The U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) is an independent agency that administers social security. Through its social security program, the agency provides retirement, disability, and survivor benefits. The purpose of this paper is to conduct an in-depth analysis and evaluation of SSA's ethics, cooperation, and legal decisions. The paper will also analyze SSA's future plans for administrative processes to improve its operation and services, as well as outline recommendations for improvement to the administrative processes.
Administrative Ethics
The SSA oversees and runs the social security program in the U.S. The organization administers a number of benefits, including retirement benefits and disability income programs. Other administrative responsibilities of the SSA include issuing social security numbers and managing the program's finances and trust fund (SSA, 2018). The agency's chief priority to uphold trust when administering social security programs. The SSA administers its programs in accordance with the law, regulations, and policies.
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Recently, the SSA has experienced several events. The events range from the agency's ability to deliver social security programs to upholding ethical standards and collaborating with other Federal and State agencies to deliver a wide range of programs to the public. When delivering services, the agency requires all of its employees to practice high ethical standards. The SSA employs approximately 77,000 employees (SSA, 2018). The workforce's vision demonstrates and achieves the capacity to accomplish the organizational goals of the SSA. The SSA's success depends on the ability to be informed of its shareholders' needs and concerns. The shareholders significantly impact the organization's success. It is binding on the agency to know the stakeholders. Stakeholders are always impacted by the organization's outcome. The SSA's stakeholders range from the general public to Federal and state employees. The stakeholder's interests and influences are wide-ranging, including the utility of the social security program, the delivery of social security programs, and the outcome of the individual social security application. The SSA has its own policies that outline its stakeholders' legal responsibilities.
The SSA also works with a number of other agencies, such as the “Office of Management and Budget” (OBM). The OBM evaluates the SSA's rulings and regulations and budgetary approve them in accordance with Acts, such as the Paperwork Reduction Act. The agency also administers programs delivered by other Federal and State agencies, such as Medicare, Medicaid, E-Verify, and Federal Benefits for Veterans, among many other agencies.
Leadership Influences
The SSA is headed by a commissioner, Andrew M. Seoul, who plays an active role in the administration of social security. The Commissioner has a number of subordinates, with David F. Black, Nancy A. Berryhill, and Scott L. Frey being the Deputy Commissioner, Senior Advisor to the Commissioner, and Chief of Staff, respectively (SSA, 2021). Figure 1 shows SSA's organizational chart. The organization has a hierarchical organizational structure. The chart clearly outlines the agencies' chain of command, the span of control, and centralization. It defines the different levels of authority and responsibility within the agency, with the Commissioner responsible for making all critical decisions, which are then passed down to the subordinates. Although the Commissioner is technically higher on the organizational chart and makes all critical decisions, he emphasizes working together and actively involves his subordinates in decision-making processes. Thus, he employs a democratic leadership style.
SSA is an independent agency as it exists outside the federal executive branch. The president has control over the agency, but this power is limited to dismissing the Commissioner or a member of the agency. The agency's leadership model and political context have influenced the organization's success and failure to a great extent. The SSA leadership structure is aligned to achieve greater efficiency and help the agency accomplish its missions. It has enabled the agency to implement a number of regulations, although some of them have been criticized or considered harmful.
The organizational leaders have also failed on multiple fronts, and some of them, including the Commissioner, is under fire for neglecting their duties or malfeasance. According to Davidson (2020), some of SSA's internal and external leaders are apparently behind the ongoing war on disability beneficiaries, affecting the agency's ability to administer its social security programs. Harmful regulations, reduction in staffing, and anti-union animus have “degraded access, diminished service, and reduced confidence in the future of social security” (Davidson, 2020, n.p). Lastly, the agency's internal leaders have failed to handle its remote works and failed to facilitate communication with SSA employees amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. Thus, the internal and external agency leaders have significantly influenced the success and failure of the agency.
Figure 1: SSA Organizational Chart
Source: Social Security Administration (SSA) (2021)
Legal Decisions
The SSA has the authority to issue regulations that pertain to social security. The agency's current program rules include “the law; regulations, Commissioner rulings; and, employee operating instructions” (SSA, 2020). In recent years, SSA has enforced a number of regulations. Some of the agency's latest rulings or regulations include the "Anti-Fraud System, Revised Medical Criteria for Evaluating Musculoskeletal Disorders, Waiver of Recovery Certain Overpayment Debts Accruing During the Covid-19 Pandemic, and Removing Inability to Communicate in English as an Education Category," among many other regulations (SSA, 2020). The agency modified its system of records by implementing an Anti-Fraud System. The system detects, prevents, and mitigates fraud in the agency's social security program. The system also collects and maintains personally identifiable information (PPI) to facilitate the identification of suspicious or potentially fraudulent activities. The agency also implemented other rulings and regulations to clarify critical issues that pertain to its social security programs. For example, the agency eliminated the education category "inability to communicate in English" when evaluating its disability claims for adults under “titles II and XVI of the Social Security Act.”
When enforcing its ruling and regulations, the SSA often faces several challenges. First, the agency works with other agencies, including the OBM. As such, the agency ought to seek approval from these agencies first. If a ruling or regulation creates new or affects existing collections, the agency must seek approval from the OBM. The SSA may not receive budget approval from the OBM if the agency finds that the ruling or regulation does not meet OMB acts, such as the Paperwork Reduction Act. Secondly, some of the agency's rulings or regulations have sufficient “Federalism implications” to warrant Federalism assessment preparation. The agency may face obstacles to implement the ruling if it preempts any State law or State regulation or if it affects a State's ability to discharge traditional State governmental functions. Thirdly, the agency must consider the comments or concerns of the public before implementing the ruling or regulation. In some cases, the public may not support the agency's proposals. In recent years, the agency has been criticized for developing harmful regulations, such as the ongoing war on disability beneficiaries. In this respect, the general public has collected signatures to ouster Commissioner Andrew M. Seoul and some of his subordinates. This will hamper the agency's ability to implement the newly developed rulings and regulations. Overall, the SSA faces a number of challenges when enforcing its rulings or regulations.
Strategies for Consideration to Administrative Processes
The SSA must deliver services effectively to all of its stakeholders. The agency realizes that its programs are not stagnant and that advancement in technology provides an opportunity to improve its service delivery and do business differently. In this respect, the agency has outlined a number of strategies to improve its operation and services to its primary recipients. In this section, the SSA's strategies for future plans for administrative ethics, leadership, and legal to enhance its operations and service delivery to its stakeholders will be explored.
One of the SSA's future plans is to improve service delivery. To achieve this, the agency is planning to advance and update the “Compassionate and Responsive Service” (CARES) plan (SSA, 2018). The agency has many pending hearing decisions. The agency’s service delivery system is characterized by lengthy wait times. To address this challenge, the agency is increasing the use of online services and planning to advance and update the CARES plan. This way, the company would be able to improve its service delivery.
The SSA also plans to expand its service delivery options. According to a survey conducted by SSA, most of SSA's customers prefer to conduct business with the agency online or by telephone (SSA, 2018). In this respect, the agency plans to expand its suite of automated and online service options. In particular, the agency is planning to strengthen and enhance the my Social Security service. This way, the agency would be able to increase its connection with the public as well as improve the customer experience.
Improving the way an agency or an organization does business is vital to delivering services effectively. Thus, the agency plans to expand its use of innovative technologies. The SSA also plans to strengthen its employment support programs. This way, the agency would be able to meet service demands and reinforce efficient and effective service. In addition, the agency would be able to streamline its policies and processes.
Recommendations for Improvement to Administrative Processes
The SSA's strategic goals include delivering services effectively, expanding its service delivery options, and streamline its policies and processes. Based on the agency's policy models and strategies outlined above, I recommend the agency to implement the following strategies: to advance and update its CARES plan and strengthen and enhance its my Social Security service. The two strategies outlined above will bring immediate improvement. The CARES plan will help the agency address the number of pending hearing decisions and lengthy wait times. This way, the company would be able to improve its service delivery as well as increase the use of online services. With regard to my Social Security, this strategy will help the agency to immediately expand its service delivery options. By providing additional services to my Social Security and strengthening and enhancing its login and registration process, the SSA will be able to increase its connection with the public and improve the customer experience.
References
Davidson, J. (2019). Some groups want Biden to fire Trump's Social Security Commissioner. That's not easy to do. [Online]. Retrieved February 14, 2021, from The Washington Post https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-social-security-ssa-biden/2020/12/17/28483610-40b2-11eb-a402-fba110db3b42_story.html
SSA. (2018). SSA Agency Strategic Plan: Fiscal Year 2018-2022. [Online]. Retrieved February 14, 2021, from SSA https://www.ssa.gov/agency/asp/materials/pdfs/SSA_Agency_Strategic_Plan_Fiscal_Years_2018-2022.pdf
SSA. (2020). Recent regulatory actions. [Online]. Retrieved February 14, 2021, from SSA https://www.ssa.gov/regulations/recentregulatory.html
SSA. (2021). Social Security Administration: Organizational Chart. [Online]. Retrieved February 14, 2021, from SSA https://www.ssa.gov/org/ssachart.pdf
Appendices
Appendix A: Interview
Why was the SSA established? What is the mission of the SSA?
The SSA was established in 1935 by President Roosevelt. The mission of the organization is to deliver quality social security services to the public. The SSA administers three social security programs: “Old-Age and Survivors Insurance, Disability Insurance, and Supplemental Security Income” (SSA, 2018).
What are some of the milestones of the agency since its creation?
In 1935, President Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act to promote economic security following the economic crisis induced by the Great Depression. In 1936 and 1937, the Board approves a number of unemployment compensation laws and plans for old-age assistance and disability benefits. In 1940, monthly benefits to retired workers and survivors of deceased workers became payable. In 1941, a number of state programs of aid to disabled children were established under the Social Security Act. In 1945, President Roosevelt stressed the need for an "American Bill of Rights." Today, the SSA providers retirement, disability, and survivor benefits.
What are the challenges and successes of the organization?
Since its establishment, the SSA has faced a number of challenges. First, the agency has been criticized by other Federal and State agencies and the general public for failing to implement some rulings and regulations. Secondly, being an independent agency, the president has control over the agency, but this power is limited to dismissing the Commissioner or a member of the agency. Every president tends to dismiss the Commissioner and other employees that worked under the previous administration. A prime example is during President Trump's and Biden's administration. President Trump dismissed a number of leaders from the agency after he was elected president. Similarly, there are growing concerns that President Biden will dismiss the current Commissioner and some of his subordinates. The organization also faces funding problems. The SSA also has a number of successes. The agency has been able to facilitate the social security program in the U.S. In addition, the agency has managed to implement a wide range of rulings and regulations that pertain to social security. Lastly, the SSA has worked in collaboration with other Federal and State agencies, such as Medicare, Medicaid, E-Verify, and Federal Benefits for Veterans, to administer other Federal and State programs.
What is the future plan of the agency?
The SSA future plans include: to improve service delivery by advancing and updating the CARES plan, to expand its service delivery options by expanding its suite of automated and online service options, to expand its use of electronic medical evidence, and strengthen its employment support programs.
