A two-year investigation by the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations has found widespread fraud in the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) Disability Program. A second reform, bolder and more controversial, would means-test Social Security, gradually slowing the growth of benefits for the more affluent but sparing those with lower incomes. Provide the deceased person’s Social Security number to the funeral director so they can report the death to the SSA.
Of six possible ways of addressing Social Security’s long-term funding challenges, most Americans favor two, both of which would affect only wealthy Americans. I would really prefer to spend my limited work hours processing claims for people who do manage to complete forms in a reasonable amount of time and who do make a reasonable effort to provide answers to the questions asked.
The hiring freeze and cutbacks in overtime have hampered SSA’s ability to complete behind-the-scenes work, leading to growing delays in processing applications or changing benefits when a beneficiary’s circumstances change. Taking Social Security out of the budget would make the deficit appear vastly larger.
The researchers found that 10 years added to one’s life expectancy will delay a Social Security filing by six months. Most of them are despicable human beings, will lie and throw their mother under the bus to save their jobs. I’d be more than happy to have a Social Security program that was more redistributive—and more generous to low earners—than today’s system if we could also make it smaller and more affordable.
But when Barton received her daughter’s Social Security card, she noticed nearly half of her first name was dropped. Bureau of Employment Security transferred to Department of Labor by Reorganization Plan No. 2 of 1949, effective August 20, 1949. Went in for a name change (to my married name), and it took 5 min in total for the friendly rep to initiate and process the change on her end.