The House Appropriations Committee has scheduled a hearing on the Social Security Administration appropriation for 10:30 on November 14. Commissioner Martin O'Malley is the only scheduled witness.
Why does he even attend these dumb things? Every single one is like watching Lucy yank the football from Charlie Brown’s foot just as he tees up a kick. I’d just send a letter telling the whole lot to go suck eggs, but I guess that’s exactly why I’ll never be involved in politics.
There is a rumor going around today that SSA is about to announce the end of general walk-in traffic to its offices. Apparently, only dire need cases will be able to walk in, while all other visits will require an appointment to be scheduled first. Under the policy, there will some leeway given through the end of the year but the policy becomes permanently and strictly enforced effective in January 2025.
Does that mean that the public will have to wait six months for a scheduled appointment? Not everyone wants or has the ability to do online applications. Great public service!
2:55pm here. I verified this with some of my old co-workers. It is real and is imminent. Here is a link to a SSA marketing flyer: https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/marketing/EN-05-10558.pdf
This is correct . With the return of pre-pandemic traffic and with record low staffing - it is inevitable. Many offices had waits of 3 plus hours and many more were closing early. We hit the breaking point at some point last year and now the flood gates are fully open . O’Malley made a valiant try to pick the “low hanging” fruit but did so at the expense of many employees by pushing offices and the agency to the extreme. It’s been almost two years since my office had a hire and we’ve lost 7 during that time . That’s half my staff with workloads going up - I consider myself lucky compared to our fellow managers . I don’t know how much money could save us but what is a known fact is that we are unlikely to receive it . There’s a reason we will be dead last on fevs survey . Sorry for the negativity but it’s truly bad
Can someone point an internal reference for this? I find it hard to believe. Is that part of Musk’s new DOGE appointment to slash the federal workforce? Lol
I find it interesting that federal employees losing their jobs is funny to you. The former President said he will be cutting 100k federal jobs in the next administration.
anon@4:07pm here. It is happening. There isn't any formal announcement yet because the phase-in period for the changes doesn't start until 11/18/24 (suspiciously, 4 days after the House Appropriations hearing that Charles mentions) and runs through 01/25/25. As of 01/26/25, this will be standard operating policy for SSA. You can see the marketing flyer link I showed above. I've also spoken with old co-workers I had in 4 different field offices in two different SSA Regions and all of them have verified that management notified them last week that this was coming.
Postponed to 11/20. https://appropriations.house.gov/schedule/hearings/hearing-social-security-administration-ssa
ReplyDeletePostponed until Inauguration Day?
ReplyDeleteWhy does he even attend these dumb things? Every single one is like watching Lucy yank the football from Charlie Brown’s foot just as he tees up a kick. I’d just send a letter telling the whole lot to go suck eggs, but I guess that’s exactly why I’ll never be involved in politics.
ReplyDeleteThere is a rumor going around today that SSA is about to announce the end of general walk-in traffic to its offices. Apparently, only dire need cases will be able to walk in, while all other visits will require an appointment to be scheduled first. Under the policy, there will some leeway given through the end of the year but the policy becomes permanently and strictly enforced effective in January 2025.
ReplyDeleteI cannot imagine the move to 100% virtual appointments and 99% virtual ALJ hearings will be retained after January 2025.
DeleteJust in time for the next commissioner (acting or otherwise) to reverse course.
DeleteDoes that mean that the public will have to wait six months for a scheduled appointment? Not everyone wants or has the ability to do online applications. Great public service!
Delete2:55pm here. I verified this with some of my old co-workers. It is real and is imminent. Here is a link to a SSA marketing flyer: https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/marketing/EN-05-10558.pdf
DeleteThis is correct . With the return of pre-pandemic traffic and with record low staffing - it is inevitable. Many offices had waits of 3 plus hours and many more were closing early. We hit the breaking point at some point last year and now the flood gates are fully open . O’Malley made a valiant try to pick the “low hanging” fruit but did so at the expense of many employees by pushing offices and the agency to the extreme. It’s been almost two years since my office had a hire and we’ve lost 7 during that time . That’s half my staff with workloads going up - I consider myself lucky compared to our fellow managers . I don’t know how much money could save us but what is a known fact is that we are unlikely to receive it . There’s a reason we will be dead last on fevs survey . Sorry for the negativity but it’s truly bad
DeleteO’Malley will probably be gone by next year and the in office interviews will be continue shortly thereafter.
DeleteCan someone point an internal reference for this? I find it hard to believe. Is that part of Musk’s new DOGE appointment to slash the federal workforce? Lol
ReplyDeleteI find it interesting that federal employees losing their jobs is funny to you. The former President said he will be cutting 100k federal jobs in the next administration.
Deleteanon@4:07pm here. It is happening. There isn't any formal announcement yet because the phase-in period for the changes doesn't start until 11/18/24 (suspiciously, 4 days after the House Appropriations hearing that Charles mentions) and runs through 01/25/25. As of 01/26/25, this will be standard operating policy for SSA. You can see the marketing flyer link I showed above. I've also spoken with old co-workers I had in 4 different field offices in two different SSA Regions and all of them have verified that management notified them last week that this was coming.
Delete