Randomization Of SSNs

A notice from Social Security:

Effective June 25, 2011, SSA [Social Security Administration] is changing the way Social Security Numbers (SSNs) are issued. This change is referred to as "randomization." The SSA is developing this new method to help protect the integrity of the SSN. SSN Randomization will also extend the longevity of the nine-digit SSN nationwide.

If you are a conspiracy theorist, you already know the dastardly reasons for this change.

You Want A Fight?

“You want a fight? ... If anybody in this building wants to take on Social Security — privatize it, change the benefits by altering the consumer price index or by any other method — know this: You’ve got a fight on your hands.”

Rep. John Garamendi (D-Calif.) quoted in The Hill

Why Am I Not Surprised?

From Bloomberg News:

Cutting U.S. Social Security benefits for seniors and the disabled may cause steeper spending declines in House districts controlled by Republicans, hurting local businesses, a Bloomberg Government study found. 

Republicans are likely to represent districts with more residents collecting Social Security checks for retirees or benefits for the disabled, compared with Democrats, according to the study. Curtailing the federal aid would give recipients less spending money, said Jason Arvelo, the Bloomberg Government labor analyst who wrote the report released today. ...

Republicans control eight of 10 House districts -- in Florida, Michigan, New Jersey and Pennsylvania -- with the most Social Security retirement benefits to seniors and survivors per resident. Democrats hold the 10 districts in Illinois, California, New York, Texas and Arizona with the lowest average benefits....

Reducing benefits would cause the biggest economic impact in West Virginia, Florida, Pennsylvania and Michigan, according to the report by Arvelo, formerly a senior analyst at economic consulting firm Compass Lexecon LLC, a subsidiary of FTI Consulting Inc. based in West Palm Beach, Florida. 

West Virginia, Kentucky, Arkansas and Alabama top the list of states that would be likely to be hurt by bills curtailing disability benefits.

Passing Of Mark Lassiter

From: ^Commissioner Broadcast
Sent: Wednesday, June 22, 2011 5:28 PM
To: Undisclosed recipients
Subject: COMMISSIONER’S BROADCAST--06/22/11

A Message To All SSA And DDS Employees

Subject:  The Passing of Mark Lassiter

It continues to be a tough week as we deal with the sudden loss of our Press Officer, Mark Lassiter, who passed away on Monday, June 20 at the age of 57.

Mark began his career with Social Security in 1976 as a claims representative in the Portsmouth, Virginia field office, near his childhood home of Hampton.  Over his 35 years with the agency, Mark’s talent and ability enabled him to rise through the ranks, assuming jobs of increasing responsibility in the Philadelphia Region, including five years as the District Manager in Petersburg, Virginia.  Mark’s distinguished career brought him to Social Security Headquarters twice – working in the Office of the Commissioner from 1992 to 1995 and in the Press Office from 2003 until his death. 

Mark’s untimely passing reminds us of just how precious life is.  He spent Father’s Day weekend with those he loved most – Nancy, his wife of 35 years; his son Tyler and his daughter Brooke, who is also an ODAR employee.  Please keep them in your prayers as they join with family and friends for a memorial service in Hampton tomorrow.  At the request of his family, memorial contributions in Mark’s honor may be made to the American Heart Association , P.O. Box 5216, Glen Allen, Va. 23058. 

Michael J. Astrue

Commissioner

The Baltimore Sun also has a piece on Lassiter's death.

Personal Income Growth Mostly Due To FICA Cut

From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:

Rising personal income in the first quarter of the year was mostly due to lowered Social Security taxes, the Bureau of Economic Analysis reported this morning. 

The bureau credited the high rate of growth nationally to the 2 percent reduction in what workers pay into the Social Security system.

Playing Rope-A-Dope?

From Josh Marshall at TPM:

It's astonishing to me that there's actually a growing number of Republicans pushing to make major cuts to Social Security as part of the bum's rush push for spending cuts this summer and fall. The idea has zero public support. And it doesn't make much sense from a policy standpoint since Social Security isn't what's driving the country's structural deficits. What's most surprising though is that many Democrats are along for the ride.

That's Rich

It was just last Friday that AARP let out that it might not be totally opposed to any cut in Social Security. You would think that Republicans might be feeling a little love for AARP right now. Not at the Social Security Subcommittee of the House Ways and Means Committee. They are blasting AARP for what they say are fibs about the budget and entitlements. They are even criticizing the AARP for suggesting that the budget can be balanced simply by eliminating waste, fraud and abuse. 

I don't think it's the AARP's fault that most people believe that the budget can be painlessly balanced by the elimination of "waste, fraud and abuse." Republicans have been making a living off the "waste, fraud and abuse" myth since Ronald Reagan was President. Look in the mirror, Republicans. You're the ones responsible for the public believing this myth, not AARP. And while you're at it, remember who is to blame for the myth that cutting taxes increases revenue.

E-Folder Access At Appeals Council

The National Organization of Social Security Claimants Representatives (NOSSCR) has sent out a notice to its members that Social Security has extended E-folder access to the Appeals Council. Attorneys who have E-folder access can now access their clients' files online when they are at the Appeals Council level.

I have not used this yet. I wonder if it will be possible to access the recordings of Administrative Law Judge hearings through the E-folder.