DAVID HALAAS: Social Security: “We’re going to hold you to that”

I've always heard this: "Let your voice be heard!" "Write your Senators!" "Write your Congressperson!" So I did.

My concern is Social Security….because… I'm old!

Did you know that Social Security is the commonly used term for the federal Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) program, administered by the Social Security Administration? This all began in 1935! (I'm not THAT old… My grandfathers were just 46 and 35 that year.)

Recently I shared my concerns about Social Security with Iowa's U.S. Sens. Joni Ernst and Chuch Grassley, and Iowa's 4th District Congressman Randy Feenstra. I share their responses, because I want them to stay accountable to the promises they have made.

News reports like this are not comforting:

"If confirmed, Frank Bisignano would take over an agency that's in the midst of a massive and chaotic reorganization spurred by the Trump administration and DOGE. Already understaffed, Social Security is contending with the departure of thousands of employees, many of them with deep institutional knowledge, as it seeks to shrink its workforce by 7,000 people, or 12%. There have been all sorts of speculations about the agency making significant changes to its services, which would likely drive more people into its field offices at a time when the agency is apparently seeking to shutter locations."

"All this comes as Social Security's staffing is at its lowest level in decades even as the number of retirees has soared as the Baby Boomers age. In 2010 the agency's 67,000 workers provided benefits to 60 million Americans, according to Rich Couture, a spokesperson for the American Federation of Government Employees. Now, it has 57,000 staffers assisting 73 million people. 'Losing staff will crater the agency's ability to serve the public and that could potentially have a disruptive effect on the provision of benefits,' he said, noting that the chaos and uncertainty has already eroded employees' morale and adversely affected their ability to do their jobs."

I wrote my letters. Here is what I heard:

From Congressman Feenstra:

"Thank you for contacting me about Social Security. Social security and budget reform are issues I care deeply about because these are the policies that most greatly impact every American… I believe that a healthy budget requires that those who paid into the Social Security system receive the benefits of their labor. I have no intention of ever lessening the impact of Social Security."

From Sen. Ernst:

"Thank you for sharing your thoughts on strengthening Social Security benefits and the Trump administration. It is important for me to hear from folks in Iowa on important matters such as these. Social Security is vitally important to the hundreds of thousands of Iowans who have worked hard and paid into the program their entire lives. Iowans should receive, in full, the benefits they are owed. As your Senator, I will always fight to protect Social Security.

I share your passion for ensuring the Social Security Administration (SSA) effectively serves elderly, disabled, and vulnerable individuals who rely on caregivers for support. … I am committed to improving SSA services and eliminating fraud to safeguard the benefits seniors and vulnerable Iowans rely on."

I've not received a direct reply from Sen. Grassley (goodness – he has been receiving Social Security checks for many decades now!). Here's a recent news story from Radio Iowa:

"Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley today will be questioning President Trump's nominee to head the Social Security Administration, what DOGE leader Elon Musk calls 'the biggest Ponzi scheme of all time.' Grassley says he's been hearing from Iowans who are upset about staffing cuts and the proposed closure of dozens of Social Security offices. 'People call my offices in Iowa saying 'I didn't get my Social Security check. Can you check it out for me?' Now that's before any offices have closed,' Grassley says. 'If this closure of offices creates a further problem, we'll just have to make sure everybody gets their Social Security check.' More than 70-million Americans receive Social Security benefits, including more than 530,000 Iowans. 'For about a third of our Social Security recipients, it's the only income they have,' Grassley says. 'We've got to make sure that they're served. And after you've worked maybe 40 years in the workforce and paid into the Social Security payroll tax, you ought to be getting your checks.'"

At a Senate hearing recently Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts asked Bisignano whether he will make sure the staffing at the Social Security Administration is sufficient to ensure beneficiaries can effectively use the services.

"I will commit to have the right staffing to get the job done," Bisignano replied.

"To get the job done, meaning delivering the benefits people are entitled do?" Warren said, to which the nominee responded yes.

"I'm going to hold you to that," Warren said.

Me, too.

David Halaas has a commitment to community involvement, recently serving on the boards of Leadership Siouxland, SafePlace, the Sioux City Public Library and currently on the board of trustees of the Sioux City Public Museum. He is the pastor of St. Mark Lutheran Church ELCA in Sioux City.