tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post259450737041261770..comments2024-03-28T17:37:12.608-04:00Comments on Social Security News: Small But TellingUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-29680130267036923442011-01-14T18:25:34.835-05:002011-01-14T18:25:34.835-05:00The poster with the comments about the time frames...The poster with the comments about the time frames to close an office/contact station is correct. This was NOT an overnight decision and SSA notified those communities and Congressional offices months ago. This smells like a reporter looking for a "big bad gubmint" story.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-44863422448921816092011-01-14T11:34:49.345-05:002011-01-14T11:34:49.345-05:00A4: In fairness to the office involved, they prob...A4: In fairness to the office involved, they probably don't know how to program the new VOIP system. The thing is a disaster and requires a master's in software engineering to make changes.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-88548973903532314122011-01-13T13:38:00.802-05:002011-01-13T13:38:00.802-05:00Regarding face to face contact, my local SSA offic...Regarding face to face contact, my local SSA office has changed its phone system so as to guarantee more of it. I learned just this week that the new phone system will not let anyone get through to a live person unless you have a worker's extension number. The only voice prompt you get is to enter an extension. Therefore, I'll be going in person to try to ask a question about my client's claim. I guess it's just as well, since none of the reps will call me back anyway.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-66413910322059585722011-01-13T13:06:15.176-05:002011-01-13T13:06:15.176-05:00Anyone who knows anything about SSA knows that dec...Anyone who knows anything about SSA knows that decisions such as this (whether to curtail a contact station) are not made in days. Everything has to be approved up the chain. There is thus no possibility that the decision could have been related to the Arizona shooting.<br /><br />We all know the real reason is federal funding. However, any SSA Manager who cited the CM or attempted to blame anyone (Congress or otherwise) for the cutback would be summarily fired.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-85966877084314156552011-01-12T23:27:25.545-05:002011-01-12T23:27:25.545-05:00Public Service? What's that? All this technolo...Public Service? What's that? All this technology isn't making the Agency better its making it more "efficient". See post above about the gentleman from Texas.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-79741781680672287962011-01-12T18:12:18.055-05:002011-01-12T18:12:18.055-05:00That "spokesman" was just great at his j...That "spokesman" was just great at his job. "We didn't mean it that way!", is an unsatisfactory answer to a question like "Why the cut in service?" How about the CR that effectively reduces SSA's appropriation for all services and functions, office supplies, rents and salaries and threatened 10% reductions in staff and budgest across the board. Travel is the first thing to go when money is tight. Travel to contact stations requires employees' mileage or fares to be paid. Meanwhile, no money for photocopy/computer paper. Something's got to give and it's not the paper.<br /><br />Otherwise, SSA does want to cut down on face-to-face service using telephone/internet contact instead. I'm surprised they still had a contact station in Nantucket. It's not Alaska or an Indian Reservation in NDak, NM, or AZ. Still, affected beneficiaries/claimants deserved a full, clear, and truthful answer. They may not like it, but they should know.Nancy Ortiznoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19246708.post-75549159582925140592011-01-12T15:04:24.069-05:002011-01-12T15:04:24.069-05:00This has absolutely nothing to do with "viole...This has absolutely nothing to do with "violence." SSA does not want to be bothered meeting with people at contact stations -- or even at the main offices. In-person customers are a bother interfering with the real work of pushing paper around the desks. They want folks to do business on-line and to call only on the 800 number. They have even made it very difficult to call local offices with the ridiculously long VOIP telephone numbers and extensions, and 5-minutes of menu items and advertising if you dare dial. Then leave a voice message that won't be returned.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com