During the transition phase into President-Elect Joe Biden, whose administration will take over January 20, 2021 Biden has been briefed about national security matters, economic matters and domestic matters and recently Social Security Works released its transition report to the incoming Biden Administration. Social Security Works is an advocacy group that works to protect Social Security and improve the economic status of the disadvantaged.
There are some strong recommendations in the transition report including the call to replace the entire leadership at Social Security and the recommendation that Social Security need to be strengthen, and benefits need to be increased. Below is the complete report issued to the Biden Transition team. These are not official recommendation, but the policies that Social Security Works would like to see implemented.
INSTALLING NEW LEADERSHIP AT SSA IS ESSENTIAL
- On day one, President Biden should give Commissioner Andrew Saul the choice to immediately resign or be fired and require all other SSA political Schedule C appointees, including Deputy Commissioner David Black, to vacate their offices that day.
- The Biden-named Commissioner should be included in Cabinet meetings and serve on the Domestic Policy Council, which, among many other reasons, would demonstrate President Biden’s strong commitment to Social Security.
IMPROVING ACCESS AND CUSTOMER SERVICE DURING AND POST-COVID
- The Biden administration should use the necessity of refurbishing the offices for safety as an opportunity to develop and showcase offices that will be welcoming, safe, and “green.” All offices should meet or exceed CDC safety guidelines, including the use of masks and other personal protective equipment, as well as the ability to maintain social distance.
- Opening offices serving communities of color, low-income areas, and other neighborhoods more likely to require in-person services should be a priority. All offices should be fully accessible to those with disabilities and employ staff that reflects the local community.
- The Biden administration should ensure that every penny of emergency payments provided under the CARES Act is received by all Social Security beneficiaries and SSI recipients.
- Through executive action, President Biden should extend the number of months over which the deferred contributions from Donald Trump’s FICA deferral must be repaid, so that the amounts withheld are much less burdensome.
- President Biden should work to ensure that Congress addresses the so-called COVID notch, and does so in such a way that no one’s benefits are reduced.
- SSA should review its policies with the goal of getting more money to beneficiaries and recipients, which, among other advantages will get more money into the economy, during the current crisis.
ADDITIONAL ACTIONS TO PROVIDE THE FIRST-CLASS SERVICE AMERICANS
- The new SSA commissioner should prepare and issue a written policy that provides SSA employees with the clear understanding that high-quality, informed service is the most important job at SSA – and that job performance will be measured on this basis.
- The President should propose and vocally champion legislation consistent with his campaign promises.
- The Biden administration should withdraw or, at least freeze and assess, with the idea of reversing all harmful executive orders, regulations, and sub-regulatory rules.
- SSA should issue new regulations and take other steps to ensure that working families can more easily access the benefits they have earned and, once receiving benefits, that they are not subject to garnishment and – in fact – have their student loans cancelled, without tax liability. As a first step, the President and Commissioner should declare a moratorium on the garnishment of Social Security benefits by the federal government while the issue is examined and legislation is developed.
- SSA should fully restore the annual mailing of the Social Security Statement; and develop age-specific mailings.
- The Biden administration should protect the Office of the Chief Actuary to ensure its continued independence. It should take every step it can to ensure that Congress recognizes its expertise.
- SSA should develop a robust research agenda.
