{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-calls-for-reversing-social-security-cuts-to-improve-deteriorating-customer-service", "Sanders Calls for Reversing Social Security Cuts to Improve Deteriorating Customer Service", "2017-10-31", "2017", "2017-10", "Independent", "House", "VT", "Bernard Sanders", "S000033", "www.sanders.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Sanders Calls for Reversing Social Security Cuts to Improve Deteriorating Customer Service\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tTuesday, October 31, 2017\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\tBURLINGTON, Vt., Oct. 31 \u2013 U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on Tuesday called on Congress to reverse deep budget cuts that have left Social Security Administration offices understaffed and unable to keep up with growing caseloads.\r\nIn\u00a0a letter\u00a0to U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), who chairs the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Sanders said, \u201cSocial Security is one of the most successful government programs in our nation\u2019s history, and we must not undermine it by underfunding routine operations.\u201d\r\nSanders said his office has heard from many Vermonters who have expressed frustration that claims, appeals and even routine inquiries are taking longer to process, sometimes causing significant financial hardship. \u201cThe constituent caseworkers in my Vermont district office are receiving an increasing number of Social Security related cases, and many involve concerns about client service. One Vermonter was on hold for 80 minutes with a local field office, and disconnected several times, before getting through to a live person. Others have had to wait many months for the agency to correct relatively simple payment issues,\u201d Sanders wrote.\r\nSince 2010, Congress has cut Social Security\u2019s operating budget by 16 percent in inflated-adjusted dollars. Senate Republicans want to cut it by another 4 percent next year.\u00a0 Nationally, these budget cuts have resulted in the loss of more than 10,000 employees, the closing of 64 field offices and reduced hours in many others.\u00a0 In Vermont, one field office has seen staffing fall by almost 30 percent.\u00a0\r\nOver the same period, Sanders wrote, \u201cthe number of people receiving old age and survivors benefits increased by 17 percent, and disability insurance beneficiaries increased by 5 percent.\u201d\u00a0\r\n\u201cThe simple fact is that fewer staff are being asked to do more work, and this is having a serious impact on worker morale and customer service,\u201d Sanders wrote.\u00a0\u00a0\r\nNationally, it is taking much longer for people to get routine appointments at Social Security field offices. It is also harder to get through to SSA\u2019s toll-free hotline, and nearly half of all callers last year hung-up before connecting because they were on hold for so long. It is also taking longer to make decisions on applications for disability benefits.\u00a0\r\nSanders said the amount requested for Social Security operational funding would \u201cbring staffing back up to a level needed to provide adequate customer service for the tens of millions of Americans who routinely communicate with and depend on the agency.\u201d\r\nThese funds support core administrative activities including processing retirement and disability claims, conducting\u00a0 hearings to review disability determination appeals, issuing Social\u00a0 Security numbers and cards and processing individuals\u2019 annual earnings information.\r\nTo read Sanders\u2019 letter,\u00a0click here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-calls-for-reversing-social-security-cuts-to-improve-deteriorating-customer-service"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.552595291286707, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}