In what may be the largest expansion of any country's Social Security system in history, the UPI reports that the Indian government plans to expand its Social Security system to cover 390 million non-union workers who had not previously been covered. Those making more than $160 per year will have to contribute 1 cent per day. The Indian goverment will make the contribution for those making less than $160 per year.
May 28, 2007
May 27, 2007
Social Security Hearing Backlogs Draw Criticism In Seattle
I had earlier posted about the story that Seattle television station KING did on the hearing backlogs at Social Security. Readers might want to take a look at the often emotional responses that story received on the KING website. Has the depth of the anger and outrage over these backlogs has registered with Commissioner Astrue?
Public relations and a Republican Congress that was willing to look the other way allowed former Commissioner Barnhart to get through her years as Commissioner without treating this as a crisis. Michael Astrue is nowhere near as good as Barnhart at public relations, but it is way too late for public relations to work anyway. A Congress controlled by Democrats is not going to let go of this. Sooner or later there is going to be a crash program to get these backlogs down. Michael Astrue could try to get out in front but at the moment, it looks as if he will have to be dragged kicking and screaming into creating a crash program, most likely with statutorily imposed deadlines, or at least the threat of them.
Public relations and a Republican Congress that was willing to look the other way allowed former Commissioner Barnhart to get through her years as Commissioner without treating this as a crisis. Michael Astrue is nowhere near as good as Barnhart at public relations, but it is way too late for public relations to work anyway. A Congress controlled by Democrats is not going to let go of this. Sooner or later there is going to be a crash program to get these backlogs down. Michael Astrue could try to get out in front but at the moment, it looks as if he will have to be dragged kicking and screaming into creating a crash program, most likely with statutorily imposed deadlines, or at least the threat of them.
May 26, 2007
Buffalo News Editorial On Backlogs
The Buffalo News has run articles and editiorials about the terrible delays experienced by Social Security disability claimants in getting hearings on their cases. Here are a couple of excerpts from an editorial the newspaper is running today:
Bow your heads and pray tonight that you never have to claim Social Security disability benefits. Not only would that mean injury, but injury compounded — by the long stretch of years it can take to collect. ...
Much, if not all, of this despair could be alleviated if Congress would stop cutting into Social Security Administration funding, leaving the agency with too few resources to keep up with the flood of applicants. Buffalo is one of the worst, as claimants typically wait nearly two years for an appeals hearing.
Social Security Press Release For Memorial Day Weekend
From a Social Security press release:
Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, wants active duty personnel and their families to know that Social Security has procedures in place to expedite survivors applications and disability claims that apply to any injured military service member, regardless of where the injury occurred.
“I want to assure the brave men and women of our Armed Forces and their families that they will not have to wait for these needed benefits,” said Commissioner Astrue. “The special process is just one way Social Security can show our military personnel how much we appreciate their service.”
May 25, 2007
Get E-Mails From Social Security About Program Developments
The Social Security Administration has now set up a convenient central point for registration to receive e-mail delivery of various agency newsletters and reports.
Social Security Releases 2005 Statistical Report
That is no typo. The Social Security Administration just released its 2005 Annual Statistical Report, a compilation of just about every Social Security statistic you could ask for.
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