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| https://www.cbpp.org/research/social-security/social-security-administration-cuts-hurt-every-state |
May 30, 2022
May 29, 2022
Not That Many Claimants Asking For Congressional Help
From a Social Security newsletter:
... Our Congressional Constituent Relations Staff (CCRS) expedites critical caseworkand special handling requests and inquiries from district, State, and Capitol Hill offices. ...
In FY 2021, CCRS assisted with over 6,600 congressional staff inquiries. This includes thework of our Congressional Liaison office, which took over 330 claims and post-entitlementactions, responded to almost 1,700 congressional and public inquiries, and handled over100 direct contacts with current and former Members of Congress. ...
Only 6,600 Congressional staff inquiries in a year for 535 Senators and Representatives? Considering the number of people having problems with Social Security that sounds quite low to me. Sounds like our members of Congress need to hear more from their constituents about the sorry state of service at Social Security.
May 28, 2022
Death And The Disability Insurance Benficiary
The mortality of DI [Disability Insurance] beneficiaries at any given age is highest during the first few years of benefit receipt and declines with the number of years on the DI rolls
In recent decades, mortality of DI beneficiaries during the first year of benefit receipt has declined at a faster rate, compared with the general population and DI beneficiaries at 10+ years of benefit receipt
Despite longevity gains, the mortality of DI beneficiaries in any time period, at any age, and at any benefit duration is substantially higher, relative to the general population.
May 27, 2022
What's It's All About
From the just issued Spring 2022 Semiannual Report to Congress by Social Security's Inspector General:
... Section 1129 of the Social Security Act, as amended, authorizes a [Civil Monetary Penalty] ... against anyone who: (1) makes a false or misleading statement to SSA to obtain or retain benefits or payments; (2) receives benefits or payments while withholding disclosure of a material fact; or (3) wrongfully converts a beneficiary’s payments while acting as a representative payee. We are authorized to impose penalties of up to $8,708 for each false or misleading statement, material omission, or conversion. Violators may also be subject to an assessment, in lieu of damages, of up to twice the amount of any resulting overpayment or conversion.
During this reporting period, we resolved 55 Section 1129 cases and imposed $2,860,957 in penalties and assessments resulting from Section 1129 violations. ...
If you've wondered why the Inspector General might have over penalized Social Security claimants who may have been less than truthful with Social Security, here's what it was all about. Pumping up this number to impress Congress. Doesn't seem worth it, does it?
May 26, 2022
What Do You Think?
From Bloomberg Opinion:
... Even if private-sector employers see benefits in allowing workers to maintain hybrid work arrangements, the standard for public servants is different. Remote work hobbles the ability of government officials to collaborate, respond nimbly to crises, and forge consensus on policy goals. Because taxpayer funds will be spent maintaining federal buildings regardless, it also wastes money and worsens voters’ cynicism about government. ...
May 25, 2022
Just The First Step
Jonathan Stein and Katherine Vengraitis have written an op ed for the Philadelphia Inquirer to explain why "Reopening Social Security offices is just the first step to serving those in need."
May 24, 2022
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