WASHINGTON (January 16, 2025) – During a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing, Congressman Clay Higgins (R-LA) blasted the Social Security Administration (SSA) for its lack of responsive service to America’s elders.
Congressman Higgins called the SSA helpline during the hearing, stayed on hold for an hour and a half without being able to speak to an employee, and highlighted the failure of Democrats’ enhanced telework policies for federal bureaucrats.
Key Excerpts from the Video are Included Below:
“One of the benefits of having other committee obligations and arriving at Oversight Committee behind my colleague is that I get to listen to all the testimony. Mr. Chairman, this is Social Security *holds up phone* for one hour, 28-minutes, 25 seconds. The phone number is 800-772-1213. That’s the number for Social Security. *continues holding up phone*
“This is what our elders have to listen to. The reason our elders call for help is because they need help, not because they want to listen to elevator music. They want to talk to a human being. The first five minutes of this hour and a half, Mr. Chairman, was instructions to get to various websites, which our elders have difficulty doing. I have difficulty doing it. Our elders are frequently confused and alone and scared. They don’t have like laptops and apps and things. They have a telephone. They want to talk to a human being.
“Well, wait, they have a local Social Security office they could go to right now. That’s a historical model. No, I give you exhibit B…From your website, listen to this. America, pay attention to what’s happening to our elders. If you need in-person help, you must first make an appointment, and you make an appointment on the telephone. You know who answers the phone? Nobody.”
