Social Security Commissioner Martin O’Malley has called on Congress to address critical issues facing the Social Security Administration (SSA) or face backlash from voters. Millions of Americans depend on Social Security each month, but the program faces a funding crisis and severe understaffing. The latest Trustees report indicates that the SSA could run out of money to make full payments by 2033.
As more Americans worry about their future retirements, O’Malley has highlighted another pressing concern: the SSA’s staffing levels. “The Social Security Administration has been chronically underfunded. Our staffing is continuing to decline while the number of beneficiaries we serve keeps growing.
We are serving more people than ever with the lowest staffing level in decades,” a spokesperson for the SSA stated. “We need Congress to ensure that Social Security has the necessary funding and staffing to provide the type of service Americans deserve and have paid for.”
O’Malley, who became commissioner in 2023, has been focused on hiring more staff and improving customer service. “My first seven months here, we were in a hiring freeze.
We have fewer staff because of reductions imposed on us by Congress,” O’Malley told The Dallas Morning News this week. “It’s like having more students but fewer teachers. So we really need Congress to act to restore staffing; otherwise, they’re going to end up with more angry constituents upset about wait times and Social Security.”
O’Malley emphasized that the SSA is facing two crises: one of customer service and one of funding.
Urgent call for congressional action
“If we can improve customer service, that will not only save lives, it’ll create more trust in our democracy to address the longer-term strength and health of Social Security.”
While the SSA is not about to go bankrupt, O’Malley warned that without congressional action, the program could face a 17 percent shortfall in payments. However, he stressed that the problem is solvable.
Proposals to bolster the program include taxing higher-income earners more heavily. “Most of the proposals in Congress are some mix of asking higher-end earners to continue to pay into Social Security after a certain point in their earnings,” O’Malley said. The SSA currently employs 55,000 workers, the lowest staffing level in around three decades, despite taking on a record-breaking number of beneficiaries as more Baby Boomers retire.
President Biden’s 2025 budget proposal includes a $1 billion increase for SSA staffing. O’Malley noted that wait times to speak to a Social Security agent have already decreased by more than 20 minutes during his tenure. Experts agree that continued understaffing at the SSA could lead to longer wait times and delays in processing claims.
“These requests for help are only going to grow as more elderly Americans reach retirement age and need assistance with Social Security,” said Alex Beene, a financial literacy instructor at the University of Tennessee at Martin. Michael Ryan, a finance expert, added that “short-sighted” budget cuts are to blame for the staffing crisis. “Congress has asked the SSA to do more with less,” Ryan said.
“This isn’t just about longer wait times; it’s about potentially delaying benefits that millions rely on for basic needs. If this staffing crisis isn’t addressed, we’re likely to see a domino effect, including delays in processing claims and benefit miscalculations.”
As the SSA navigates these challenges, O’Malley remains hopeful that legislative action will provide the necessary support to improve the program’s service and financial health.
- Fool.”Is Social Security Going Broke? Here’s the Truth”.
- Newsweek.”Social Security Head Tells Congress to Make Changes or Face ‘Angry’ Voters”.
- OKDiario.”Americans Face Potential $500 Monthly Cut to Social Security by 2033″.