Reacting Vituperously to Absurdity of SSI Policy

From: Dejuliis, Ralph
Sent: Thursday, January 10, 2008 9:42 AM
To: Flannery, Ken; Kelly-Zaby, Mary RO Dallas
Subject: RE: Gift Card as Income and Resources in Title XVI
Importance: High

Good Morning, Ken!
Good Morning, Mary!

I wish to vituperously complain about today's transmittal training which advised SSI CRs of a new requirement to query SSI Recipients about the value of gift cards they may receive and to count the value as income in the month received and resource the following month (if unspent, with the usual income exclusions).

What is next? Counting the value of Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter dinners the SSI recipients may receive from family members if the value can't be written off as infrequent/etc?

How about we add to the list of RZ questions: Do you have a boyfriend/girlfriend who takes you out on dates? What is the value of the meals the provide? (Don't forget the value of popcorn, candy and pop at movies and the value of any Valentine's Day candy they provide). -- Again, we might be able to reduce their SSI payments if the value can't be written off as infrequent, etc.

Whoever in policy wrote that, I must ask: ARE THEY NUTS??

How much more difficult can they make administration of the SSI program?

Does anyone have any idea how much time is going to be spent in verification? How much time is going to be wasted in processing overpayments and waivers?

Our Claims Representatives are up to the armpits in RZs, CDRs, overpayments, Limited Issues, and Medicare issues. How much time is this new income and resource wrinkle is going to require and where are we supposed to get the staff to do this new workload?

How much more hostile can such rules make the public towards us?

Obviously, this rule was written by people who do NOT have to interview the public, who do not have a breakdown and who don't have lists to work!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Please forward my concerns on up the line in SSI Programs!

Thank you!

Ralph de Juliis
President
AFGE Local 2505