Browse Ideas with tag 'ssa':

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  Utilize the Site

  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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  6 comments for Idea: Utilize the Site

  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  Send these ideas to agency executives for review!

  We take the time as employees to provide feedback on inneficiencies we see at work. We also take our time to tell you about fraud and abuse that may be taking place in our agencies. What is happening to these ideas that we submit? They should be provided to the corresponding agencies for review and action. The executives could obviously benefit tremendously by acting on our ideas on improving government.

  1 comment for Idea: Send these ideas to agency executives for review!

  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  Make Employees Able to Rotate Jobs With Other Agencies!

  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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  1 comment for Idea: Make Employees Able to Rotate Jobs With Other Agencies!

  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  A Trillion Dollar waste - WELFARE,section8 ,low income housing

  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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  5 comments for Idea: A Trillion Dollar waste - WELFARE,section8 ,low income housing

  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  SSA - $255.00 death pymt

  Eliminate this pymt. Too much time & energy wasted on administering this money.

  5 comments for Idea: SSA - $255.00 death pymt

  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  Limit Food Stamps

  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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  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  Provide us with examples on how our ideas are effective

  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.

  3 comments for Idea: Provide us with examples on how our ideas are effective

  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  End All Federal Bonuses for Big Savings $$

  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.

  13 comments for Idea: End All Federal Bonuses for Big Savings $$

  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  Prisoners and Families collecting Social Security

  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.

  6 comments for Idea: Prisoners and Families collecting Social Security

  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  Social Security Statements Should Not Be Sent Annually

  Why kill trees? Paper eliminates forests and costs alot of money to produce. Social Security Administration is wasting millions of dollars sending annual statements to everyone. Although the earnings records and future projections of Retirement Benefits, Disability Benefits, and Survivors Benefits are informative, it is wasteful to prepare, print and mail individual statements every year. In addition to the retirement ...more »

  Why kill trees? Paper eliminates forests and costs alot of money to produce.

  Social Security Administration is wasting millions of dollars sending annual statements to everyone. Although the earnings records and future projections of Retirement Benefits, Disability Benefits, and Survivors Benefits are informative, it is wasteful to prepare, print and mail individual statements every year.

  In addition to the retirement projections, another objective for SSA was to be "customer friendly" and allow participants to review their earnings data to determine its accuracy.

  The earliest retirement benefit commences at age 62. Disability or survivors benefits are available in certain circumstances, but annually the projections do not materially change.

  Therefore, I recommend that SSA prepare and mail these Statements less frequently, such as: for individuals less than 35 years old, every 5 years; for individuals between 35 and 55 years old, every 3 years; and then annually after age 55. Retirement planning is most relevant as one gets closer to this event. Also consider making this information available to beneficiaries electronically, in a secure way, similar to internet banking.

  Recordkeeping may be important, but someone 25 years of age, who has a retirement horizon so far in the future, should be able to verify their earnings data once in 5 years.

  This would benefit to the government greatly, in the form of savings for computer processing, paper, printing and mailing costs, in addition to the manpower costs.

  Just imagine the millions of dollars that could be saved. The government will be more efficient, with no negative consequences to individuals, and at the same time we are saving trees.

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  3 comments for Idea: Social Security Statements Should Not Be Sent Annually

  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  Lump Sum death Payment

  It costs the government more money to pay out the lump sum death payment than the $255.00 payout to the widow(er) - if she/he is eligible. This money use to be paid to the funeral home many years ago. This $255 has never been increased. It would save the government millions of dollars per year to stop paying this out. This amount doesn't even begin to pay for a funeral, and many of the claimants think it's a joke to ...more »

  It costs the government more money to pay out the lump sum death payment than the $255.00 payout to the widow(er) - if she/he is eligible. This money use to be paid to the funeral home many years ago. This $255 has never been increased. It would save the government millions of dollars per year to stop paying this out. This amount doesn't even begin to pay for a funeral, and many of the claimants think it's a joke to pay the $255.

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  2 comments for Idea: Lump Sum death Payment

  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  Bonus

  Eliminate Bonuses within the Government. They create bad feelings and are unfair. The workers will work with or without the extra money.

  21 comments for Idea: Bonus

  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  Allocate resources to erradicate fraud and abuse

  How much of our tax payer money is wasted on fraud? Billions of our hard earned dollars go out to people defrauding Social Security and Medicare as an example. Create new systems to identify fraud, move analysts to work in identifying and stopping fradulent payments. The work of these individuals would pay for itself!

  3 comments for Idea: Allocate resources to erradicate fraud and abuse

  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  Take Fat People Off SSDI

  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.

  8 comments for Idea: Take Fat People Off SSDI

  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  Hardship transfers ought to be opened between all agencies

  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!

  1 comment for Idea: Hardship transfers ought to be opened between all agencies

  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  Voluntary Furlough

  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.

  4 comments for Idea: Voluntary Furlough

  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  Overtime

  Eliminate O/T permanently. Save major money and improve the health of your civil servants in order to do a more efficient job.

  12 comments for Idea: Overtime

  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  Take top 25 submissions and top 25 contributors for discussion

  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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  5 comments for Idea: Take top 25 submissions and top 25 contributors for discussion

  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  Deny SSA Disability applications for those receiving UIB

  People who collect unemployment must certify they are ready willing and able to work. To qualify for SSA Disabilty you must certify you are disabled and unable to do any type of work. Since these certifications are completely contradictory, once an applicant certifies they are disabled and unable to work, their unemployment should be ceased or their disability claim should be denied.

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  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  Paperless Social Security Statements

  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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  4 comments for Idea: Paperless Social Security Statements

  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  When Furloughing Federal Employees, DON'T PAY THEM!

  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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  17 comments for Idea: When Furloughing Federal Employees, DON'T PAY THEM!

  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  Social Security Should Be Means Tested

  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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  2 comments for Idea: Social Security Should Be Means Tested

  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  Eliminate Overtime in Non-Operational Offices

  In offices where the work performance cannot be measured, the work overtime ought to be eliminated. Unfortunately I see this being abused often. It is bad enough that in operational offices that provide for overtime, employees work to ensure that they work as many hours of overtime as possible. Because the work can be measured in operations, it is much easier to justify the extra hours put in (more processed cases). In ...more »

  In offices where the work performance cannot be measured, the work overtime ought to be eliminated. Unfortunately I see this being abused often. It is bad enough that in operational offices that provide for overtime, employees work to ensure that they work as many hours of overtime as possible. Because the work can be measured in operations, it is much easier to justify the extra hours put in (more processed cases). In a policy component or in a training facility, that is not the case. There is no reason GS-13 and GS-14 employees should be allowed to work overtime, especially when the work cannot be measured and the employee is more than adequately compensated for the work being performed.

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  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  Redefine and Reduce Headquarters Staff

  Implementation of a new management headquarters directive would result in a more accurate reporting of positions in headquarters activities. At the same time, inconsistencies among the service components that currently overlap in work projects would decrease. There is a significant number of individuals that are not productive simply because there is not enough work to do (at least 40% over staffed). Many managers are ...more »

  Implementation of a new management headquarters directive would result in a more accurate reporting of positions in headquarters activities. At the same time,

  inconsistencies among the service components that currently overlap in work projects would decrease. There is a significant number of individuals that are not productive simply because there is not enough work to do (at least 40% over staffed). Many managers are continually forced to make up work to keep their departments alive and to get new staffing. Many hired contractors complain that they have nothing to do or that the productivity is extremely low because of lack of work. The number of incompetent managers is very high because there is little emphasis on ensuring that managers that are hired is based on competence and education. Many of us new employees are disselutioned at what we see every day. Our ideas to improve work efficiency and operations are turned down because of incompetent managers that are just not able to see the big picture or don't care to save tax payer money. There is a continual emphasis on adding more and more policy without justification and understanding of how much more money it will cost tax payers and further complicate our operations. Multiple suggestions that are provided to reduce operational policy that is useless and costly that would improve our work flow is continually turned down because "it would reduce our work in our office, thereby allowing for fewer future workers and less work for us to do here". Some policies in place have little value and it has been proven in studies that it creates unnecessary work, yet it persists. The "idea" website provided by the agency goes to the same managers that would turn down the idea if it was provided within the office, so the system is by itself an idiocy. Let's work together to not only save tax payer money but also to restore confidence in government. Few people know that we have more than 10,000 employees at HQ's.

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  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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  Review SSA policy to provide better operational efficiency

  Currently, much of the SSA policy is extremely complicated and in many times confusing. There are clearly policies that are not necessary and that cause inneficiency in operations. Considering the increase of applications operations is seeing while having to continually do more work with less staffing. SSA should focus on how policy can be made so that operations is more efficient and less complicated. There are numerous ...more »

  Currently, much of the SSA policy is extremely complicated and in many times confusing. There are clearly policies that are not necessary and that cause inneficiency in operations. Considering the increase of applications operations is seeing while having to continually do more work with less staffing. SSA should focus on how policy can be made so that operations is more efficient and less complicated. There are numerous systems limitations that could be eliminated. This should be a high agency priority that would provide for tremendous benefits with employee work satisfaction in operations and in significanlty increasing operations work productivity. All policy components should be focusing on finding ways on how operations should be run more efficiently. Considering the budget shortfalls, lack of hiring, retirement wave, this should be the #1 priority of policy components.

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  Submitted by Community Member 2 years ago

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