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.
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Dale.G
People who paid into SS and then died before collecting it, what happens to that money?
Randy
It already went out to those who needed it. SSA is currently pay as you go until reformed.
2020-2028 T.
$300-$800 Billion annually approved for baseless Joe Biden’s global wars with the same warlords that buy and sell weapons, buy and sell people, sell out countries and say oops we can’t help the people since 1981+ that’s 30+ years not 20.
Everyone is permanently disabled do to the respiratory virus covid-19. Over 6 Million dead globally and 1.2+ million people in the US dead from it and I have chronic bronchitis and am permanently disabled do to a lower lumbar and myocardial and the susceptible to aneurysm doesn’t count according to Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden but is permanently disabled to them? Being force to work when you are qualified and being denied benefits are the only issue with the programs next to the low ball amounts of assistance.
P D.
Dear Deputy Commissioner, Watch this video, and read the comments, and then tell us how efficiently SSA is spending our tax dollars.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssm5HqxoAIo
emd
stop funding other countries and fund ourselves. What other country sent money to help the victims from the Florida Hurricanes. Take care of us. Close the borders or do not give away our taxpayer money to ridiculous projects.
Susan M.
What the f**k does closing the border have to do with SSI? Nothing. Wait until the rest of the Baby Boomers come on board. Things will only get worse. What we need to do is contact our representatives, if they are competent and compassionate, and ask them to put the pressure on and figure out a way to fund SSI and the SSA.
Then join AARP or another organization that fights for seniors.
And keep the borders open, we aren’t Russia!
Joe
Russia? No country in the world has open borders, except us, bc it is insane, dangerous and expensive.
SS is asking for a moderate sum, IMO. Compare the few billions SS is requesting, to the nearly Trillion given to the (real) Nasis in Ukraine; a war that should never have been and used for democrat money laundering. Funny nobody ever asks where the money is coming from until it comes to SS.
Also SSI is too big and fraud is rampant.
Bruce
The open border has alot to do with ssi. Peoplecross the border &can get ssi for 7years &alot have done so.
Keith
The border has everything to do with SS and more. Stop giving money to illegals. That is not the responsibility of the U.S. Plug the hole!!
Our money is to take care of us. Not to take care of everyone else. Fund the home front.
Randy
Open borders only make for more boarders. We would have plenty of workers if they would have killed all the children for convenience.
John
Close the border and reap the rewards for SSA!
Melissa W.
I agree!
Joshua n.
I agree
Ezekiel
I honestly way too just to say to just close the borders.
But a temporary restraint I feel is well needed. I feel the United States shall first recover from the endowment from 2022 before we promote and or fund allying countries.”the allies”
Simply explain to such alias that In order for U.S to Continue support the Allies” for the years to come. That it is crucial that we(United States) must take temporary measures, Such as temporary halt on such funding to “the Allies” in order to produce the longevity of we(United States) Monetary value.
Simply explain that without such halt. There possibility that we(United States) could possibly collapse which in turn means the collapse and or future funding for the Allies in the future.
If such temporary restraint is not conducted, will cause for forced closed in such borders from lack of resources of we(United States).whereas we( United States) to a lack of resources and or other surviving factors we(United States) will have no choice but to closed the border permanently.
To alleviate such hereby prophecy “ the collapse of Not just we( United States) but also supporting “the Allies”
Such temporary Restraint are well need at this time.
Upon such actions we(United States) need to adopt and or temporary adoption(s) of an external policy created by we(United Stated)for example overall stating
, the resources,rewards, inventory, equipment, industry, and or IT’s perform else where …. And or with the Allies shall be offered and accessible with out leave we(United states) in my opinion and or bias statement for those who know who I am.
I feel nationals, citizens, and or people of United States look towards such “the Allies” and foreign country too promote and restructure such Diplomatic immunity,
Land rights
Law if the sea
Ancestral lineage
And promote the stability of the American Banker without the use of another
sovereign, whereas “the laws GOD(S) gave to male and female. Whereas the world is so power hungry for political control that can’t see the world as whole is slowly collapsing.
In the beginning the was the word and the word was God.
There is always a need for political control. But there shall always be an out for the gifted. Hence the idiom “the straw that broke the camel’s back”
Where as every action has opposite an equal reaction and Newton’s laws. We can’t stop people from becoming wise and want to be free. But we can give them a private exit that allows such person stated herein, access to the Alternate route that is preordained to such person(s) not affecting and or tipping global scale. This gives the described person(s) only if properly presumed. A chance to share such profound, idea, resolutions, and Monterey belief with again tipping the global scale.
These simply ideas and or expression of the author. And shall be to taken out of context.
Keith
Absolutely close the border!!!!
Cynthia L.
So you’re asking what, exactly. Are you saying we who depend on SS monies just to eke out an existence to take less or somehow pay more? We are not responsible for the administration’s shortcomings. And btw, the House was a Democrat majority with a Democrat Senate majority & a democratic President. Why wasn’t this problem addressed already by them? SMDH.
Randy
Too busy pandering to abortion providers, climate and GLBT activists.
Gina R.
I recently had an appointment, over the phone It was on November 3rd 2022 at 9:30 a.m. and the representative was supposed to see if I could qualify for SSI on top of my social security disability she didn’t go over any of my income information none of it and then she called the police on me, and nobody will return my call and I’ve waited over 2 hours the past week and I can’t get anyone to return my call or answer the phone. I wish somebody would call me please.
Ann C.
Hi, Gina. We are sorry to hear about your experience. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue; therefore, we do not direct calling. 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. You can also submit feedback by visiting our Contact Social Security page. Once there, select the “Email Us” link. This will take you to the “Email A Question to our Support Team” form where you can complete and submit a compliment, complaint, or suggestion. We hope this is resolved soon.
Cliff
I have a great idea. Close our borders, really closing don’t just lie and say they’re closed. That will save money feeding sheltering and giving healthcare to illegal immigrants -thousands are coming every day. And go back to our country producing our own energy so we don’t have to spend billions buying it from other countries. Then the cost of transporting our food will be cut in half or more stopping inflation. And instead of spending $40 billion to hire 87,000 IRS agents, hire more Social Security customer service agents instead. They won’t even have to be armed or ever use deadly force on Americans. Make our government for the people of our country again. There, three ways to help out Social Security, and any one of those three ideas could pay for the needs of our social security service.
Sherry I.
Totally agree with Cliff!!
Keith
AMEN to that
Caryl C.
There is no oversight. Once it is seen that valuable time is wasted, plus annuitant is out the money..take this problem to the resolution department. Look at the hearing request form.
Two-thirds of the page is useless internal wording. You slow yourselves down with mindless make-work. Pay a chronically disabled person first. Worry about the rest later. One or two doctors statements…have a public school nurse sign off…pay an interim amount, figure it to the T later. People are suffering.
Gregory B.
Preach, Caryl C., Preach ! Someone needs to tell the truth it may as well be YOU, because we sure cannot trust what comes out of the mouth of the SSA ! Ahhhhhh, The Federal Employee…….skilled at their jobs …in NAME ONLY….while avoiding anything and everything close to appearing as actual meaningful work ! Well done Caryl !