Recently the republicans on the Appropriations Committee in the U.S. House of Representatives supported cutting President Barack Obama’s proposed budget request for the Social Security Administration by $1.2 billion, which would result in less money for SSA than the previous year. If enacted there will be some serious consequences for Social Security beneficiaries and other Americans who seek Social Security services.
In a press release, Witold Skwierczynski, president of the National Council of SSA Field Operations Locals (NCSSAFOL) provided what those consequences would be if the budget cut remained. These consequences include:
- A 10 day furlough (days off without pay) for all Social Security Administration workers.
- A hiring freeze (agency-wide) at Social Security
- A reduction in local Social Security office hours
- Permanent closings of Social Security offices
- An increase in wait times for the processing of claims and benefits
- An increase in wait times to contact a live person on Social Security’s toll-free number (average wait times right now are well over 15 minutes).
“This is an outrageous attack against Social Security programs,” Skwierczynski said. “This will make it hard for the people who have paid taxes for this program to get their benefits and deal with SSA and other issues.”
Keep in mind, currently Social Security has over 1 million people across the country waiting for disability hearings before a judge and the national wait time for a hearing is already well over a year. Additionally, Social Security previously has closed field offices and reduced the number of hours employees are available to provide service to customers. It is tough enough during current times to get Social Security on the phone or to get face-to-face service at a Social Security office without wasting most of a day, but add these possible cuts it will make it more difficult than ever for Americans to get help with benefits they desperately need.
“Ten furlough days equates to a two-week shutdown of Social Security. This means that for two weeks, we will not take retirement, survivors or disability claims,” Skwierczynski said.
