From KRQE in Albequerque:
Anyone who drives by the Lead Ave. Social Security office every day, sees long lines that wrap around the building. KRQE News 13 spoke to people in line today who told us they wait in line for hours and sometimes never get seen.
“I got here 15 minutes after it opened and the line was wrapped around the building and thankfully it’s a little bit cooler today but I can imagine that when the temperatures are warmer, the elderly and people who are disabled are having some problems in the heat,” said Callie Rizzo, a woman waiting in line.
When KRQE News 13 first got to the office this morning people in line were positive and said the line was moving quickly. However, after 2 hours, the line barely moved and only a few people could be seen leaving the building after being helped.
A woman told KRQE News 13 she was in line yesterday for 4 hours and went home with a sunburn and dehydration. Some of those in line said they tried making an appointment but never reached anyone.
“I made an appointment but then they called me back and said that they had to cancel my appointment that I needed just to come in,” said Carol Johnson, another woman waiting in line. …
15 comments:
A normal service organization would have executives practically parachuting in to change personnel and procedures after one bad news story like this. They'd have a professional PR shop responding instantly.
Kijakazi? Radio silence. Zero out of Baltimore.
They may not realize it but probably half of those who waited could have completely taken care of their business online. It's terrible they waited out in the sun/heat but even worse for those who didn't even need to see someone.
These stories are a joke. Can’t wait for winter. “Breaking news out of Denver, it’s going to snow!” All of these offices had lines outside before now.
[They may not realize it but probably half of those who waited could have completely taken care of their business online. It's terrible they waited out in the sun/heat but even worse for those who didn't even need to see someone.]
Right, and it would take at least a year before SSA acts on it.
Except SSA has to adhere to the anti-science regulations via CDC. Our local office can seat about 20 but is only allowed 4 in the lobby. 8 people show up and then optics become awful immediately!
You cant do everything online and even getting the damn account set up can be a hassle or next to impossible for some people. SSA is a disaster from the very front desk to the top, nobody escapes the incompetence.
@9:52: what's the joke? I am curious about what you find funny here?
I was referring to replacing social security numbers or getting a benefit verification which can both be done online, bypassing the local office. The verification can be printed at home.
SSA Alum here -its painful to watch the steep decline of SSA staffing and services-especially in its local offices. And it's especially hard to fathom the Biden Administration's apparent disregard of SSA. So much for the Democrats being the Guardians of Social Security.
11:58 yes it can, if you have internet access, if you have a computer and a printer. yes it can if you can actually prove your identity to the set up, which may be using SSAs ancient incorrect information with no direct way to get it updated and fixed. We all know the aging and disabled along with the impoverished are well known for the internet skills.
They can also win the lotto.
So a senior came into the office and was having difficulty getting documentation together for her energy assistance and Real ID. There is a very short window for energy assistance, it is a first come first serve program and people move on it quickly. We attempted to set up her MySSA account to print off the benefit verification she needed, make the needed address changes with SSA. We were unable to get everything needed to set up the account and SSA had to MAIL a passcode to the address, the OLD address, which fortunately we could get the mail from. Of course this took more than 10 days and the program closed with all the assistance used.
The system doesnt work in the real world. "Go Online and do it" is the mantra used so that the people who are creating real and direct pain and loss in others lives use to make them feel better. "I can only do what I can do" may help you look in the mirror in the morning, but it does nothing for the rest of us who are looking into the eyes that have lost hope and shed tears.
It isnt just files, they are not just people waiting to get a sandwich, these people have real needs that will change the course of their real lives. Now if you will excuse me I need to figure out something to help this widow keep the lights and AC on, fortunately we got a break this week in the heat and bought us some time. I dont have the luxury of telling her to "just go online and do it" because some things just dont work that way. Like People.
I share the frustration for this person who lost out on the assistance due to not being able to get documentation from SSA. And SSA can do better. Income verification can be obtained in person or over the phone. That does take some pre-planning, though.
I wonder if you express your frustration at the energy assistance administrators for their rules? Or the State for their Real ID rules? Or to use another situation, the apartment complex they requires the SSN card for everyone on the lease? That parent comes to the SSA office to get replacement cards for their children and is upset when they either don’t have the required ID or they can’t get an instant verification of the number. Always SSA’s fault while the apartment complex just continues with their arcane or asinine rules.
12:31 the nearest office is more than 45 minutes away and the heat index had been 100 to 108, so it is kind of hard to get a nondriving senior over to the office and leave them for hours and hours and hours hoping they get in. The Real ID rules are set by the federal government, demanding other federal government documents, knowing those federal government offices have been closed for 2.5 years and not helping those in need. Energy assistance is a combination of state and federal monies and has to meet the federal guidelines requesting the federal documents.
Yes I blame SSA she should be able to get a card without having to go through so much. It is easy to tell they are just files to you. Hope you face the same things down the road with friends and family and you make good and damn sure you dont blame SSA.
Not true. I applied for my benefits online and it took a couple of months, but I don't think it would have taken any shorter of time if I had gone there in person. It took about 39-45 minutes to fill out the application online.
Most state agencies have the ability to access the information needed to verify benefits for energy assistance or housing yet they choose to require the individual to go get a benefit verification letter instead.
No one is forced to get the Federal compliant ID.
If SSA is going to be held accountable for everything, the staff it accordingly with a budget that matches.
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