Offical Announcement Of Increase In Fee Cap

     The Social Security Administration is today publishing in the Federal Register the increase in the fee cap under the fee agreement process from $6,000 to $7,200 effective November 30.

Proposed New Cardiac Listings

    The Social Security Administration has published proposed new Cardiovascular Listings in the Federal Register today. This is only a proposal. Comments may be made until August 29, 2022.

Ways And Means Republicans To Hold Roundtable

      The top Republicans on the House Ways and Means Committee and its Social Security Subcommittee have scheduled a roundtable at noon on Wednesday, Eastern Time, on  “Democrats’ Social Security Expansion Fails Generations of Working and Retired Americans.” Charles Blahouse and Holly Wade, both of whom are reliably hostile to Social Security, will testify.

     I don’t know why they would bother with this with Congress in recess or even if it were back in session. Do they really think the Democrats might advance a bill? Maybe it’s a sign that they really don’t want to have to vote on a bill that increases Social Security benefits while raising taxes only on the wealthiest Americans.

     I’m sure this roundtable will get “tens and tens of views” to quote a recent commercial.

What Do You Think?

    It's the week before the 4th of July and nothing much is happening in Social Security world so let me throw out a question. What does the Social Security Administration need? My feeling is that if the agency stays on its current trajectory, Social Security disability benefits and SSI will rapidly become unimplementable. They'll mostly disappear because it will have been made too difficult to apply for benefits or get claims adjudicated once filed. Even if you don't have such a dire view of the situation, if you're reading this blog, you're probably aware that the agency has major problems implementing these programs. So, what should be done? Please be specific. Don't simply say give the agency more operating funds. Say how you would like the extra money spent both short term and long term. Don't simply say to manage the agency better. Say exactly how the agency should be managed better. Which parts of the agency need the most help and what sort of help should they get? Don't simply say simplify. What should be simplified and how should it be simplified. Don't just say to improve information technology. What should be improved and how?

    To give you my opinion, there are four main components of the Social Security Administration with major problems -- field offices, teleservice centers, payment centers and disability determination services, which, of course, is most of the agency. In the short run, all of these components need a lot of money for overtime. In the medium run, they need a lot of hiring. This is necessary to handle the workloads but also to improve employee job satisfaction. Huge backlogs and incredible workload pressures have made these jobs unattractive to existing employees much less new employees. There's no way to significantly improve employee job satisfaction without addressing workload issues. Continued high employee turnover will make my dire predictions come true. That has to be the major focus in the medium and long term.

It Gets Hot In Albuquerque

     From KRQE in Albequerque:

Anyone who drives by the Lead Ave. Social Security office every day, sees long lines that wrap around the building. KRQE News 13 spoke to people in line today who told us they wait in line for hours and sometimes never get seen. 

“I got here 15 minutes after it opened and the line was wrapped around the building and thankfully it’s a little bit cooler today but I can imagine that when the temperatures are warmer, the elderly and people who are disabled are having some problems in the heat,” said Callie Rizzo, a woman waiting in line. 

When KRQE News 13 first got to the office this morning people in line were positive and said the line was moving quickly. However, after 2 hours, the line barely moved and only a few people could be seen leaving the building after being helped.

A woman told KRQE News 13 she was in line yesterday for 4 hours and went home with a sunburn and dehydration. Some of those in line said they tried making an appointment but never reached anyone.

“I made an appointment but then they called me back and said that they had to cancel my appointment that I needed just to come in,” said Carol Johnson, another woman waiting in line. …

Full House Committee Schedules Markup Of Appropriations Bill

     The full House Committee markup of the appropriations bill covering the Social Security Administration has been scheduled for June 30 at 10:00 a.m. 

    Remember that this is just one step in a long process.

House Appropriations Committee Releases Chairman's Mark Of Bill Covering SSA

    The Chairman's mark of the FY 2023 Labor-HHS appropriations bill provides $14.4 billion for Social Security operating expenses, an increase of $1.1 billion, or 8%, above the FY 2022 enacted level. This is about $600 million below the President's budget proposal and more than a billion dollars below the Acting Commissioner's proposal. 

    This is only a Democratic proposal. Senate Republicans have a veto over what goes into the budget even though they're in the minority. This is only the start of a process that is almost certain to continue until at least December and more likely to go into the new year.

    Subcommittee markup of this bill is scheduled for 5:30 today. 

Braving The Heat Outside The Lubbock Field Office

     From a television station in Lubbock, TX:

Many community members braved the heat for hours outside of the Social Security Administration Building. Most, waiting for hours as the building only allows 14 people inside at a time. 

“I think it’s very inconsiderate and I think they should take the necessary measures to provide us with some kind of shelter. I mean, we’re already standing together out here, what’s the difference between being crowded out here and being inside?” said John Buentello who was already waiting in line for 45 minutes. 

Many residents attempted to make it out to the office several times before. 

“Today is day three of trying to get my name changed from being married. 

I’m super grateful because I’m physically able to stand in this heat for that long but we have already seen a couple elderly people here that are obviously struggling,” said Ashley Sharp who waited approximately two hours to be seen. 

Community members have waited in temperatures in the upper 90s outside of the building. 

“About an hour and fifteen minutes in the line and into waiting, there was a lady that they wheeled over to load up in an ambulance that had fainted in line because it was very hot that day,” said Donna Bowels, who had waited in line a previous day. ...

    What I've seen over the years is that reporters pay attention to what's being reported by other news media outlets. They're always looking for new stories to cover. If they read that people are waiting in line in the heat outside the Houston or Lubbock Social Security offices, they may drop by the Waco or Fort Worth field offices to see whether there's a line in their community. If there are many offices with lines outside the building, there may be many more of these stories and not just in Texas.