"The report - by researchers from California State University, Sacramento; University of Wisconsin-Madison; and State University of New York, Binghamton - echoes Axios' own conversations with others who do this work. Catch up quick: The Trump administration has pushed out staff, updated phone systems and tweaked policy at the SSA. The agency oversees retirement and disability benefits, as well as Supplemental Security Income, or SSI, which provides monthly cash payments to those who are poor and unable to work."
"Friction point: The situation is nuanced. The agency has had improvements this year - most notably a declining backlog of disability claims - something the White House has trumpeted and advocates don't dispute. And the retirement benefits that more than 50 million Americans receive have not been adversely affected by the changes. But for those for whom internet access is challenging and who need high-touch customer service from the agency, the situation has worsened, advocates say."
"Beneficiaries and their advocates point to problems with agency field offices, where they're now told to keep appointments short. Often, there's not enough time to resolve problems. "Every time I went to the appointment, they said it's only for 10 minutes," says F. Johnson in Philadelphia, who was trying to get SSI benefits restored for her 19-year-old disabled grandson after they'd been cut off without warning."
The Social Security Administration implemented staff changes, phone-system updates, and policy adjustments. The agency manages retirement, disability, and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Disability claim backlog has declined this year, and retirement benefits for over 50 million Americans remain unaffected. Individuals with limited internet access and those requiring high-touch, in-person help face increased barriers. Field offices are instructing short appointments, often insufficient to resolve complex problems. Phone-system changes have made calling field offices more difficult and can route lawyers to unfamiliar locations. SSI recipients are particularly vulnerable to benefit disruptions and trouble navigating restorations without legal help.
#social-security-administration #supplemental-security-income-ssi #disability-claims-backlog #access-to-benefits
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