Commissioner Saul Communicates to Congress about the State of Social Security Services
Reading Time: 1 MinuteLast Updated: April 26, 2021
Andrew Saul, Commissioner of Social Security, wrote to key members of Congress to raise awareness of the resources Social Security needs to recover from the ongoing pandemic and improve service.
“Since becoming Commissioner, I have focused our actions and our resources on efforts to improve the service we provide to the millions of people who turn to us for help. I have been clear in my budget requests about what it takes to improve service and maintain the integrity of our programs: both additional frontline staff to help people now, and information technology (IT) investments to improve our future,” said Commissioner Saul. “2021 is a critical year to shape the agency for post-pandemic success, but our resource constraints will delay our recovery. I appreciate President Biden’s support of our needs with his FY 2022 budget request of nearly $14.2 billion for us, which is $1.3 billion more than what we received this year to operate our agency. No one anticipated the duration of the pandemic and the ongoing challenges it presents.”
For the full text of Commissioner Saul’s letter, please read our press release.
Did you find this Information helpful?
Tags: Commissioner, COVID-19, social security
See CommentsAbout the Author
Andrew Saul, Commissioner, Social Security Administration
Commissioner of Social Security Administration (June 17, 2019 - July 9, 2021)
Comments
Comments are closed.
Walter P.
You call and NOBODY ANSWERS THE PHONE ! UGGGGGGGGGG
V.V.
Hi Walter, thanks for using our blog. We are sorry to hear you are having difficulties contacting Social Security. You can call us at either 1-800-772-1213 for assistance or you can contact your local Social Security office. Please look for the general inquiry telephone number at the Social Security Office Locator. The number may appear under Show Additional Office Information. We hope this information helps.
Jessica
I was wondering since iam on sdi will I get the increase in 2022
V.V.
Hi Jessica, thanks for using our blog. All monthly Social Security (retirement, disability and survivors) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for approximately 70 million Americans will see a 5.9% increase in their Social Security benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments in 2022.
The 5.9 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will begin with benefits payable to more than 64 million Social Security beneficiaries in January 2022. Increased payments to approximately 8 million SSI beneficiaries will begin on December 30, 2021.
For more details about the new COLA, visit our Cost-of-Living Adjustment information page.
Darryl P.
I just got off the phone with a representative of the SSA and to change the name on my newly adopted sons SS card I, as the parent, have to send in either my driver’s license or passport……the original mind you. Who the hell put this policy in place……how can I drive without my license for the two plus weeks you have it……what if I get pulled over or worse yet YOU lose them?. According to your Rep I can go to no one to resolve that issue should it arise……all because we cannot see you in person because Covid…..to quote your boss..”come on man!”…….Really?
V.V.
Thank you for using our blog, Darryl. Good News! We temporarily expanded our policy to accept secondary identity documents. Check out our Frequently Asked Questions web page on how to change your child’s name. All submitted documents must be either originals or certified copies by the issuing agency. We cannot accept photocopies or notarized copies of documents.
Contact your local Social Security office or your local Social Security Card Center to find out your submission options. We hope this helps!
Katherine
I agree. This is total insanity. I’ve sent emails to the SS commissioner, my governor and the White House. Write and email and get your friends to do the same. I wish someone would organize a March to protest the insane policies.
arkabazsazi
Thanks for your useful information, I have done a lot of research on this
https://arkabazsazi.com/
Tasmeha S.
My daughter who was diagnosed with chronic illness at 21 years old, with a 5 year old son, was denied benefits, due to a supposedly overpayment. When the figures were finally corrected, it was $1000.00 owed. Social Security stopped her payments, instead of deducting the money due. She is now behind in her rent, and the checks not given to her are not being given back. How in a pandemic, do you take from a sick woman with a child ? Social Security will resume payments in September, what about the passed months with no money ? I have been doing what I can, but I’m retired and have my own financial responsibilities. She has requested a letter, to be given to housing , so they could see ,she had no income. It wasn’t sent to her yet. All of this stress is making her illness worse. My daughter, would be working, if she wasn’t sick.
P.H.
Hi Tasmeha. We are sorry to hear about your situation. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. Your local office will be able to assist your daughter in her request to stop collection or consider a lesser withholding amount from her benefits. For more information and to learn about how to appeal an overpayment or ask to pay a lower rate of recovery, check out our Coronavirus web page under the Overpayments tab. If your daughter still has questions, or needs further assistance, she should call her local office.
For information regarding assistance with her rent go to our Emergency Assistance for Homeowners or Renters page. We hope this helps.
Don
Maybe the main office should have access to personal files. A friend of mine just received a letter from the local Gulfport, MS office canceling her SSI and Medicaid because the last stimulus check ($1400 deposited the same time as her SSI payment) pushed her bank balance over $2000. What was she supposed to do, refuse the stimulus?
A.C.
Hi, Don. For your friend’s security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. We ask that members in our Blog community work with our offices with specific questions. She can call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., for assistance. Generally, she will have a shorter wait if she calls later in the day. She can also contact her local Social Security office. We hope this helps.
Katherine
How long do you think people should be on hold on the phone. Calling that number is a waste of time. Your offices need to open NOW. If the employees don’t want to return then fire them!!!
You are there to serve the public not your own interests. You send letters demanding documents be send in. Those documents to cost hundreds of dollars to replace and could end up in a trash can. YOU NEED to OPEN NOW!! Stop using COVID as an excuse! Let people wait their cars! Should the military work from home because of COVID. Every job has risks! People are fed up with this nonsense!
Elaine s.
You keep posting I should use the s.s. portal I have Bern locked out for 2 years I have written and called s.s. office . they sent codes but when I try to use them the system said it was a void code. Open the s.s. office and just maybe your employees would not be so nasty on the phones.
V.V.
Hi Elaine, thanks for using our blog. We are sorry to hear about the difficulties you are having with your my Social Security account. You may call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), Monday through Friday, 8:00 am – 7:00 pm. At the voice prompt, say “helpdesk”; or contact your local Social Security office. Please look for the general inquiry telephone number at the Social Security Office Locator. The number may appear under Show Additional Office Information. Please be aware that our call wait times are longer than normal. We hope this information helps.
Katherine
All the replies from SS are of NO USE! Open the offices!
Dianna M.
Good morning,
My name is Dianna Mcarthur (***-**-****) I filed for disability December 16th 2020. I have provided everything I need to process my claim. However I have discrepancies. After 5 months of waiting for an answer, I started calling my doctors offices to find out if they had been contacted by social security. In this NONE OF THEM HAD RECEIVED ANYTHING. SO, I began calling social security numbers for days then I got to someone who gave me a name of Mrs Smith which I left messages for. Which in turn NEVER spoke to her she never returned my call. Then I was SO CALLED, reassigned to a Mrs Moore. So after calling day after day she finally begrudgingly spoke to me with no common courtesy at all. She said I lied about my doctor. Which was not at all the truth. She claimed I never went to the doctor Dr Masood at all which I have been in association with the practice for 10 years now. So I asked what address was she sending this to which was not at all my doctors address. So I gave her the correct address . She then claimed that she was putting the information in the mail that very day. In the meantime when I had appointments I would ask if they had received anything which they always replied no so 51/2 weeks later I called until I got her on the phone and simply asked if she had mailed them the information her reply was yes. Which they to this day have never received anything through the mail . However I reached out to all of my doctors and got fax numbers and called her back and gave them to her 5 weeks ago. In which through the entire process I have done all of the work on my case and I have never even been informed that there was an issue with the doctor that she sent information and got a response that I was not a patient of there’s. I have worked day after day doing all of the leg work. This woman does not even come in the office except for Wednesday each week . I am certain that she gets paid more than one day a week. I did ask her if this was a bad joke to which she chuckled a bit and I told her I felt like she was pulling a prank at my expense. So last week on June 23rd 2021 she said she had everything she needed to get the determination. So I have waited the week and 2 days and yet called back and the operator said that my case was still pending. I feel that they do not take people’s lives into consideration. I am disabled I have the proof. I cannot pay my bills, I’m loosing my home, I have a child at home that I have to take care of , I have no way of supporting her I have food stamps I have never not been employed in my life since the age of 15. I do not like being disabled I would prefer to work. I have always been in customer service relations I am a broken person and I have really just done everything I could to survive I have sold everything of value that I have. I cannot go on like this life has not been very good to me and I need help please don’t ignore me. I feel like I have been put through blender at this point. Please help me.
V.V.
For your security, Dianna, we do not have access to private information in this venue. We ask that members in our Blog community work with our offices with specific questions. You can call us at 1-800-772-1213 for assistance or you can call your local Social Security office. Please look for the general inquiry telephone number at the Social Security Office Locator. The number may appear under Show Additional Office Information. Please be aware that our call wait times are longer than normal. We hope this information helps.
Katherine
I’m sure your answer was a big help to Dianna. It solved nothing as usual.
Thomas
Hello, I am trying to schedule an appointment for needed survivor benefits and the representative said no appts are available and to call back in July. This is terrible service. My needs wont be addressed until this fall at the earliest, I don’t understand how this is consider service as I struggle to make it each month. Absolutely terrible service!!
D.V.
Hello Thomas. We apologize and we regret to hear you did not receive the level of customer service you expected. We understand your frustration, however we ask you continue to work with your local office. Please look for the general inquiry telephone number at the Social Security Office Locator. The number may appear under Show Additional Office Information. You can also call out toll free number 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. for assistance.
Learnest M.
My local office does anything they want to people especially people of color I put in a complaint before with you guys about them calling me Nager and I’ll kinds of stuff if somebody ever gonna do anything about it and also this lady in our office in Pensacola by the name of Katie Keith Katie Keith she’s over the payments And she pays you when she wants and when she doesn’t like you she didn’t pay you she hold you off and does whatever you can take this as I am a person is just mad because I didn’t get their check or you can take it as the truth it really doesn’t matter because all you people are the same when it comes to Social Security most of you don’t help don’t care and people lose their houses their cars things that they have scratched and scraped for can’t feed her self and all types of stuff so yeah it’s the truth so somebody do some about Katie keys in the Pensacola office and her supervisor Anthony Palisade now or Palasini whatever his name is her number is 12480 he’s number His number is 12477 so let’s see if y’all do anything about it nothing as usual
P.H.
Hi, we apologize for the difficult time you are experiencing working with Social Security. We have referred your complaint to our Office of Operations to follow up and take corrective action as necessary.
Katherine
I don’t believe anything the SS employees say and your cut and paste comments are worthless.
Tiffany S.
It is time to reopen offices!! Asking people to mail sensitive and needed documentation through the mail such as drivers licenses in order to obtain social security cards for children, etc is just crazy!! I have an office within 3 minutes of my house and have been unable to get a needed social security card for a child unless I’m willing to send my D.L. and other sensitive documents through the mail. It’s ridiculous that there isn’t a system in place for direct drop off or appointments or something in order to make this process more secure and efficient. Let’s reopen these offices!!! Everything else has been open for months and it’s time to get America back on track.
V.V.
Hi Tiffany, thanks for reaching out. You may want to contact your local office as they can provide guidance on the appropriate service channels available to you for submitting evidence. Please look for the general inquiry telephone number at the Social Security Office Locator. The number may appear under Show Additional Office Information. Please be aware that our call wait times are longer than normal. We hope this information helps.
Katherine
100% CORRECT! If the employees don’t want to return to work then fire them! What’s next? The employees don’t want to get the vaccine? Too bad! You work for the people of the United States and what you want is irrelevant.
KAK
I am a disabled senior. As soon as I turned 66 you cut my SSDI check by $300 a month to regular SS! That was gas, medications, food, utilities, my mortgage and more!
I’m still disabled! This makes absolutely no sense. I need that money.
V.V.
Hi Kimburly, thanks for using our blog. Social Security disability benefits automatically change to retirement benefits when disability beneficiaries become full retirement age. The law does not allow a person to receive both retirement and disability benefits on one earnings record at the same time. If your benefit went down, please contact your local Social Security office for an explanation. Look for the general inquiry telephone number at the Social Security Office Locator. The number may appear under Show Additional Office Information. Please be aware that our call wait times are longer than normal. We hope this information helps.
Katherine
Stop telling people to contact their office!! They don’t answer the phones and you are not open! People need in office appointments! How about telling the people in charge that people are disgusted and need help. How about suggesting they open the offices?