We Want to Provide You with Timely, High Quality, and Accurate Service
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: November 22, 2022
Social Security Administration (SSA) employees demonstrate an unwavering commitment to serving the millions of people like you who turn to us for help each year. However, we cannot keep up with the demand for service and our annual fixed cost increases like salaries, rent, and guard services. The bottom line is that we need more funding to deliver the services you expect and deserve, whether it’s requesting a new Social Security card, applying for benefits, or the many other services we provide.
The Biden-Harris Administration asked Congress for a funding anomaly of $800 million higher than our fiscal year (FY) 2022 budget, as we started FY 2023 in October without a full year budget. The additional funding would have allowed us to maintain level service by hiring employees, funding our fixed cost increases, funding information technology (IT) projects, and allocating enough overtime to handle workloads, provided there is not an unexpected and significant increase in demand for our services and programs.
Congress provided us with $400 million, which provides enough funding to cover our fixed cost increases only through December, overtime at FY 2022 levels, and continuous hiring at the start of FY 2023. However, it is not enough to cover the full year fixed cost increases or to maintain the hiring and overtime levels beyond December to improve service. On the other hand, the FY 2023 President’s budget request of $14.8 billion for SSA – a $1.4 billion increase over our FY 2022 enacted level of funding – would allow us to improve customer service and offer the service experience you deserve.
We have faced years of underfunding. We are currently operating with approximately 4,000 fewer employees since prior to the pandemic – a 7% drop, since we have not had the funds to hire the level of staff needed. We are also experiencing historically high levels of employees leaving the agency, because employees are carrying unreasonable workloads given the staffing shortage. As we lose employees, our service further deteriorates. You feel the effects of our staffing shortage. You are waiting an unacceptable average of over six months for a decision on an initial disability claim and over 30 minutes to speak to a representative on our National 800 Number.
Our employees strive to provide you compassionate and timely service but cannot do so without a budget that allows for significant improvement. Without additional funding in FY 2023, we would be forced to freeze hiring, cut overtime, and cut funding for our IT investments.
It is critical that we have the resources to restore staffing losses and continue our important IT investments or face years of deteriorating services that you will not and should not accept. We must be able to provide timely and quality service to everyone who depends on us.
Tags: General Information, social security
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Shelley R.
I applied for disability benefits on 03/03/22. I have yet to receive a determination. I have used all of my deceased husband’s life insurance to pay bills for the last year and am now in a situation where I have to sell my house “as is” with no place to go afterward. I also have no money for utilities and food. Please help, I am in a dire situation.
Ann C.
Hi, Shelley. We are sorry to hear about your situation. For your 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. You can call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., for assistance. You can also contact your local Social Security office. Keep in mind you may be eligible to receive social services from the state in which you live. These services include free meals, housekeeping help, transportation, or help with other problems. To get information about services in your area and find out if you qualify, you will need to contact your state or local social services or welfare office. We hope this helps.
Paul
I have another question. I started my SS application but I realized going through it is too early. The latest I can start benefits is June 2023 and that is earlier than I want.
It seems I am locked into this with an application date of 26/2023. It won’t let me delete or start over. And I will “lose SS benefits” if I don’t complete it by a date in August.
Is there a solution. I just want to start over!
Ann C.
Hi, Paul. Unfortunately, your situation is a bit more complex than we can handle in this forum. For your 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. You can call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., for assistance. You can also contact your local Social Security office. We hope this helps.
Paul D.
THe graph on the social security site shows an increase in the base amount I receive to change every January. (My birthday is 6/10/1954) I have not applied yet.
I am thinking to wait therefore until Jan 2024 to receive benefits if there is no monthly increase before then. In other words December 2023 for filing is the same as now.
Does it really only change once a year? I am not talking about COLA. I don’t want to wait until January 2024
Paul
In other words, what I am getting are my permanent benefits based on the month I being getting benefits, or does it go by the calendar year only.
Howard A.
I have received “uncollectible” status from the IRS.Prior to this SS has been taking a tax levy from my SS check since at least 2018. It leaves me with 966$ per month!
IRS sent SS a letter about a year ago saying to give me my full check each mo.with a back refund as all that time l was tax uncollectible. I claim 5% on all the monies SS has levied on me.
This has been a very serious hardship on me and my health.
For at least a year I call and call SS and they keep telling me they are “working” on it.
Help me!
Ann C.
Hi, Howard. We are sorry to hear about your situation. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. We encourage you to continue to work with your local Social Security office. You can ask to speak to a manager on your next call or visit. We hope this is resolved soon.
Janice F.
Is there going to be a tax freeze on property taxes?
Ann C.
Hi, Janice. Thanks for visiting our blog. For tax questions, you will need to contact the IRS. Their toll-free number is 1-800-829-1040 or you can visit their website. We hope this information is helpful.
Karen F.
I have reached full retirement age. My husband has elected to not receive benefits until age 70, 2 yrs from now. If I apply now for my benefits, will I be eligible for 50% of his delayed benefits 2 yrs from now? If I do not collect benefits now and waited, would I ever be eligible for 50% of his delayed benefit?
Ann C.
Hi, Karen. Thanks for your questions. First, if a person begins to receive benefits at age 62 or prior to their full retirement age, their benefits are reduced. The reduction factors are permanently applied to all of the benefits for which the person may qualify. Second, to qualify for spouse’s benefits, your spouse must be receiving retirement or disability benefits. Keep in mind that if you qualify for your own benefits and for benefits as a spouse, we always pay your own benefits first. If your benefits as a spouse are higher than your own benefits, you will get a combination of benefits equaling the higher spouse benefit. For more information, please visit our Benefits Planner. We hope this helps.