Social Security Administration issues grim warning about payment delays as agency faces ‘funding freeze’ & ’50-year low’

The administration has warned that painful political infighting may cause SOCIAL Security users to miss their payments.

The Social Security Administration is pleading for funding to keep vital staff, but some politicians are refusing to provide it.

Spending on Social Security, which last year accounted for a staggering 21% of the federal government’s yearly budget at $1.4 trillion, has Congress in a rage.

In September, Republican lawmakers blocked an increase in SSA spending because they are determined to prevent the federal deficit from growing.

Party members are still unable to agree on how to proceed, and the department’s recruiting was put on hold as a result.

Now, with staffing at a 50-year low, Social Security officials caution lawmakers that recipients may face severe repercussions in the coming year.

“If SSA does not receive increased appropriation through March, over 2,000 additional employees will be lost through attrition in the next three months, including experienced staff,” the Social Security Administration informed The Hill.

“Customer service will decline as wait times in our field offices and on the 800 number increase, backlogs grow, and customers experience further delays in waiting for their claims to be processed.”

Despite losing money, the SSA hailed higher production this past year.

But if people are laid off in the new year, the administration stated this will come to a crashing halt.

“The Social Security Administration was forced to institute a hiring freeze on November 21,” according to a spokeswoman.

“Many of the gains we’ve experienced will be lost under continued flat funding.”

Before they spend more money, Republicans want evidence that everyone is contributing.

Since senators discovered that just 39% of SSA officials in Washington report to the office at least three days a week, they have been at odds with the department over remote work.

Others argue that the SSA should maximize its current resources because it has received a lot of financing.

A Republican aide told The Hill, “They have the resources and should responsibly use the increase they’ve already been given.”

PAY DAY

Retirees, those with disabilities, and families that have lost a spouse or parent all receive Social Security checks.

There are just three more opportunities for beneficiaries to get cheques in December.

This is due to the fact that payments are disbursed according to a schedule that is based on the birthday of the beneficiary.

Social Security benefits are paid on the second Wednesday of the month to Americans whose birthdays fall between the first and the tenth of the month in which they were born.

On the third Wednesday of every month, recipients who were born between the eleventh and the twentieth are paid.

The fourth Wednesday of the month is when Social Security payments are made to people whose birthdays fall between the 21st and the 31st of the month in which they were born.

According to a Social Security expert previously interviewed by the U.S. Sun, you can make an additional $26,000 per year by deferring benefits.