Social Security to start cashing Uncle Sam's IOUs

[classicman]

I noticed all the different numbers also. Why would they do that?
CBS is usually more accurate than that.

[BigV]

Originally Posted by Happy Monkey

Amusingly, that is almost identical to the value of the bales of cash we lost track of in Iraq, according to a show I heard on NPR on my way home tonight.

For the record, that was six billion of Iraq's dollars--not "our" money we were giving to them. It was their money from the start, deposited directly in the Fed Bank in NY as a function of the rules of the Oil for Food program from years earlier. It worked so well that they continued it for years.

[Fair&Balanced]

Originally Posted by classicman

Bump...


Read more:

Isn't that nice - In comparison, however, that is a mere drop in the bucket compared to the wars we are fighting.

Its also more than offset by the $7+ billion/year paid into Social Security by illegal immigrants who will never see a penny of the funds they contributed.

[classicman]

And yet it is still extremely wasteful and in times like these unaffordable. All of it.
I, for one, would like to see what we could do to increase the efficiency of the systems before we cut services to the needy.

[Spexxvet]

Originally Posted by classicman

Bump...
Isn't that nice - In comparison, however, that is a mere drop in the bucket compared to the wars we are fighting.

How much were the overpayments yearly, since the beginning of the program? Was 2009 typical or atypical?

[Fair&Balanced]

Originally Posted by classicman

And yet it is still extremely wasteful and in times like these unaffordable. All of it.
I, for one, would like to see what we could do to increase the efficiency of the systems before we cut services to the needy.

Part of the problem is that the Social Security Administration has been understaffed for years and, again, the Republican budget proposal would cut staffing even more.

DeLauro said the Social Security Administration is already understaffed. If the cuts the Republican majority in the House is proposing are approved, there will be at least 2,500 fewer of the agency’s workers serving the public and about 1,000 fewer of the its employees at the state level processing disability benefits, she said.

http://www.ctpostchronicle.com/artic...d394149897.txt

Cuts like these can be counter-productive. Sometimes you have to spend money to save money.

[classicman]

Originally Posted by BigV

For the record, that was six billion of Iraq's dollars--not "our" money we were giving to them.

But ... we are apparently responsible for it. If the money is not accounted for,
we apparently will have to pay them with "our money."

under a 2004 legal agreement, Washington is responsible for the missing funds.

Iraq's chief auditor and president of the Iraqi Board of Supreme Audit has warned Washington that Baghdad will sue if necessary to recoup the money.

Bowen said the U.S. needs Iraq's assistance to obtain the bank data regarding the disbursal of the funds so that his office can close the books on jurisdiction over DFI by the end of the summer since it's been years since the U.S. has had control over it.

"We're going to account for it as best we can," he said.

Read more:

[SamIam]

Originally Posted by Fair&Balanced

Part of the problem is that the Social Security Administration has been understaffed for years and, again, the Republican budget proposal would cut staffing even more...

Cuts like these can be counter-productive. Sometimes you have to spend money to save money.

In my experience, it's all but impossible to get in touch with social security. It's all machines. When you do actually reach a human being, they don't know what they're talking about. I have been trying without success for more than 2 years to get my address updated with SS. If they can't even deal with a change of address, they sure as hell can't deal with anything more complicated like figuring out correct payments.

The program where they are having the most problems is SSI - supplemental insurance to low income elderly and disabled. This program has so many rules, it's next to impossible to figure them out. Also, some rules are so petty that people just ignore them. For example, if a person on SSI receives a gift of $25 or more, they are supposed to report it and their next check will be docked accordingly. Since, SSI payments are only around $670.00/month, most people are going to ignore the rule and not report the $50.00 Mom sent at Christmas time. Even those who want to report it can't reach anyone to report to. The system is a mess.

[infinite monkey]

Understaffed. Underpaid. Yelled at and complained to all day. Admonished and stalked by the 'department' over those little rules the public doesn't like any more than the employees do. Typically, people think it's okee-dokee to be mean to public servants, their job is so cushy and all. Like the BMV. So the staff that IS there is likely so burnt out they can't see straight.

The 'machines' have it made.

I must talk to my uncle, he worked for the SS office until he retired. Now he is loving working at the Garden Center. I can see his point.

[Fair&Balanced]

I have no direct experience with the Social Security Administration; I dont doubt the frustrations that many have with the bureaucracy.

I dont think it will be improved, either in terms of customer relations or eliminating waste or fraud, by cutting staff or cutting training or cutting technology investments.

[Fair&Balanced]

Originally Posted by classicman

But ... we are apparently responsible for it. If the money is not accounted for,
we apparently will have to pay them with "our money."

Iraq claims the agreement holds the US responsible but Iraq wont be the one to make that determination.

[classicman]

Originally Posted by SamIam

The program where they are having the most problems is SSI - supplemental insurance to low income elderly and disabled. This program has so many rules, it's next to impossible to figure them out. Also, some rules are so petty that people just ignore them. For example, if a person on SSI receives a gift of $25 or more, they are supposed to report it and their next check will be docked accordingly. Since, SSI payments are only around $670.00/month, most people are going to ignore the rule and not report the $50.00 Mom sent at Christmas time. Even those who want to report it can't reach anyone to report to. The system is a mess.

I tried for over a month by phone - every day 6+ times a day. Forget it.


You must go to the office at least 1 hour prior to the opening and sit there, hopefully armed. When the doors open, you get in and wait... and wait... and wait...
When your turn comes up, you better have all your documentation ready in triplicate. Offer no more info than the bare minimum. They cannot handle anything more than the antiquated program they are using. You must resist trying to "tell the whole story" or adding information, no matter how pertinent. They simply have a box to check off. Once you get them off that track, their head will spin off. The level of comprehension couldn't be any lower.

[classicman]

Originally Posted by Fair&Balanced

Iraq claims the agreement holds the US responsible but Iraq wont be the one to make that determination.

I was looking for more info on that ... The reporting got interrupted by some dick.

How exactly would that determination be made? Is there some world court or what?

[Fair&Balanced]

Originally Posted by classicman

I was looking for more info on that ... The reporting got interrupted by some dick.

How exactly would that determination be made? Is there some world court or what?

That I dont know.

I do know the SIGIR is investigating the involvement of Americans in any theft, fraud, bribery, etc. and potentially recovery $hundreds of millions.

http://www.sigir.mil/directorates/in...ons/index.html

The US cant prosecute Iraqis but we could certainly demand that the Iraq government do the same with due diligence before any discussion of any repayment.

[glatt]

Originally Posted by classicman

You must go to the office at least 1 hour prior the opening and sit there, hopefully armed. When the doors open, you get in

I assume you are talking about competing with the other determined customers for that first slot in line, and not talking about needing to be armed to deal with the overworked staff. Right?