I noticed all the different numbers also. Why would they do that?
CBS is usually more accurate than that.

For the record, that was six billion of Iraq's dollars--not "our" money we were giving to them. It was their money from the start, deposited directly in the Fed Bank in NY as a function of the rules of the Oil for Food program from years earlier. It worked so well that they continued it for years.

Its also more than offset by the $7+ billion/year paid into Social Security by illegal immigrants who will never see a penny of the funds they contributed.

And yet it is still extremely wasteful and in times like these unaffordable. All of it.
I, for one, would like to see what we could do to increase the efficiency of the systems before we cut services to the needy.

How much were the overpayments yearly, since the beginning of the program? Was 2009 typical or atypical?

Part of the problem is that the Social Security Administration has been understaffed for years and, again, the Republican budget proposal would cut staffing even more.

Cuts like these can be counter-productive. Sometimes you have to spend money to save money.

But ... we are apparently responsible for it. If the money is not accounted for,
we apparently will have to pay them with "our money."
Read more:

In my experience, it's all but impossible to get in touch with social security. It's all machines. When you do actually reach a human being, they don't know what they're talking about. I have been trying without success for more than 2 years to get my address updated with SS. If they can't even deal with a change of address, they sure as hell can't deal with anything more complicated like figuring out correct payments.

The program where they are having the most problems is SSI - supplemental insurance to low income elderly and disabled. This program has so many rules, it's next to impossible to figure them out. Also, some rules are so petty that people just ignore them. For example, if a person on SSI receives a gift of $25 or more, they are supposed to report it and their next check will be docked accordingly. Since, SSI payments are only around $670.00/month, most people are going to ignore the rule and not report the $50.00 Mom sent at Christmas time. Even those who want to report it can't reach anyone to report to. The system is a mess.

Understaffed. Underpaid. Yelled at and complained to all day. Admonished and stalked by the 'department' over those little rules the public doesn't like any more than the employees do. Typically, people think it's okee-dokee to be mean to public servants, their job is so cushy and all. Like the BMV. So the staff that IS there is likely so burnt out they can't see straight.

The 'machines' have it made.

I must talk to my uncle, he worked for the SS office until he retired. Now he is loving working at the Garden Center. I can see his point.

I have no direct experience with the Social Security Administration; I dont doubt the frustrations that many have with the bureaucracy.

I dont think it will be improved, either in terms of customer relations or eliminating waste or fraud, by cutting staff or cutting training or cutting technology investments.

Iraq claims the agreement holds the US responsible but Iraq wont be the one to make that determination.

I tried for over a month by phone - every day 6+ times a day. Forget it.

:rant:
You must go to the office at least 1 hour prior to the opening and sit there, hopefully armed. When the doors open, you get in and wait... and wait... and wait...
When your turn comes up, you better have all your documentation ready in triplicate. Offer no more info than the bare minimum. They cannot handle anything more than the antiquated program they are using. You must resist trying to "tell the whole story" or adding information, no matter how pertinent. They simply have a box to check off. Once you get them off that track, their head will spin off. The level of comprehension couldn't be any lower.

I was looking for more info on that ... The reporting got interrupted by some dick. :rolleyes:

How exactly would that determination be made? Is there some world court or what?

That I dont know.

I do know the SIGIR is investigating the involvement of Americans in any theft, fraud, bribery, etc. and potentially recovery $hundreds of millions.

http://www.sigir.mil/directorates/in...ons/index.html

The US cant prosecute Iraqis but we could certainly demand that the Iraq government do the same with due diligence before any discussion of any repayment.

I assume you are talking about competing with the other determined customers for that first slot in line, and not talking about needing to be armed to deal with the overworked staff. Right?

Actually I was referring to the area I sat OUTSIDE waiting for the doors to open.

I do not think they will let you into the building armed, and honestly the temptation for some to put a few of those idiots out of their misery would probably be too great.
I caught on quick and did things their way. I had the luck of listening to a few people try in vain to explain the reality of their situation while waiting. :headshake

Smart. Working within the system is always more productive that trying to get it to change for you.

Threatening employees, no matter how roundabout, is not, however, very fucking smart.

WTF are YOU babbling on about infi? I threatened NO ONE.
Please keep your paranoia to yourself.


This message has not been deleted by classicman. Reason: wishing you ill does help my blood pressure, fuckface

The social security offices I have visited actually keep their employees behind bullet proof glass. The office in Colorado Springs comes complete with an armed guard, as well. When I had the occasion to visit the offices of the regional district for disability determination hearings, everyone was behind the bullet proof glass, complete with guard there, as well.

I doubt if they're worried about Classic, though. There are quite a few folks who have to apply for SSI/DI due to mental conditions like paranoid schizophrenia, psychosis, etc. If they're not on their meds - and often they're not because they don't have access to health care - they can be very spooky.

I have watched people who I sat beside, waiting for hours to be called - and you don't dare leave for a break because if they call your number when you're gone, you have to take a new number and start all over again. Then you get up to the window and you don't have form GVT666 which no one had ever mentioned the existence of until now - back to the old drawing board. The employees at those windows take a lot of abuse which actually the local Congressman should be getting since Congress is responsible for this mess.

Another lovely rule social security has about disability hearings is that yours can be expedited if you threaten to harm anyone who works for social security. So, go to the window, scream at the clerk and make violent threats, and you are rewarded for this behavior by having your case jumped to the head of the line, saving you a wait of a year or more. Brilliant rule, that. :eek:

Saving Social Security
from the WSJ ...
Interactive tool...
Click here to try

ok, kind of a long series here and not really about SSI. Anyhow.

Shit, man. If I'm delivering a shrink wrapped pallet of hundred dollar bills, you can be assured I'm gonna get a signature or two on my delivery receipt. I'm no auditor, I am pathologically ill suited for such work. So, I trust auditors instead. There has got to be a way to find out where the money was LAST SEEN.

I used to borrow my Dad's tools. This was a big deal, he kept his tools locked up. I loved working with his tools on my bike, my skateboard, whatever. Once, my friends and I were all working on our bikes and I let my friend use one of the tools. It went missing. Long story short, my Dad was uninterested in my story. He entrusted *ME* with the tool, therefore *I* was responsible for it. For returning it or replacing it. If that meant getting it from my friend, fine. Getting a new one from the store, fine. He gave it to me, he gets it back from me. Preeeetty simple. I don't see how this doesn't apply here too.

In order for SS to know they overpaid money, wouldn't they have to know who it was paid to? Take it back... duh.

yebbut ...with their inefficiency - it'd probably cost 3x that to even try to get it back.

Mildly related - I had to fight really hard to get my tax refund. All scratchy and bitey and pulling hair and all that.

Well, okay - no.
But it took more phone calls than I can list and telling the same story over and over and over again. And assuring the people on the Benefits Helpline that NO I had not received it automatically, but NO that did not mean I was not entitled to it.

In fact I've had to argue for most of the money I've received from the Government. At my first interview at the Job Centre I was advised I might not be eligible for Unemployment Benefit, because I had not worked long enough. 20 years?! She took that comment back and had a proper look at my details then.

Infi Mo, I have every sympathy for your position. I have always been courteous to staff and have tried to accept that they do not make the rules. I took chocs into the Job Centre when I signed off, because although they had nothing to do with me finding work, they were all decent people and they were doing their best.

Some don't though. Woolwich Council losing the copies of my paperwork and sending me threatening letters for example. So I had to wait for 2 hours to get them authorised again. And yet a letter dated TWO WEEKS after I got the second copy authorised was still sent out telling me all my benefits would be cancelled as I had failed to respond.

My DSA being cancelled with 3 days notice because of a decision made months ago. So I had to scrabble around to meet my bills and stop my Direct Debits so that I did not incur fines, and talk to the companies I was paying so they did not take me to court (they were Court agreed payments).

But then I've been at the mercy of my bank too. And public transport. And the NHS. Public servants are people. And people can be good or bad depending on the environment they work in.

It takes a lot for me to blame the staff. If they are polite and apologetic (when I've obviously been put out by something not my fault) then I am the epitome of understanding. Just watch out lazy barstaff or rude waiting staff. I WILL put a rocket up your arses, because I know exactly what you should be doing, and that good service is actually easier than bad service.

If Congress Does Nothing, The Deficit Will Disappear
 

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/images/...ternative1.jpg

link
Hmmm - so whats all the hub bub about?

Interesting. But you know each side has their bevy of economic experts, all who disagree with each other.

Unfortunately, the Republicans are threatening to withhold voting on the new debt ceiling unless the tax cuts are extended. Otherwise, I think both sides would be happy to let things run ahead.

Because there will always be something the Republicans can hold hostage to keep the Bush tax cuts from expiring.

What is there to hold hostage if there is no problem as the D's are saying?

increasing the debt limit.

The Dems aren't exactly correct that things are OK now. The debt limit needs to go up, or apparently the shit really hits the fan.

Or anything else that needs to pass. The budget, military appropriations, whatever.It isn't the Democrats saying everything's OK. This is the CBO saying that if the Bush tax cuts expire, and we allow the Medicare payments to doctors to drop to their statutory level, rather than the annual delay of that drop, then the deficit is fine.

The reason The Dems aren't saying everything is fine is because the chances of Congress doing nothing on those issues is low. Republicans won't let the Bush tax cuts expire, and Democrats won't let the docter fixes expire.

So, the one time you want congress to do nothing ... :right:

Oh hush, furriner. ;)