Larson Decries Republican Cuts, Calls for Full Social Security Administration Funding

Washington, D.C. - Today, at the House Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee hearing on improper payments to beneficiaries, Ranking Member John B. Larson (CT-01) questioned Acting Commissioner of the Social Security Administration (SSA) Dr. Kilolo Kijakazi about the need for full SSA funding and the harmful impact of proposed Republican cuts. 

You can watch Rep. Larson’s remarks here. 

“What is the top thing SSA needs from Congress in order to provide better customer service to beneficiaries trying to resolve these overpayments?” Larson asked. 

“We do need sustained, sufficient funding, so that we can hire the number of staff we need to cover all workloads, including the overpayment workload,” Kijakazi replied. “The legislation that addressed the debt ceiling provided for flat funding for Fiscal Year 2024, which is actually a budget cut for Social Security because we have fixed costs: for example, increases in the rent for the 1,230 field offices across the country and the approximately 300 hearings offices. We would be entering into 2024 with a substantial cut. If we have level funding, we will have a hiring freeze, which means we cannot replace the people that leave, and so we will begin that decline in staffing once again.” 

“We want to make sure you have the funding needed for personnel that can serve the public and continue to provide the nation with the number-one anti-poverty program for the elderly, and the best economic development program we have in every Congressional District. Instead, it is flat-funded and cut, and Congress has not increased any benefit in 52 years! How is that responsible?” Larson concluded. 

In March, Ranking Member Larson led 107 Members in a letter to House Appropriations to support strengthening Social Security’s customer service in fiscal year 2024. Larson’s Social Security 2100 Act would increase benefits across-the-board, cut taxes for 23 million Americans, and improve customer service at the Social Security Administration. 

After House Appropriations Committee Republicans proposed slashing Social Security Administration funding for Fiscal Year 2024, nearly every House Republican voted to cut Social Security Administration funding by 30% and create a closed-door, fast-track commission designed to cut Social Security benefits.