SSA Commissioner Blasts State Cuts

May 1, 2009

Author: Catherine M. Callery (Kate)| Louise M. Tarantino

A recent New York Times article cites SSA Commissioner Michael J. Astrue as blaming the governors for increasing the delays at Social Security. According to Astrue, furloughs and lay offs of employees at the state Disability Determination Services (DDSs) under contract to SSA, are “illogical.”  Astrue said that “governors are hurting their own states, their own citizens, and increasing the backlog of claims” by furloughing workers who make disability decisions.

According to Patrick P. O’Carroll Jr., the inspector general of the Social Security Administration, California, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts and Oregon have decided to furlough some disability workers, freeze hiring or impose other restrictions. These five states account for 15 percent of all disability cases.  At least ten other states were taking or considering similar actions.

New York Governor David A. Paterson has announced lay-offs of up 8,700 state workers, although he has not indicated whether any will be from the Division of Disability Determinations. A spokesman for the governor has said that Paterson “is aware of the concerns raised by the Social Security Administration and will act carefully.” 

Speaking of “blasts” by the Commissioner, a “Broadcast” issued by Commissioner Astrue to SSA and DDS employees on March 11, 2009, paints a rosier picture of SSA than seen for awhile.  The Broadcast lauds increases in the federal budget to SSA.  In addition to an increase in appropriation, the Commissioner announced the receipt of $500 million over the next eighteen months in stimulus money to process workloads and invest in related information technology.  The economic recovery act also allotted another $500 million to SSA to replace its National Computer Center, as well as $90 million to cover the administrative costs of issuing the $250 stimulus payments, discussed on page three of this newsletter.  The Commissioner also praises President Obama’s 2010 budget, which includes a ten percent increase over SSA’s 2009 appropriation.

Finally, Commissioner Astrue reminds employees to continue laying the groundwork for the anticipated upcoming surge in hiring.  He also emphasizes SSA’s commitment to continue its outstanding record of hiring and promoting persons with disabilities, including reaching out to Wounded Warrior transitional programs and Ticket to Work Beneficiaries. 

For a different prospective on the current state of SSA, see the article on page seven of this newsletter on the GAO’s latest report.