Lieberman On Entitlement Reform

Since the beginning of last year, Trudy Lieberman has written dozens of pieces for the Columbia Journalism Review on "entitlement reform," particularly the effort to dramatically restructure Social Security. Her overarching theme is that this is an effort by the right wing to convince political elites that a dramatic restructuring of Social Security is inevitable and desirable even though virtually no one other than the extreme right and the political elites thinks this is a good idea and ever though a dramatic restructuring of Social Security is unnecessary. She has an important message.

E-Mail To Social Security Employees

A Message To All SSA And DDS Employees

Subject: Do Not Open Mail

We do not have complete information, but we want you to know that there have been two explosions in the mailrooms of two Maryland State government facilities. At this time, we cannot rule out the possibility of hazardous materials. While we have no reason to believe that our facilities have been targeted, in an abundance of caution, we are taking the following precautions. Effective immediately and until further notice, no one should open any mail, including packages. Managers have already issued specific instructions to mailrooms. All employees should be vigilant about any suspicious activity. If you see anything suspicious, immediately notify your supervisor and call 410-965-2222.

Michael J. Astrue

Commissioner

A Warning

From USA v. Rodriguez (11th Cir. Dec 27, 2010)

The main issue in this appeal is whether the prying by a former bureaucrat is criminal: that is, whether the defendant violated the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, which prohibits “intentionally access[ing] a computer without authorization or exceed[ing] authorized access, and thereby obtain[ing] . . . information from any department or agency of the United States.” 18 U.S.C. § 1030(a)(2)(B). Roberto Rodriguez, a former employee of the Social Security Administration, appeals his conviction for violating the Act on the grounds that he did not exceed his authorized access to his former employer’s databases and that he did not use the information to further another crime or to gain financially. ... Rodriguez at trial admitted that he accessed information for nonbusiness reasons when he obtained personal identifying information, such as birth dates and home addresses, of 17 persons he knew or their relatives. Rodriguez also appeals his sentence of 12 months of imprisonment on the ground that it is unreasonable. Because the record establishes that Rodriguez exceeded his authorized access and the Act does not require proof that Rodriguez used the information to further another crime or to gain financially, we AFFIRM his conviction. We also conclude that Rodriguez’s sentence is reasonable.

New SSI Payment Rules

Social Security has adopted new final rules on dedicated accounts and installment payments for some past-due SSI benefits.

I Hope These Folks Are Just Being Paranoid

From The Hill:

Liberal groups say they are increasingly worried that President Obama will strike a deal with Republicans on Social Security reforms in exchange for a 'yes' vote on increasing the nation's debt ceiling. ...

Maria Freese of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare said she thinks Social Security is "more at risk than it was in 2005,” when President George W. Bush proposed far-reaching changes to the program, including personal accounts. ...

“What I am really afraid of is another deal behind closed doors,” said Nancy Altman, the co-director of Social Security Works.

Can You Help?

I am going to bump this up since I still have not gotten anything I can use.

I am doing an article for the NC Advocates for Justice with the title "Social Security By The Numbers." There are a few numbers that I would like to include that I have not been able to find:

• The amount spent administering a large employer pension plan as a percent of benefits paid
  
• The amount spent administering a large long term disability (LTD) pension plan as a percent of benefits paid
• ALJ allowance rate at the most liberal hearing office in the country

Any help you can give will be appreciated. Links would be helpful.

I expect I will eventually post this article on this blog.

Why Action Should Be Taken Soon

The Social Security Advisory Board has issued "Social Security: Why Action Should Be Taken Soon", a report on Social Security's long term financing problems. The report merely discusses options. It makes no specific recommendation.

Of course, action has been taken recently on Social Security's long term financing issues -- to make them dramatically worse.

Illegal Aliens Help Social Security

From the Cox newspaper chain:

While many Americans believe illegal immigrants don't pay taxes, billions of dollars deducted from paychecks issued to undocumented workers flow to the Social Security Administration (SSA) every year. Those workers almost certainly will never see that money again.

Social Security officials keep a record of wages that do not match up with real names and numbers in their system. The record is called the earnings suspense file.
In 2009, the last year for which figures are available, employers reported wages of $72.8 billion for 7.7 million workers who could not be matched to legal Social Security numbers.

Because those wages were reported by employers and not paid under the table, Social Security and Medicare deductions had to be made. A total of 12.4 percent of those wages went into the SSA system — 6.2 percent paid each by the worker and the employer. An additional 2.9 percent was paid into Medicare, half by the worker and half by the employer.

That means about $11.2 billion went into the Social Security Trust Fund in 2007, and $2.6 billion went into Medicare. While that money will be used to pay retirees and health-care beneficiaries, it most likely will never be claimed by the illegal immigrants who contributed it.