We realize it may be a stretch for ordinary people to want to keep up with the comings and goings of the Social Security Administration, but sometimes circumstances permit where someone does want to follow the latest news regarding the agency due to a possible retirement or disability interest. This blog is an ongoing piecemeal of recent stories that have involved Social Security. Some are tidbits and some are important things that should be known in the world of retirement or disability and others are just interesting stories and nothing more.
Reopening Plan Still On Track
The Federal News Network recently reported that Social Security’s plan of reopening up field offices March 30, 2022 is still on track and Social Security is even bringing back retired Social Security employees to assist with the number of walk-in customers the agency expects beginning in April.
Because Social Security offices have been closed to visitors for the last two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is expected that Social Security offices are likely to be flooded with customers come the reopening and reinforcement employees are needed. Below is a portion of the announcement indicating retired Social Security workers will be sought to assist with customers in field offices on a temporary basis, as obtained by the Federal News Network.
Solicitation of Interest Calling SSA Retirees!!! Looking for another opportunity to help serve the American people? If so, we are seeking retirees to help the agency as we begin to transition to reentry and re-open our field offices to the public. We are seeking temporary support for approximately 400 field offices during reentry. HOW: Interested retirees will be given a temporary 30-day appointment. Salary will be a GS-11 salary ($74,074 base rate) plus locality (based on where assigned) plus a dual compensation waiver (you will continue to draw your full monthly annuity and a full Salary—no reduction). Retirees must have retired from a non-bargaining unit position and under optional retirement. WHEN: Deployments to assigned offices will begin in early April. LENGTH: Assignments will be to a field office for up to 30 days. Appointments and assignments may be extended depending on office need. The agency will make every effort to assign individuals to field offices nearest to their home to minimize the need for overnight travel. In some cases, however, overnight travel may be required. Travel expenses, including lodging and per diem, will be paid by the agency.
Phone Trouble At Social Security
If you tried to contact Social Security by phone over the last week or so you might have had trouble with calls connecting to the agency, this is due to issues the agency has had with its phone system on a nationwide basis. No formal release from the agency even mentions the problems with the phone system, but last week the agency did release an automated message indicating the issues the agency was having. This disruption to phone service created even more obstacles to reaching a Social Security employee for assistance when the offices have already been closed to the public since March 2020.
