Levin, Becerra:  Republicans can’t hide from the havoc their budget would wreak

Washington D.C. – Republicans today sought to defend their decision to propose a 9.3 percent cut to the Social Security Administration's budget by trying to shift the blame and hide from the havoc that it would wreak. Seniors groups joined Democrats in panning the proposal, which the Social Security Administration said could lead to furloughs throughout the agency.

 

"The Alliance for Retired Americans, a grassroots advocacy organization with over 4 million members, is outraged by the cold-hearted ways in which House Republicans are trying to lower the budget deficit on the backs of seniors, persons with disabilities, and young survivors. Millions of Americans would not get the help they need, all because of political gamesmanship and pettiness by the Republican Party.  In my opinion, this is a back-door effort to cut Social Security."

 

"Given the essential nature of Social Security, I am deeply concerned that Congress is considering plans that will reduce substantially the funding available to the agency for operating expenses for the remainder of this year.  What would a further cut in funding mean to America's seniors?  It means having to wait longer to get an appointment to file for benefits.  It means not receiving a decision in a timely manner.  It means getting a busy signal when you call an office or the Agency's toll-free 800 number telephone service.  It means not having your change of address or direct deposit information processed in a timely fashion. And finally, it means significant employee furloughs or even office closures, resulting in even greater degradations of service to America's seniors." 

 

"HR 1's proposed cuts to the SSA administrative budget will lead us in the wrong direction.  In fact, if the funding level for SSA included in HR 1 is not increased, it will add at least another 30 days to the wait time for people with disabilities because of office closures which will lead to more work for an already overburdened workforce at SSA...It is important to remember that there are real people behind the numbers. When a person who has just acquired a disability applies for SSDI, they are extremely vulnerable. They are unable to work due their functional limitations and must survive on whatever resources they might have saved. While these real people wait for a decision to be made about whether they qualify for benefits, families can be torn apart, homes can be lost, medical conditions can worsen, and people die."

 

The GOP has budgeted $10.7 billion for the Social Security Administration in 2011, a $1.1 billion cut from the SSA's $11.8 billion administrative budget in 2010. The cuts are so dramatic that SSA is already warning employees that if enacted into law they may have to impose furloughs.

 

The GOP budget plan would leave the already cash-strapped agency with far fewer resources with which to process claims for seniors, widows and people with disabilities, issue new Social Security cards to families with newborns, reduce overpayments to safeguard Social Security's trust fund for future beneficiaries, conduct appeals hearings for disability applicants, answer phone calls from individuals whose checks are missing and record wages of workers to make sure they receive all the benefits they have earned.

 

"No matter how much Republicans try to shift the blame, they can't run away from the fact that this budget would wreak havoc on the agency charged with administering Social Security benefits," said Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Sander Levin (D-MI). "Republicans are acting like a wrecking crew with this budget at a time when Americans are still struggling to recover from a deep economic recession."

"The facts can be scary things when you try to hide them.  Cutting $1.7 billion from the Social Security Administration's budget is a frightening way to keep your promise to America's seniors, disabled workers, and surviving family members,"said Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee Ranking Member Xavier Becerra (D-CA).  "This hatchet job isn't trimming fat… it's cutting deep into the bone of a recovering economy.  A Republican budget that cuts Social Security and costs American jobs would be a nightmare if it weren't true."

 

Below is the letter that the Social Security Administration sent to employees Thursday:

 

February 17, 2011

 

NUC-2011-A01

 

Mr. James E. Marshall, Spokesperson

SSA/AFGE General Committee

P.O. Box 1698

Falls Church, VA 22041

 

Dear Mr. Marshall:

 

Pursuant to Article 4 of the National Agreement, this letter serves as notice to bargain over the impact and implementation of a furlough procedure in the event of an Agency furlough.  It is important to note that the Commissioner has not decided to effectuate a furlough.  However, given the potential of reduced Congressional appropriations for the remainder of the fiscal year, the Agency is issuing this notice at this time in the event that a furlough may become necessary. 

 

Following receipt of a request to bargain, management is prepared to bargain over negotiable proposals concerning procedures and arrangements related to the aforementioned issue.  Any bargaining will be in accordance with the Statute and Article 4 of the SSA/AFGE National Agreement.  Accordingly, since this notice is being provided electronically, any bargaining must commence no later than the first Tuesday following the twenty-eighth (28) calendar day period after the receipt of this notice.  In accordance with Article 4, Section 1(B), failure to request to bargain within the timeframes set out for national level bargaining may result in unilateral implementation.

 

Pursuant to Article 4, Section 3(C), please submit your reply to this notice by electronic correspondence to DCHR.OLMER.OAC@ssa.gov.  Should you wish to discuss this matter please contact Eddie Taylor at (410) 965-7066. 

 

 

                                                                                                Sincerely,

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                Jay Clary

                                                                                                Acting Associate Commissioner

                                                                                                Office of Labor-Management

                                                                                                   and Employee Relations

 

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