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Neal, Larson, and Davis Call for Social Security Funding Boost to Reduce Wait Times and Backlogs

03/01/18

WASHINGTON, DC –Today, three Ranking Members from the Ways and Means Committee sent a letter to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK) and Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), requesting the Committee provide the Social Security Administration (SSA) with at least an additional $560 million in FY 2018 over total FY 2017 funding.

In their letter, Ways and Means Ranking Members Richard Neal (D-MA), Rep. John Larson (D-CT), and Rep. Danny K. Davis (D-IL) said the funds should be used to reduce hearing backlogs, wait times, and delays throughout SSA.

The members point out that SSA’s operating budget has fallen by 11 percent since 2010, after adjustment for inflation, while the number of beneficiaries has risen by 15 percent.  Because of these cuts, disability waiting times have skyrocketed to unprecedented levels; Americans who call Social Security’s national 800-number to resolve a problem or find out information are unable to get through; and 4 million beneficiaries are caught in a “hidden backlog” at SSA’s payment centers.

Full text of the letter is available HERE.

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