Susan Wild
05/03/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 05/03/2024 15:51
Reps. Wild, Larson, Schakowsky, Matsui Lead Nearly 100 Members in Letter to Support Strengthening the Social Security Administration in FY 2025
May 3, 2024
Today, Representative Susan Wild (D-PA) joined Reps. John B. Larson (D-CT), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Doris Matsui (D-CA) in leading 99 Members of Congress to write to House appropriators in support of increased funding for the Social Security Administration (SSA). Their letter highlights the delays faced by seniors and other recipients who have earned Social Security benefits yet are unable to access them due to customer service delays.
"Seniors in Pennsylvania and across the country rely on Social Security benefits in order to retire with dignity, and it's necessary that we fund the SSA at the highest level to address the customer-service crisis and reduce delays for everyone who attempts to access their hard-earned benefits," said Rep. Susan Wild (PA-07). "I'm proud to join so many of my colleagues who agree that this program is essential, and must be prioritized as we consider next year's federal funding bills."
"As 10,000 baby boomers a day become eligible for Social Security, it is more critical than ever that the Social Security Administration has the resources it needs to properly serve beneficiaries," said Rep. John Larson (CT-01). "After years of underfunding, Commissioner O'Malley has been working diligently to modernize the agency and ensure Americans receive their hard-earned benefits without delay. House Democrats are committed to building on the Biden Administration's progress to improve customer service, fairly address accidental overpayments, and reduce wait times and delays for our seniors by strengthening the Social Security Administration and enhancing benefits, not cutting them. We must reject Republican efforts to slash funding that are a direct attack on Social Security benefits, and instead come together to invest in this essential agency."
"Social Security benefits provide crucial economic security for millions of older Americans and people with disabilities across the nation," said Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-07). "In my district, my team and I have helped many of our neighbors navigate their Social Security concerns - oftentimes because of backlogs and delays caused by a lack of resources for SSA. As we continue to recover from the pandemic, Americans have been relying on Social Security's modest benefits more than ever. That's why I'm making sure we give SSA the tools to deliver the highest quality of service possible to those who need it most.
"Social Security is one of the best examples of government working for the people," said Rep. Jan Schakowsky (IL-09). "Nearly 9 out of 10 seniors receive Social Security benefits. These benefits lift more than 15 million seniors out of poverty. But it only works with sufficient funds to administer it, and too often over the years many seniors have faced delays in receiving this critical lifeline. I'm proud to join Rep. Larson, Rep. Wild, Rep. Matsui, and nearly 100 of my colleagues in calling for robust funding for administering Social Security to ensure that vulnerable seniors get the money they have earned promptly and efficiently."
In their letter, the Members thanked appropriators for providing a much-needed funding boost for SSA in fiscal year 2023, and an additional boost in fiscal year 2024, which the agency will use to maintain essential services, improve staffing, and work through backlogs.
"It is impossible to overstate Social Security's importance to its 67 million beneficiaries: for most older adults, its benefits provide their largest source of income," the Members wrote.
They continued, "Social Security is one thing the American people should be able to count on. Yet without adequate overall funding, Americans face increasing difficulty accessing their earned benefits."
"A multi-year effort and sustained funding increases will be needed for SSA to restore service to acceptable levels. SSA has a proven track record of producing results when consistently given the resources needed to do the job." the Members concluded.
Read the full letter below. Dear Chair Aderholt and Ranking Member DeLauro: We urge you to support the highest amount possible-no less than President Biden's request of $15.4 billion in Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-for the Social Security Administration (SSA) administrative budget, to address the customer-service crisis and allow the agency to strengthen service and reduce excessive delays faced every day by Americans who are trying to access their earned benefits. Social Security is a cornerstone of our nation's economic security. Almost all workers are contributing to SocialSecurity and earning its benefits, and nearly one in three households include at least one person who receives Social Security. The income Social Security provides is vital for retirees, families who have lost a breadwinner, and workers who have experienced a career-ending injury or illness. It is impossible to overstate Social Security's importance to its 67 million beneficiaries: for most older adults, its benefits provide their largest source of income. Despite the strong level of public support for Social Security, years of underfunding during a time of rising need have generated a customer service crisis at SSA. Since 2010, the number of Social Security beneficiaries has increased by approximately 25 percent as the baby boom generation ages. Yet SSA's administrative funding for basic operations has fallen by approximately 19 percent, after accounting for inflation. As a result, in 2022 SSA's staffing reached a 25-year low. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted SSA's operations, generating significant new delays in services ranging from replacing lost or stolen Social Security cards to processing new benefit claims. As a result, people seeking to access SSA benefits and services frequently encounter significant delays and other challenges. The majority of callers to SSA's 1-800 number are unable to reach an agent, and those who do get through wait more than 35 minutes, on average. People scheduling a call or visit with an SSA field office to get help with an application for benefits often wait more than a month until their appointment. More than one million people are in a queue awaiting an initial decision on their application for disability benefits, and it will take SSA nearly eight months, on average, to make a decision-twice as long as in the past. These long waits can be particularly harmful for people of color, low-income applicants, and others who on average are less likely to have savings or other resources to fall back on. Thousands have died each year while waiting for a decision on whether they are eligible for disability benefits, and many more have endured years without income,in the process often exhausting their life savings and even losing their homes. Social Security is one thing the American people should be able to count on. Yet without adequate overall funding, Americans face increasing difficulty accessing their earned benefits. We are pleased that appropriators recognized the gravity of the customer service crisis facing SSA and provided a $100 million boost over FY 2023 levels in the recently passed FY 2024 appropriation. However, SSA remains significantly underwater. A multi-year effort and sustained funding increases will be needed for SSA to restore service to acceptable levels. SSA has a proven track record of producing results when consistently given the resources needed to do the job. For example, dedicated funding provided by Congress for several consecutive years has helped SSA reduce delays in disability benefit hearing appeals. Social Security is essential to American families. We urge you to support the highest amount possible, no less than President Biden's funding request for SSA in FY 2025, so Americans can receive the benefits they are counting on.###
Issues:Seniors