It can be easy to think that your vote does not matter. If you need any extra motivation to vote this year, however, consider the affect the outcome in the fall will have on Social Security. There are genuine differences in the way Republicans and Democrats approach funding Social Security. The biggest difference is that Republicans do not want to spend the money to allow Social Security to perform its duties. You may not believe me when I say this. But officials at Social Security itself are out with some dire warnings.
Republican Funding Proposals Will Mean Much Longer Delays
According to SSA, if Congress funds Social Security at the level that House Republicans want, bad things will follow. These include not hiring any new employees. Those employees that remain at the agency would face a mandatory two-week unpaid furlough from work. During this furlough, all the Social Security offices would be closed. The result of these closed offices is not hard to imagine. The already unconscionable delays in getting services from Social Security would dramatically increase. At present, people have to wait at least 20 months to get their disability hearings. With all Social Security offices closed for two weeks, you might look at many more months wait to get a hearing.
Keep in mind that Social Security is already struggling. Since 2002, Social Security has closed more than 60 field offices. These are the places that take in and then work up applications for disability (as well as retirement and other benefits.) At present, it can take up to three weeks just to get an appointment to see someone at Social Security. Prefer to call them? Have your copy of War and Peace handy because you are going to be on hold a very long time.
Register To Vote Now
If you are planning to vote, keep this issue in mind as you decide whom to support. If you are not planning to vote, rethink that strategy. Register right now so you can have a say in how your government is run. If you do stay home in November, please do not complain about how slow Social Security is moving. You have a chance to make things better. All it takes is voting.
Do your part.
