“They Should Be Helping Us”

       From The Columbian:

For the past several weeks, Sandra Graber has been desperately trying to help her friend, a 79-year-old Vancouver [Washington] resident, recover Social Security payments that didn’t arrive in December and January.

Her friend can’t go online to resolve the issue because she doesn’t own a computer.

Many senior citizens across Clark County and the United States are grappling with recent changes to Social Security and the increasing role that digital technology plays in their day-to-day lives.

Graber — a Cornelius, Ore., resident — didn’t want her friend named because she has early-onset dementia. Graber serves as her agent under power of attorney. She recently took her to the Social Security Administration office in Vancouver, where they were told that they could either wait in line for several hours or make an appointment for two months out. 

“They should be helping us. We’re paying them to help us,” Graber said. “And saying, ‘We’re short staffed; we just can’t get to it,’ that’s inexcusable. I’m sure there’s other people out there that are having the same problem that we’re having, and I feel sorry for them.” …

Graber, however, remains frustrated that the system hasn’t provided a viable way for people such as her friend who can’t go online and can’t easily confirm their identity in person or via phone call due to medical issues to access their benefits.

“There are people out there with different problems,” Graber said. “It just doesn’t make a lot of sense.” …