others are working so we have the goods and services needed to maintain life will others "work" from home. They seem to have no problem throwing that barista under the bus or the Amazon delivery guy, but heaven knows they are too important to face the same risks.
Enjoy that next food delivery, the one you risked that drivers health, the life of their family and friends so you can work from home. Hypocrites.
Barista under the bus eh... the offices aren’t closed simply because employees are whining and won’t show... go ahead and irrationally complain but sensible leaders understand that you cannot sit these vulnerable populations in the public that frequent and fill these lobbies together waiting and in that setting... they will spread covid amongst themselves and likely die at far greater percentages than the employees themselves who are often protected behind glass... you do realize that if we set them up together for this outcome we will be killing off your unearned bread and butter - which honestly is all you actually care about. Stop putting the selfishness on employees backs as if you actually care about others. I live to serve these people every single day- you collect their monies while having your lemmings make “status” phone calls so you can pretend you actually did something for their case.
Also- not hypocrites... realists that obviously care more for the vulnerable people than you yourself. Furthermore calling all hypocrites when the policies were created by others makes you sound absurd and ignorant. I know many who did not want to be sent to telework. Blaming lower staff members for government policy should embarrass you for how foolish and hateful you sound. Look at you and your demeaning food delivery arrogant comments as if you know the lives of others. Just another arrogant individual with a loud mouth..
9:59 has been crying like a baby about this false equivalency in multiple posts. It is so obvious it is the same guy with the same tired right-wing talking point. Wah!
Nonsense. Like almost everything else complained about, a very small percentage of the 2 million or so marriages per year and the name changes needed in the U.S. run into problems. Most are from lack of knowledge of the docs needed. A lot of people thing you can submit copies. The PCs have little to do with name changes. And why on earth should anyone expect service to be the same, let alone better, with offices closed and staff working at home. A little perspective please.
ReplyDeletebecause the staff need to be in office if they cannot handle the job from home. that is what we pay taxes for. If they do not like it, get a new job.
ReplyDelete@9:14
ReplyDeleteIs it stated in POMS anywhere that any employee of SSA needs to immediately defend the agency against any news story noting an error occurred as not representative of the agency?
It's cult-like how uniform these responses are.
Do people understand that Covid is never going to go away? It is here and will remain here for the long foreseeable future. Regardless of vaccine, Covid is now a part of life. Like measles and rubella, we have a vaccine but it is going to be around and will flare and mutate.
ReplyDeleteIs the SSA Union plan to never ever open again? Back to work or work elsewhere.
Lots of representatives on here upset that they are not getting their fee payments.
ReplyDelete@10:52 It is true that COVID19 will not ever be completely eliminated. But, it is also hopefully true that it can be greatly reduced in its scope at which point offices can then be safely reopened.
ReplyDeleteI was told today by an SSA employee that they cannot forward my client's Request for Recon to the State agency as it is a paper file and despite having 11 months to figure this out, SSA has not figured out a way to deal with this situation. (Or more likely has given little to no effort to trying)
ReplyDelete@12:36
ReplyDelete30+ year SSA senior attorney here. Good point. FYI, I was just informed to begin to process non-disability cases for decision writing. Ever since the advent of eView and CPMS we have been told repeatedly that such cases could not be done electronically, but HAD to be paper. Well, guess what? It's a miracle! There is now a way to process them electronically! I just issued my first ever income/resources decision using the eView equivalent for non-DIB cases. Whodathunkit?
Paper folders can still be sent to DDS but to do so would have to include someone in management in the office to actually put it together and forward the file. Mgmt is quite busy in addition to regular management duties they are opening, scanning and profiling 300+ pieces of mail daily, keeping an eye on the 600+ calls our office now receives daily, etc. And only half are there to do that so it's a bit of work but they should be able to get your paper file to DDS.
ReplyDeleteUmm.. paper files are being sent to work. So many bitter miserable souls commenting here. It must be true- fee payments are not coming in... yes... let’s open FOs to the very high risk and aged population to sit together during pandemic in a lobby so we can let the virus run like wild fire through these vulnerable populations. Fantastic idea.
ReplyDeleteFortunate for all of us that others are working so we have the goods and services needed to maintain life will others "work" from home. They seem to have no problem throwing that barista under the bus or the Amazon delivery guy, but heaven knows they are too important to face the same risks.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy that next food delivery, the one you risked that drivers health, the life of their family and friends so you can work from home. Hypocrites.
Barista under the bus eh... the offices aren’t closed simply because employees are whining and won’t show... go ahead and irrationally complain but sensible leaders understand that you cannot sit these vulnerable populations in the public that frequent and fill these lobbies together waiting and in that setting... they will spread covid amongst themselves and likely die at far greater percentages than the employees themselves who are often protected behind glass... you do realize that if we set them up together for this outcome we will be killing off your unearned bread and butter - which honestly is all you actually care about. Stop putting the selfishness on employees backs as if you actually care about others. I live to serve these people every single day- you collect their monies while having your lemmings make “status” phone calls so you can pretend you actually did something for their case.
ReplyDeleteAlso- not hypocrites... realists that obviously care more for the vulnerable people than you yourself. Furthermore calling all hypocrites when the policies were created by others makes you sound absurd and ignorant. I know many who did not want to be sent to telework. Blaming lower staff members for government policy should embarrass you for how foolish and hateful you sound. Look at you and your demeaning food delivery arrogant comments as if you know the lives of others. Just another arrogant individual with a loud mouth..
ReplyDelete9:59 has been crying like a baby about this false equivalency in multiple posts. It is so obvious it is the same guy with the same tired right-wing talking point. Wah!
Delete