[Nfbf-l] leadership] Act Now! Tell Congress to Fully Fund Social Security’s Operating Budget] [1 Attachment]

[Patricia A. Lipovsky]

Act Now! Tell Congress to Fully Fund Social Security’s Operating Budget

Just think about it: 575 days in limbo, struggling to pay bills, the
stress mounting on your shoulders. 575 days of uncertainty, while basic
needs go unmet. 575 days is far too long for our Social Security
Administration to leave people’s lives in jeopardy. But that’s the
alarming reality. Today, a record one million Americans are waiting over
575 days on average for a hearing on their Social Security and
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disability claims. These historic
delays can be devastating. While waiting, many people struggle to pay
their rent or mortgage, to cover their medical bills, and to put food on
the table. Some lose their housing, and some even die. Today’s backlog
exists because Social Security’s operating budget has been cut by over 10
percent since 2010, while workloads have increased as the baby boomers
age. In fact, Social Security has been forced to cut back on services
across the board. Since 2010 Social Security has closed more than 60 field
offices and 500 mobile offices.

Now, Congress is considering even more cuts. A funding bill in the House
of Representatives would cut Social Security’s operating budget by over
$250 million in 2017.

The impact would be even more devastating.

More people with disabilities would wait longer for a hearing on their
Social Security and SSI claims. Under the House bill, the Social Security
Administration would need to close all its offices for two weeks, since
all employees would be furloughed. And a hiring freeze would lead to
longer wait times and delays in all parts of our Social Security
retirement, survivors’, and disability system. The Senate version of the
bill provides slightly more funding, but still fails to address many
critical agency resource needs.

Social Security should be there for us when we need it.

That’s why we need you to contact your Members of Congress and tell them
to fully fund the Social Security Administration.

President Obama has requested (PDF) funding for 2017 that would allow
Social Security to begin reducing the disability claims backlog and to
reduce other agency service delays.

Call your Members of Congress. Tell them:

I urge you to vote to fully fund the Social Security Administration’s
operating budget, at the levels requested in President Obama’s 2017
budget.

Today, over 1 million people with disabilities are waiting over 575 days
on average for a hearing on their Social Security and Supplemental
Security Income disability claims. This is an all-time high. Most people
have little to no income while waiting for a hearing, and run the risk of
financial ruin and worsening health the longer they wait.

Social Security’s operating budget has been reduced by 10 percent from
2010 levels. Any further cuts will lead to even longer, more devastating
waits and reduced service to the public.

Americans cannot afford a Social Security Administration that is
underfunded and understaffed.

Please ensure that Social Security’s operating budget is fully funded for
2017 at levels the President has requested.

Ardis Bazyn

Make the Impossible Possible"

For inspirational speaking, business coaching, or books:
http://www.bazyncommunications.com <http://mandrillapp.com/track/click/30489975/www.bazyncommunications.com?p=eyJzIjoiMGxjdEdHdVhhNHc2d2hZVjFBM1pEX1JsQmdjIiwidiI6MSwicCI6IntcInVcIjozMDQ4OTk3NSxcInZcIjoxLFwidXJsXCI6XCJodHRwOlxcXC9cXFwvd3d3LmJhenluY29tbXVuaWNhdGlvbnMuY29tXCIsXCJpZFwiOlwiZmVjYjQ2NjI3MDk2NDQwOWFhZDYxY2U0ZDgyMDZjMmFcIixcInVybF9pZHNcIjpbXCIyNDI3MjY4NWI3ZTkxMDJmY2RmMWFiNTNiM2M4MmZhMDMzOTFhOTg5XCJdfSJ9> 

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://nfbnet.org/pipermail/nfbf-l_nfbnet.org/attachments/20160906/849c0b74/attachment.html>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://nfbnet.org/pipermail/nfbf-l_nfbnet.org/attachments/20160906/849c0b74/attachment.htm>