… SSA's ability to implement the law in a timely manner and without negatively affecting day-to-day customer service relies on funding. The Act did not provide money to implement the law. The law requires SSA to adjust benefits for over 3 million people. Since the law's effective date is retroactive, SSA must adjust people's past benefits as well as future benefits. Though SSA is helping some affected beneficiaries now, under SSA's current budget, SSA expects that it could take more than one year to adjust benefits and pay all retroactive benefits.
Callers to SSA's National 800 Number hear a message about the Act. This message has helped tens of thousands of people avoid holding for a representative. However, more than 7,000 people each day still choose to wait to speak to a representative about the Act. These calls, as well as visitors and appointments in local offices, will continue to increase over the coming weeks and months.
Helping people with this new and unfunded workload is made more difficult by SSA's ongoing staffing shortages, including operating under a hiring freeze since November 2024. This hiring freeze is likely to continue. All SSA customers, including those not affected by the Act, will face delays and increased wait times as SSA prioritizes this new workload. …
19 comments:
We can't even keep up with the existing workloads. There has been no overtime for months,, and backlogs are increasing. Claimants are kept waiting . Implementing the WEP/GOP repeal will only make a bad situation worse.
The Republicans are going to have to authorize funding for SSA, or there is going to be a big public backlash against them.
This is a perfect illustration of the dumpster fire of our Congress, on both sides of the aisle. The one opportunity to do something for Social Security is squandered by doing something so poorly understood and poorly conceived. They never considered ANY real word impacts.
It seems that the WEP GPO activists wanted the VIP treatment and have their cases to be done ASAP. To implement this caseload additional funding is required. Complaints will be lodged to their Congressperson on the one year timeframe but the overall long term solvency issue should also be addressed. Meanwhile, you must wait your turn like everyone else.
So do you want your income tax return soon or in a year? How about your paycheck? On time, or just when they get around to getting it to you? Anytime you mess with my income I want it right and right now. Nobody wants money delayed. That concept is hard to understand? Or do you not benefit from this so it isnt your problem and your money so in fact it isnt really a problem?
Since wfh options will be limited I guess everything is going to take a year now.
I hope IRS holds refunds for a year. We will see how everbody feels about that. I dont get a refund, so it wont bother me one bit if you have to wait a year.
The Republicans have never faced a voter backlash for anything. Even when they lost Congress in 2006 and 2018, they got it back within 2-4 years by having FOX News tell viewers that Dems caused every single problem they were elected to fix.
No VIP lines. Wait your turn like everybody else.
We're still processing apps from Oct/Nov. No time for anything
It shouldnt take a year to give me back what they have been taking. Dont worry I will think of you every time I get more than you!
LOL processing apps. Just got off the phone with a "TE" thats been at the agency a whopping 4.5 years that straight up told me "a Claimant cannot have SSDI and SSI at the same time." I explained the PIA was below FBR but she insisted that "thats not how it works." No wonder you are still processing apps.
Unlikely a CTE. Could have been a TA on detail or something at the 800#. Hasn’t been called a TE in well over 5 years.
Every time you get me more than me? Typical elitist talk. Again… NO VIP lines exist at SSA.
Except they are getting front-of-line service. Pulling reps from the WSU from doing regular claims to do a specialized ICTU. Taking claims immediately rather than waiting for a lead and appointment. Jumping ahead of SUR and everything else.
Exactly! We get calls or people coming to cry about where is their money and how long they have waited. Yet they currently have a non covered pension the is about $4,0000 to $5,000 a month. Cry me a river!
I did call the 800# yesterday,after working for SSA for 40 years I fully expected the 45 minute wait.I asked the person if I was already entitled to benefits on my wife’s account and they said that I had to file an application.I then explained that I had received a letter stating that the benefits on my account were being increased due to my self employment so the benefits on my other entitled account were being decreased.So I obviously knew more than the person who had been working for SSA for 16 years.
I told them that I feel their pain,SSA has always been understaffed and underfunded.Promottion of individuals into management positions without college degrees because they don’t question what’s told to them is a major issue
The Ways and Means committee has asked for reporting to Congress so unless they make up the figures(as has been done in the past) there will be some pressure to get this done.
We have waited 40 years to get this stupid law fixed so what is another year,the retro will continue to accumulate.Wait a reasonable amount of time unless you are desperate for the money and then contact your Congress person.
Contact your Congressperson to do what? The workloads are out of control and additional funding was not addressed. The Republican Party’s priority right now is to implement Project 2025 as soon as possible. You think they are interested in your newfound windfall?
https://socsecnews.blogspot.com/ thanks
Whose going to process the WEP GPO legislation? Casper the Ghost?
Trump administration will offer all 2 million federal workers a buyout to resign.
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