Welcome to the Future

SSA’s internal computer system is based upon an older computer language, COBOL. Employees access that system through an old-school terminal. Of course, these days, that terminal interface is a windows app. When you use that system, the main welcome page says “welcome to the future,” with “SSA” rendered in ASCII (if you are old enough to know what that is!). That welcome to the future line always tickled me. It envisioned a computerized future of the early 1990’s, and that whole system must have been revolutionary when it came out. SSA still uses that system as the underpinning of its programs.

We are now in a time when SSA’s programs are under threat… this time, from within the government. Troubling times, to be sure. Given the staffing cuts and chaotic internal reorganizations in SSA, it is likely that service will suffer for SSA’s beneficiaries - the American public. Wait times will likely increase, and there will likely be difficulties interacting with SSA staff. I started this law office exists to help you navigate these rough waters. We’ll get through this together, and hopefully in a few years, SSA’s budgets will increase and they will be able to re-staff sufficiently to provide the public service that we’ve all come to expect from OUR Social Security Administration.