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4 States Where Social Security Help Is Tough to Find

More than one-quarter of Social Security Administration workers have disappeared in these places.

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Chris Kissell • June 14, 2022

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Many businesses and organizations are struggling mightily with depleted staffing, and the Social Security Administration is no exception.

The federal agency lost 15% of its staff nationwide between fiscal years 2010 and 2021, but the problem is especially bad in a handful of states.

In those places, SSA offices have lost more than one-quarter of their staff members over the past 11 years, according to a recent analysis by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

The center says the attrition is the result of budget-cutting on the part of Congress.

Staff reductions mean “fewer people to take appointments, answer phones, and process applications for Social Security’s vital retirement, survivors, and disability benefits,” the center says.

Following are four states where staff levels have fallen by more than 25%.

Alaska

Alaska's Denali National Park
Martina Birnbaum / Shutterstock.com

State’s Social Security Administration (SSA) staff size:

  • In the 2010 fiscal year: 76 employees
  • In the 2021 fiscal year: 38 employees (a loss of 50% since 2010)

Although Alaska has lost SSA staff since 2010, the state’s Social Security disability determination staff actually increased by two people (9%) during the same 11-year period.

West Virginia

Mark Ross / Shutterstock.com

State’s Social Security Administration (SSA) staff size:

  • In the 2010 fiscal year: 454 employees
  • In the 2021 fiscal year: 303 employees (a loss of 33% since 2010)

West Virginia’s Social Security disability determination staff dropped by the same percentage as its SSA staff over the past 11 years — 33%.

Iowa

Davenport, Iowa
gibbstechsolutions / Shutterstock.com

State’s Social Security Administration staff size:

  • In the 2010 fiscal year: 343 employees
  • In the 2021 fiscal year: 243 employees (a loss of 29% since 2010)

Iowa’s Social Security disability determination staff also fell during the period, by 20%.

unhappy retiree
See Also:
12 Hard Truths About Retirement

Virginia

f11photo / Shutterstock.com

State’s Social Security Administration staff size:

  • In the 2010 fiscal year: 2,193 employees
  • In the 2021 fiscal year: 1,616 employees (a loss of 26% since 2010)

Virginia’s Social Security disability determination staff fell during the period as well, but by a mere 5%.

Getting help with Social Security

Seniors receiving Social Security payment
Dmytro Zinkevych / Shutterstock.com

Fortunately, even if your state’s Social Security staffing is on the wane, you can still do many things online. To take full advantage of this feature, sign up for a Social Security account. To learn more, read “7 Perks of Having a Social Security Account Online.”

In addition, as we have noted in the past, Social Security representatives might not be the best source of information about the program in the first place. Check out:

  • “Did a Social Security Rep Give Me Bad Advice?”
  • “Are Social Security Representatives Ever Wrong?”

You can also stop by Money Talks News’ Solutions Center and find expert, low-cost Social Security help.

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