WHEREAS:

Social Security is currently undergoing a crisis of confidence among contributors and beneficiaries, who are alarmed at a decline in services by the Social Security Administration (SSA); and

WHEREAS:

Staff levels at SSA have declined significantly during the Reagan and Bush Administrations, descending from a high of 80,000 employees to a low of 62,000, with current staffing at approximately 64,000; and

WHEREAS:

Complaints to SSA are at an all-time high, with beneficiaries and contributors citing repeated busy-signals when they call SSA's toll-free information line, incorrect answers to questions from untrained and overworked staff, and long delays in the processing of benefit applications; and

WHEREAS:

Social Security's old Age and Survivor's Trust Fund is totally self-financed by the FICA tax, uses no general revenue funds, is in good health and has sufficient reserves to provide for optimum services to beneficiaries and contributors; and

WHEREAS:

Trust Fund reserves are no longer counted in the Federal budget process, with the exception of monies held for Social Security administrative costs; and

WHEREAS:

So long as Social Security administrative funds are figured into the overall Federal budget, unused funds will be balanced against the Federal deficit, making it appear smaller than it really is; and

WHEREAS:

This practice constitutes a smoke screen for the deficit and is a permanent incentive for the President to limit funds for Social Security Administration.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

That this Convention go on record in support of Federal legislation that will take Social Security's administrative funds off-budget; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That this Convention support efforts to improve Social Security Administration staffing levels and staff training, so that beneficiaries and contributors to the Trust Fund receive the services they have come to expect and deserve.

SUBMITTED BY:

Steve Culen, IVP and President
AFSCME Council 31
Illinois