The AARP, formerly the American Association of Retired Persons, sent more than 200,000 email to members of Congress in 2022 urging legislators to combat the customer service issues at Social Security, and now that additional funding has been approved for the agency, the AARP wants that funding focused on improving customer service at Social Security.
“We wrote to SSA Acting Commissioner Kilolo Kijakazi last week,” a January 24, 2023 press release from the AARP said. “Urging her to make customer service a top priority in the operating plan the agency is required to submit to Congress next month as part of the recently approved 2023 spending bill.”
Congress approved a $785 million budget increase for Social Security, but there is some question about how effective that funding will be to address any of Social Security’s issues when the increase does not keep up with increased inflation.
Many times, Social Security customers face extremely long wait times to work with a Social Security representative in office and additionally long wait times for phone service. A backlog of disability cases is also increasing at the agency and the AARP hopes this increased funding can in-part address some of these issues.
“Millions of older Americans, people with disabilities, and their families rely on Social Security, and they deserve to receive timely and accurate assistance from the agency,” said AARP Chief Advocacy and Engagement Officer Nancy LeaMond, in a press release from the advocacy group.
