We used our idea-sharing tool, "OpenSocialSecurity," to capture your ideas for creating our Open Government Plan. We received many ideas on how we could increase our transparency, participation, collaboration and innovation.
The list below represents the top ten ideas you submitted to us, ranked by number of votes. We wanted to share this collection with you, and plan to periodically report the progress of these and future ideas we receive.
Top 10 Ideas from OpenSocialSecurity
Your Idea
Idea Status
10. Waiting Time in Field Offices
“The public should be able to call an automated telephone line or go online to find out the current field office wait time. Once the individual hears what the current wait time is, an option should be made available for them to schedule an appointment.”
We are exploring this idea to determine if we can adopt it. We will report back to you on our progress.
9. New Ways of Doing Business
“Social Security benefits should not be taxable including but not limited to the lump sum payment.”
We cannot adopt this idea because it is beyond our authority (e.g. requires legislation, action by another federal agency, etc).
8. Transparency
“I work at Social Security. I think we need to be transparent about :
Total number of offices that exist, how many have been closed and consolidated and the percentage of staff working in direct field public service.
Total number of tele-service centers there are, the amount of staff employed, and the goals of these facilities
Total number of payment centers, how many employees are staffed there, what percentage of time they are employed in phone answering and their goals and critical missions
Total number of support components and how many employees are devoted to non-public contact functions and/or operational and administrative support.
We need to be up front with the public about general staffing and service issues as the baby boom generation continues to increase workload demands on an agency that has largely had stagnant staffing over the last 30 years.”
We are exploring this idea to determine if we can adopt it. We will report back to you on our progress.
7. Public Forum
“Provide us an area where we can communicate our concerns about SSA, and ensure the information will be shared with the President.”
We are exploring this idea to determine if we can adopt it. We will report back to you on our progress.
“Social Security should consider whether to study the effect of cognitive bias on Administrative Law Judges (ALJ) in making fair and fiscally sound benefit decisions.”
We are exploring this idea to determine if we can adopt it. We will report back to you on our progress.
5. SSA should live webcast all meetings
“SSA should live webcast all meetings for proposed rule making and regulations. By doing this the public and stakeholders will be able to see the inner workings of the rule making process and make the content and proceedings transparent to the public.
We are exploring this idea to determine if we can adopt it. We will report back to you on our progress.
4. Increase Public Awareness of SSD/SSI Claims Process
“I used to work in private non-profit mental health services, and there is a lot of "mystery" about the disability application process from the public perspective. I think that Social Security needs to do more public outreach activities directed at providers and applicants to answer basic questions about the disability application process.”
We are exploring this idea to determine if we can adopt it. We will report back to you on our progress.
3. Place for General Concerns about SSA Services
“We should have a place so that we can easily send concerns and praise about services in general.”
2. Live Chat Service for Internet Retirement Applications
“It would be nice if a person had the option to chat with someone online while they complete their retirement and/or disability application. This would not only reduce visits to the field offices, it would improve our customer service to the public.”
We are exploring this idea to determine if we can adopt it. We will report back to you on our progress.
1. Add streaming videos to SSA.Gov about SSA topics.
“Add streaming videos about SSA topics. This may reduce the amount of calls made to the 800# and visits to the field offices. Also some people learn better by watching a video rather than reading.”
We are exploring this idea to determine if we can adopt it. We will report back to you on our progress.
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