Social Security Wants To Monitor Social Media

From Federal Computer Week:

Social Security Administration (SSA) officials plan to hire a contractor to monitor what the public is saying about their agency on social media Web sites such as MySpace, Twitter and YouTube, according to a contract request from SSA. ...

The monitoring will cover blogs, social networks, traditional media and video Web sites such as YouTube, the announcement states.

In a sense I can understand this, but in another sense I can imagine the company getting this contract might also get a contract to do the same thing for the Iranian government. What do you think?

Update: I have done a cursory search on Twitter and Facebook and am coming up with nothing of any consequence concerning Social Security. There is a Mike Astrue with a Facebook page, but I expect that it is bogus since that Mike Astrue is indicated to have only one friend. Are you aware of any social networking sites that would be of interest to readers of this blog?

E-Congressional

From the St. Petersburg Times:

The days of automated phone calls, lines and long commutes could be coming to an end for local Social Security recipients.

In an effort to alleviate those problems, the Social Security Administration has created a pilot project called "eCongressional," which allows regional congressional offices to have access to sensitive Social Security information affecting local recipients.

It's Just A Form

From The Virginian-Pilot:

Struggling through what might be the last year of her life, Laura DeLong Smith heard some good news in late May.

A counselor from the American Cancer Society told her she qualified for a Social Security program that gives monthly disability checks to people with terminal cancer. She was elated.

The counselor coached her on what to say so that processors at the federal agency would steer her to the Compassionate Allowances Program.

Smith made the call, sat for a lengthy phone interview and went down to the Social Security office to sign a medical release form.

Then it got ugly.

She received an eight-page form at her Virginia Beach home asking question after question that seemed strange for someone with a terminal illness: Was she left- or right-handed? What were her hobbies? Did she have pets? Did she make her own meals? ...

She was told that she had to fill it out or she wouldn't get the money. Everyone has to do it, she was told. ...

"I hope that the next person who comes along with terminal cancer doesn't have to put up with this humiliating experience," she said. ...

Mae Novak, a Social Security Administration spokeswoman who looked into Smith's case, said the function report is used to determine eligibility for many programs, not just those serving the terminally ill. ...

"The agency is pleased at the speed at which she was being serviced."

"Many Left Uncounted In Nation's Official Jobless Rate"

You can read or view online the PBS report from last night that sought to make the point that the recession is increasing the number of people seeking Social Security disability benefits and that this partially masks the extent of the unemployment.

PBS To Run Story On Disability Backlogs

I am hearing that PBS News Hour with Jim Lehrer will be running a piece tonight on the rising number of disability claims being filed. Apparently, they will tie the trend into the economy.

I am a contrarian. I think the recent rise in the number of claims filed has little to do with the economy. It has to do mostly with a public perception that the election of Barack Obama as President means that it will be less difficult to be approved for Social Security disability benefits. This causes some percentage of the large milling crowd of potential disability benefits applicants to decide to take the plunge and file a claim.

Who Will Be In That 3%?

Press reports indicate that Democratic Senators are working on a plan to improve health care. The plan would cover 97% of Americans. This begs an important question: Who would in the 3% to be left out? I am afraid that people who are disabled but who are trapped in what amounts to a 30 month waiting period for Medicare will be a major part of the 3% who are left out. Does anyone know?

Update: I have found a copy of the Kennedy-Dodd bill which is the hottest health care bill at the moment. I see nothing in it that would eliminate the Medicare waiting period. This would mean that disabled people would be prominent among the 3% left out.

Too Good To Be True?

From SafeLink:

SafeLink Wireless is a government supported program that provides a free cell phone and airtime each month for income-eligible customers.

And on another SafeLink page:

The process to qualify for Lifeline Service depends on the State you live in. In general, you may qualify if...

You already participate in other State or Federal assistance program such as Federal Public Housing Assistance, Food Stamps and Medicaid.

OR
Your total household income is at or below 135% of the poverty guidelines set by your State and/or the Federal Government.
AND

No one in your household currently receives Lifeline Service through another phone carrier.

You have a valid United States Postal Address. In order for us to ship you your free phone you must live at a residence that can receive mail from the US Post Office. Sorry, but P.O. Boxes cannot be accepted.

In addition to meeting the guidelines above you will also be required to provide proof of your participation in an assistance program, or proof of your income level.

I have a real problem getting up with many of my low income clients because they lack telephone service. Social Security has the same problem since they are dealing with the same population. Is this legit?

Astrue Talks About Public Service

Social Security Commissioner Michael Astrue gave an interesting interview to Federal News Radio recently. You can hear the interview online. Some points I took away:

• Astrue hopes to open additional new Teleservice Centers in coming years.
• Astrue has a longstanding belief that it is a bad idea to contract out customer service. That was his position when working for a drug manufacturer and it remains his position at Social Security.
• Astrue has listened in on calls to teleservice centers and was surprised at the range of questions asked.
• No site has been selected for the new data center. He hopes that the General Services Administration (GSA) will select that site by early next year. He gave no clue on where it will be.