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We Want to Provide You with Timely, High Quality, and Accurate Service

November 22, 2022 • By

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Last Updated: November 22, 2022

Social Security Administration LogoSocial 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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About the Author

Jeff Nesbit, Deputy Commissioner for Communications

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Comments

  1. Leona G.

    The SS using taxpayer money should operate more efficiently for us. The website has glitches.Three times I have had to change my username and password because the message that my username and/or password was not recognized evener AFTER I changed it and took a screen shot. I tried to click on “get a callback,” and a window popped up that it was not available! I cannot log in to write a message, AND if and when I am able to login, it reads personal account info cannot be discussed via email. OK that makes sense but nothing else does. I call and am advised via robo voice to use the website! REally terrible! This all started when I received a text that I had a message waiting. Something needs to be done. Why not have live chat and lessen your phone reps since nobody can reach them anyway.

    • David

      wow the word efficiently is just like a magic trick for you huh

    • Ms. H.

      I have to agree. I don’t know why it took so long for offices to have in person in office workers when everyone else is working in office. or why there aren’t 100%of ss employees back in the office to serve us. I pay taxes and I want my tax dollars spent on employees who are in he office and answering phones and busy the entire work shift less a couple 10 min breaks and a lunch half hour like the rest of the labor force in our country. The job of every worker is to assist us. We reach out to have our business handled in a quick efficient manner. We aren’t asking for help. We are expecting to be social security to provide the service our tax dollars pay for. I think more funding will encourage more of what we’ve received over the past few years. Until the administration is working and not relying on online self service so much I don’t see where more money for more poor overall service makes any sense.

  2. Richard

    I have been trying to log into the social security website for nearly two weeks every day. I constantly get a message, after inputting my username and password; “We cannot process your request at this time. Please try again later.”
    It suggests calling the main 800 number. This has been going on nearly 2 weeks and every time I call the number, I have to listen to a recording for 8 minutes and then it states that they cannot help me and says good-bye and disconnects. How is any of this “good service?”
    I have no idea if my benefits application is processed or if I can expect a first benefit check next month. I have no idea if I will see the COLA increase. These things are important to a person’s planning. Is this the best that the SSA can do?

    • A.C.

      Hi, Richard. We are sorry to hear about your experience. If you are still unable to create an account or encounter a problem with your personal my Social Security account, you can also call your local Social Security office for assistance. 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 helps.

  3. Zong P.

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    I’m impressed from this post, the person who create this post it was a great human. Thanks for shared this with us and also visit Zong Internet Packages

    • Fathom D.

      Yes, I Fathom Oliver accept this measurement of assistance. I want to know where does I receive Medicare Card
      from, and when do Social Security Check come, will It be an Card or Check

      • A.C.

        Hi, Fathom. 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.

  4. Holly

    Consider using the SSA feedback form after every single encounter with SSA https://www.ssa.gov/feedback/.

    I receive different answers of the same question every single time I call our local field office….that is when the call isn’t dropped or so garbled one can’t communicate.

  5. Melody C.

    Considering we have been put on hold for going on 2 years now and still waiting I think it is a big bunch of nonsense and BS! If they can’t handle the workload then move on so somebody can replace them and get the job done immediately! I am sick of calling them. going in and being told lies and covering up one another mistakes all the way from the beginning to the end of the process! Try doing the jobs your getting paid for now! Answer the freaking phones and stop being so rude to all the sick and disabled folks who only want you to add it up send us our money so we don’t have to keep begging and pleading with you all! I now see what the problem has been for 2 years and it is outrageous to use your positions to get more money at the worst time to hold folks up! You should be locked up and put in jail! ITS A CRIME!Your holding up a mans disability check all so you can gt a raise! How dare you do such a thing! He is deathly ill fighting for his very life and has to deal with this mess at his age! Lorain County SS should be shut down and fire the whole dang bunch!

  6. Tony

    The SSA is lucky to need additional funding before the end of the year.

    In January when the Republicans take over the house, there is going to be a government shutdown for any federal agency who needs additional funding.

  7. Edward

    I have been pleased with the service so far. My only complaint is that I have to file a life changing event again as somehow SS thinks I will earn what I earned before I retired. So, I filed one for this year 2022 indicating my income will be 1/3 of 2021 income that SS saw on my 2020 tax return as I retired in December 2021. Now I find out I have to file again a life changing event for tax year 2023. – why not use the same one for 2022 as my situation HAS NOT CHANGED?

    Aside from that I am really impressed with the efficiency and professionalism of the SS office in Massachusetts.

  8. marium

    Great article , keep it up share more information thank you

  9. sai n.

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  10. Linda S.

    Maybe if we stop providing benefits to those crossing our southern border and properly fund SSA, those of us who were born and raised here and actually worked and paid onto the program all our lives could actually get some assistance.

    • Scott R.

      Well Said

    • Joey

      OkAy…. Gurl I know! … Right?! … I’m like 🤔 w.t.f?!? 🙄

    • LAURA C.

      You hit it right on the head! I could not have said it better! Bravo, I hope ‘they’ listen!!!

    • Alan P.

      No Social Security benefits at all are paid to anyone not legally in the US and certainly not to anyone crossing the border illegally now, or ever.

      So, what exactly are you talking about?

      • Roberta B.

        You are so right!!! Tired of hearing the idea that illegals are receiving benefits over and over again. That is misinformation.

        • kp

          Agree, people are ignorant about SS and then complain.

    • Holly

      SSA is not provided to those who are not in the country legally. Do you research.

    • Michi

      Stop spreading misinformation! For the 100th time no one who crosses the border illegally can receive benefits! But I would rather they get them than you self-righteous, entitled eejits! Yea, look it up!

Comments are closed.