26 votes
Federal workers don't need, expect, or even deserve, bonuses. Bonus money is spread around like candy and offices are obliged to spend it. The bonuses are not that significant and it will not affect morale if the bonuses aren't there. Believe me. If someone gets "an attitude" over stopping bonuses, that someone would probably be frowned upon, particularly during these fiscal times.
22 votes
Need to get a hold on Inmates Social Security Numbers while Prisoners are in Jail we need the Prisons cooperating with us on a regular basis like a monthly report updated and run these numbers we possibly save millions of dollars going out the door.
18 votes
Have permission to take off without pay for non-essential workers. Obviously, military personnel are essential. Give the paperpushers days off if they want.
Camden NJ has mandated 22 days furloughed a year until they get their budget under control.
Save money.
10 votes
If you do not come to work during the furlough, you DO NOT get paid. period. SSA payment center , one of the seven in the country, have been told to come in to work regardless of a furlough. In the past, everyone got paid EVEN if you did not come to work. SO, The TOP SALARIED people under the Regional Commisionner have been told NOT to come in. I say DO NOT PAY ANYONE (except emergency or scheduled) if they ...more »
If you do not come to work during the furlough, you DO NOT get paid. period.
SSA payment center , one of the seven in the country, have been told to come in to work regardless of a furlough. In the past, everyone got paid EVEN if you did not come to work.
SO,
The TOP SALARIED people under the Regional Commisionner have been told NOT to come in.
I say DO NOT PAY ANYONE (except emergency or scheduled) if they do not come to work - save money.
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38 votes
http://www.hud.gov/complaints/fraud_waste.cfm -section 8 and low income housing encourages dependency and complacent behavior. Why work when you can get a house for practically free and keep collecting entitlements. ILLLEGAL squatting and unauthrized people live with a legal tenet often and this is a criminal offense since changes in family size and income are required to be reported. the section 8 system and low income ...more »
http://www.hud.gov/complaints/fraud_waste.cfm -section 8 and low income housing encourages dependency and complacent behavior. Why work when you can get a house for practically free and keep collecting entitlements. ILLLEGAL squatting and unauthrized people live with a legal tenet often and this is a criminal offense since changes in family size and income are required to be reported. the section 8 system and low income housing system is a complete failure which has drained the US economy of trillions of dollars and maintained tenets in social and financial bondage. there is no incentive to leave section 8 or low income housing. why work or attend college when you can get housing for free or low cost. This encouranges drug abuse and out of wedlock births and tenet abuse by housing squatters and unauthorized people living in the units. section 8 and low income housing also reduce local taxpayers home values and create blighted neighborhoods with loud music and cars with dark windows and dirty messy yards often with dirt as a yard.. SECTION 8 and LOW INCOME HOUSING TENETS NEED TIME LIMITS of 1 to 3 years then they must be evicted from the units since they are living on free enititlements and have no incentive to Raise themselves out of the free benefits. WAKE UP AMERICA! WE ARE TRILLIONS IN DEBT and giving away FREE BENEFITS . remember that all secion 8 and low income housing authoritys are TAX FREE and you pay the costs of educating the people and their rents are susidized and food and insurance are subsidized and paid for. its like the midlle and upper class is paying triple to live, we all have to pay for everyone else.. its not fair..http://www.hud.gov/complaints/fraud_waste.cfm
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15 votes
I like most ideas on this website. I think that most ideas have come from somebody who is trying to do a great job at what they do. It has become so difficult to navigate through that, I have decided to take 15 minutes out of my day to dedicate to this at home on my own time. I believe that the top 25 contributors and top 25 idea submitters should be invited to bring their heads together and discuss what is really ...more »
I like most ideas on this website. I think that most ideas have come from somebody who is trying to do a great job at what they do.
It has become so difficult to navigate through that, I have decided to take 15 minutes out of my day to dedicate to this at home on my own time.
I believe that the top 25 contributors and top 25 idea submitters should be invited to bring their heads together and discuss what is really important to their agency and to the federal government as a whole.
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7 votes
If a Representative Payee has more than one beneficiary (usually parents of multiple disabled children) send one combined payment. Examine Rep Payee accounting forms more critically & require some PROOF of how the money was spent. Terminate SSI payments to families where able-bodied adults refuse to seek gainful employment or participate in vocational programs. Terminate SSI payments to families who use the children's ...more »
If a Representative Payee has more than one beneficiary (usually parents of multiple disabled children) send one combined payment.
Examine Rep Payee accounting forms more critically & require some PROOF of how the money was spent.
Terminate SSI payments to families where able-bodied adults refuse to seek gainful employment or participate in vocational programs.
Terminate SSI payments to families who use the children's money for the adult's household expenses.
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29 votes
I heard a story recently, regarding some immigrants. They have been here about 10 years, retired and are now drawing social security.........and getting food stamps. How is it that the tax payers have to bear the burden for this, when the sponsors of immigrants have to declare that they (the sponsors) have the means to support them so they don't become a burden to the tax payers. ICE needs to work more closely with ...more »
I heard a story recently, regarding some immigrants. They have been here about 10 years, retired and are now drawing social security.........and getting food stamps. How is it that the tax payers have to bear the burden for this, when the sponsors of immigrants have to declare that they (the sponsors) have the means to support them so they don't become a burden to the tax payers. ICE needs to work more closely with the Agriculture to root out abuses like this. One solution, might be to require that the sponsors, put up a bond or agree to a lien against their house, if they have one, but too many are getting a free ride at the expense of the rest of us.
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9 votes
Recommend setting up for VA, SSA disability and SSIDI claims on the Internet websites medical forms that are tailored to deal with disorders where leading questions help generate informative responses. Some mental disorders or physical disoders like recent strokes, some seizures and many mental disorders that cause memory loss or confusion would result in more accurate determinations if memory joggers were in place for ...more »
Recommend setting up for VA, SSA disability and SSIDI claims on the Internet websites medical forms that are tailored to deal with disorders where leading questions help generate informative responses. Some mental disorders or physical disoders like recent strokes, some seizures and many mental disorders that cause memory loss or confusion would result in more accurate determinations if memory joggers were in place for the claimants. Charts, including biological graphs or listing of extremities and major alliments could be helpful in making sure we know about all major medical issues facing the claimants. Let's get the right answer the first time, not three down the roar, after thousands of dollars and dozens of hours have been spent on appeal paperwork.
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7 votes
Most hospitals now have electronic records. If patients sign written permission slips, as is commonly done, see if VA hospitals and clinics can share information on line with SSA when we have a SSA and/or SSI claimant file for disabiltity. This saves on paperwork. VA might also have shared access to SSA files for disability determination purposes.
7 votes
Have disability claimants sign release for VA and SSA to obtain doctor’s instructions to emergency rooms. I know in my case, there is a standard order for an EKG and various blood tests to be run and a list of my life threatening conditions are shown on the local hospital records. This type of information can be helpful when someone is filing for benefits, especially if they suffered from a stroke or have a mental illness. ...more »
Have disability claimants sign release for VA and SSA to obtain doctor’s instructions to emergency rooms. I know in my case, there is a standard order for an EKG and various blood tests to be run and a list of my life threatening conditions are shown on the local hospital records. This type of information can be helpful when someone is filing for benefits, especially if they suffered from a stroke or have a mental illness. I know from past experience, when someone suffers a seizure, it is extremely difficult to remember everything that is wrong with your health.
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27 votes
Next year, we would like to see how all of these ideas make a difference, otherwise it is a waste of time and government resources. At least provide a "Top 20" examples on how the ideas on improving operations, saving resources, or of the reports on fraud waste and abuse, addressed or helped improve government.
14 votes
When the federal government is forced to furlough federal employees because of lack of funding, each employee either goes home and is essentially laid off, while the other federal employees are actually considered useful and necessary and simply continue to work, regardless of the fact that they are not going to get paid. I can understand why when all is said and done, the people who are required to work during a furlough ...more »
When the federal government is forced to furlough federal employees because of lack of funding, each employee either goes home and is essentially laid off, while the other federal employees are actually considered useful and necessary and simply continue to work, regardless of the fact that they are not going to get paid. I can understand why when all is said and done, the people who are required to work during a furlough eventually get paid backpay, but why do they pay the people that stay home? Doesn't that defeat the purpose? If you furlough federal workers, don't pay the ones that don't work! Duh!
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18 votes
You don't need a study for this - many people are obviously eating themselves to the point where they are so fat they can't even walk. Then, I assume, they go on Social Security Disability. Make sure that obesity is not a claimable disability. These people must get off their fat buttocks' and work it off.Also drug addicts shouldn't be able to collect either.
14 votes
Stop sending out annual social security statements via postal mail. Instead, produce and distribute the social security statements electronically. Anyone actively receiving benefits would still receive paper copies. Distribution via email would reduce paper costs, postage, and handling costs. For anyone under the age of 60, make the program "opt out", meaning you would have to specifically state that you want paper ...more »
Stop sending out annual social security statements via postal mail. Instead, produce and distribute the social security statements electronically. Anyone actively receiving benefits would still receive paper copies. Distribution via email would reduce paper costs, postage, and handling costs. For anyone under the age of 60, make the program "opt out", meaning you would have to specifically state that you want paper copies. However, for anyone over the age of 60, make it "opt in", so that those without email addresses would automatically still receive paper copies.
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9 votes
Appears earnings enforements on people receiving disability payments hasnt worked in years. If enforement would pick up like on the records of retired people we could avoid thousands of dollars in overpayments. The computer system needs to be fixed to allow enforcements on each and every individual receiving any type of social security benefits. It appears it does for retirement but not for disability claimants.
9 votes
Phase out the least productive SSA Payment Center in our nation.
It could save an enormous amount of money.
8 votes
Disability claimants get an initial decision. There is no need for DDS to do a reconsideration review. Allow the claimants to go directly to the hearing level. This will save Social Security administrative funds.
71 votes
Mandate that the top 100 ideas at a minimum are forwarded to the involved agency executive for review and comment. There are an extensive amount of valuable ideas here that may not score number one. It would be tremendous waste of effort if those below number one were not reviewed for consideration. We all have an idea or two here, we all put effort into this, what a waste if the ideas were simply deleted. Mandate ...more »
Mandate that the top 100 ideas at a minimum are forwarded to the involved agency executive for review and comment.
There are an extensive amount of valuable ideas here that may not score number one. It would be tremendous waste of effort if those below number one were not reviewed for consideration. We all have an idea or two here, we all put effort into this, what a waste if the ideas were simply deleted.
Mandate that they are reviewed and not thrown out with the trash.
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8 votes
The Soc Sec Disability program could save millions by eliminating the need to do continuing disability reviews (CDRs) when a person has collected disability benefits for 3 years. Few cases involve permanent disability. Let disability benefits lapse after 3 years, unless the recipient can provide medical evidence that he/she continues to be disability. Give the recipient a "date certain," and let them know that they ...more »
The Soc Sec Disability program could save millions by eliminating the need to do continuing disability reviews (CDRs) when a person has collected disability benefits for 3 years. Few cases involve permanent disability. Let disability benefits lapse after 3 years, unless the recipient can provide medical evidence that he/she continues to be disability. Give the recipient a "date certain," and let them know that they are expected to try to improve.
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11 votes
Everyone agrees that Social Security is flawed and needs to be fixed. The options are: increase age requirements, reduce benefits or increase taxes. TSP is recognized nation wide as one of the best retirement programs out there. If all new workers had their Social Security taxes funneled into TSP they would have a sizable annuity after 30 years. Then government could get out of the retirement business. Can you imagine ...more »
Everyone agrees that Social Security is flawed and needs to be fixed. The options are: increase age requirements, reduce benefits or increase taxes. TSP is recognized nation wide as one of the best retirement programs out there. If all new workers had their Social Security taxes funneled into TSP they would have a sizable annuity after 30 years. Then government could get out of the retirement business. Can you imagine how much we would save by closing down the Department of Social Security?
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18 votes
If an individual has to move to a different location because of a spouse's job or due to military service change of stations, caring for a sick family member, etc. Why not make it an option for that individual to be able to be considered by other federal agencies? This would open up a lot of new posibilities!
49 votes
Many jobs are very much the same between one agency and another. By making the option to have job rotations with other agencies, employees would be able to get new experiences, remain positive and look forward to change, and carry forth/share knowledge that can help other agencies. As an example, HR offices have very similar duties through the government offices, they could be the first to be able to have an exchange ...more »
Many jobs are very much the same between one agency and another. By making the option to have job rotations with other agencies, employees would be able to get new experiences, remain positive and look forward to change, and carry forth/share knowledge that can help other agencies. As an example, HR offices have very similar duties through the government offices, they could be the first to be able to have an exchange rotation (1 for 1), in Operations SSA could exchange employees with the IRS or other agency that has operational work.
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13 votes
Social Security should be means tested for income. One should be able to withdraw all that has been deposited, over the course of however many months, and then folliowing that--usually it teakes less than 2 years to recover all that has been put in--following that, there should be a means-structure. Super-rich people--the ones who oppose paying their fair share, should not be collecting social security on the backs of ...more »
Social Security should be means tested for income.
One should be able to withdraw all that has been deposited, over the course of however many months, and then folliowing that--usually it teakes less than 2 years to recover all that has been put in--following that, there should be a means-structure. Super-rich people--the ones who oppose paying their fair share, should not be collecting social security on the backs of younger workers. Social Security should be a baseline payment, as it was intended to be. Magazine articles have touted the idea that one can "payback" all the social security money received by an individual and then the person can reapply for benefits at a much higher rate. This is scamming the system. One hears commentators say that he or she "gives social security to charity", and sounds proud of it.
Give it to the Treasury and the American people---Give It Back.
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5 votes
Money can be saved by allowing the DQB to make minor changes on decisions that do not change the determination rather than returning them to the DDS for changes. These minor changes require many hours of time that could be saved the already over worked DDS and DQB staff.
