Sunday, July 27, 2014

Lockheed Looted Social Security

The last of it, anyway. Federal government already stole most of it. That's why they need the SWAT teams and extra ammunition.

"$300m later, IT system in disarray" Associated Press   July 24, 2014

WASHINGTON — Six years ago, the Social Security Administration embarked on an aggressive plan to replace outdated computer systems overwhelmed by a growing flood of disability claims. Nearly $300 million later, the system is nowhere near ready, and officials are struggling to salvage a project racked by delays and mismanagement, according to a report commissioned by the agency.

Related: 

Social Security judges rubber-stamp claims
Disabling Social Security 
Disabling Social Security 

Time for me to retire. I've obviously been doing this way too long.

In 2008, Social Security said the project was two to three years from completion. Five years later, it was still two to three years from being done, according to the report, done by McKinsey and Co., a management consulting firm.

Today, with the project still in the testing phase, the agency can’t say when it will be completed or how much it will cost.

I'm sure Lockheed got a co$t-plu$ contract so no harm, no foul.

In the meantime, people filing disability claims face long delays at nearly every step of the process — delays that were supposed to be reduced by the new system. 

Just your government serving you for something you already paid for well in advance.

‘‘The program has invested $288 million over six years, delivered limited functionality, and faced schedule delays as well as increasing stakeholder concerns,’’ the report said.

As a result, agency leaders have decided to ‘‘reset’’ the program in an effort to save it, the report said. As part of that effort, Social Security brought in the outside consultants from McKinsey to figure out what went wrong. Okay, now this group of well-connected "con$ultants" will get more taxpayer dollars to fix the problem.

So let's recap: they can't make an unemployment site, health site, DMV site, voting machine, Social Security site, whatever, without $hit $oftware, but BANKS ATMs never loose track of a freaking penny. 

I think I $ee what is going on, don't you? It's loot, loot, loot, as the nation and empire crumble and collapse.

They found a massive technology initiative with no one in chargeno single person responsible for completing the project. They issued their report in June, though it was not publicly released.

Well, there is always the President of the United States who is the chief executive of the function of administration.  

Will the lame-a$$ excuses offered as a cover story for $hit government never stop?

As part of McKinsey’s recommendations, acting Social Security Commissioner Carolyn Colvin appointed Terrie Gruber to oversee the project last month. Gruber had been an assistant deputy commissioner.

‘‘We asked for this, this independent look, and we weren’t afraid to hear what the results are,’’ Gruber said Wednesday. ‘‘We are absolutely committed to deliver this initiative and by implementing the recommendations we obtained independently, we think we have a very good prospect on doing just that.’’

The revelations come at an awkward time for Colvin. President Obama nominated her to a full six-year term in June, and she now faces confirmation by the Senate. Colvin was deputy commissioner for 3½ years before becoming acting commissioner in February 2013. 

So, a person who has presided over the failures is promoted again. It's because they can and have motive to cover up fraud and crimes. That's what it is. If they are booted out, they may talk. Better to keep 'em on taxpayer teat so they don't blow that whi$tle.

The House Oversight Committee is also looking into the program, and whether Social Security officials tried to bury the McKinsey report. In a letter to Colvin on Wednesday, committee leaders requested all documents and communications about the computer project since March 1.

I'm seeing another article of impeachment. On two hands now.

The project, known at the Disability Case Processing System, or DCPS, was supposed to replace 54 antiquated systems used by state Social Security offices to process claims. Workers across the country would be able to use the system to process claims and track them as benefits are awarded or denied, and claims are appealed.

But as of April, the system couldn’t even process all new claims, let alone accurately track them as they wound their way through the system, the report said.

Lockheed Martin was selected in 2011 as the prime contractor. At the time, it valued the contract at up to $200 million, a press release said. 

Couldn't find anyone else?

McKinsey’s report does not specifically fault Lockheed but raises the possibility of changing vendors.

Gruber said Social Security will continue to work with Lockheed ‘‘to make sure that we are successful in the delivery of this program.’’

A spokesman for Lockheed Martin would say only that the company is committed to delivering the program.

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At least you can go down to the local office and get everything straightened out:

"Social Security closes offices as demand is on upswing" by Stephen Ohlemacher | Associated Press   June 19, 2014

WASHINGTON — Budget cuts have forced the Social Security Administration to close dozens of field offices as millions of baby boomers approach retirement, swamping the agency with applications for benefits, a senior agency official told Congress Wednesday.

Better Internet access and more online services are easing the transition, said Nancy Berryhill, the agency’s deputy commissioner for operations.

(See above article and grab your nose plugs because the s**t stream is about to start. Blog editor is shaking head in apoplectic astonishment. This government stands there and shovels a huge steaming pile out in front of you and tells you it's gold. I am thankfully at a loss for words. They are incorrigible)

‘‘We are fully committed — now and in the future — to sustaining a field office structure that provides face-to-face service for those customers who need or prefer such service,’’ Berryhill told the Senate Special Committee on Aging. ‘‘We also understand, however, that customer expectations are evolving due to changes in technology, demographics, and other factors.’’

The website won't work. WTF?

Senators appeared unconvinced.

‘‘The fact of the matter is, millions of seniors and disabled Americans are not accustomed to doing business online,’’ said Senator Susan Collins of Maine, the top Republican on the Aging Committee. ‘‘Even as computer and broadband technologies become more widespread, the idea that the Social Security Administration can serve beneficiaries primarily online ignores the very real needs of the senior and disabled populations.’’

The committee held a hearing Wednesday after issuing a bipartisan report showing that Social Security has closed 64 field offices since 2010, the largest number of closures in a five-year period in the agency’s history.

In addition, the agency has closed 533 temporary mobile offices that often serve remote areas. Hours have been reduced in the 1,245 field offices that are still open, the report said.

As a result, seniors seeking information and help from the agency are facing increasingly long waits, in person and on the phone, the report said....

Billions and billions for Ukraine, Syria, Iraq, etc, etc.

The closings come as applications for retirement and disability benefits are soaring....

The Social Security Administration has been encouraging people to access services online. The agency has upgraded its website in recent years, including secure connections to access confidential information. People can apply for benefits without ever visiting Social Security offices.

In 2013, nearly half of all retirement applications were filed online, the report said.

But the committee report notes that many older Americans lack access to the Internet or might not be comfortable using it to apply for benefits.

Last year, more than 43 million people visited Social Security field offices. About 43 percent of those seeking an appointment had to wait more than three weeks, up from just 10 percent the year before, the report said....

Sounds like the VA!

Like many federal agencies, Social Security has faced budget cuts in recent years. After two years of shrinking budgets, the agency got a 6 percent increase this year, to $11.8 billion.

You know..... !!!!!!!!!!

Social Security has cut its workforce by 11,000 employees over the past three years, Berryhill said.

Yeah, one of things we want to fund gets the cuts. This f***ing goddamn government, and I'm sorry to say that upon a Sundee.

She said the agency saves an average of $4 million over the course of a decade for every field office it closes. Every paragraph gets worse.

Now she is crowing about closing offices and saving money when those services are needed most. 

How much more do you need to know that this government is flipping you the finger and laughing about it? It's right in your face. They don't give a f*** about you. All they care about is funding Israel, Wall Street, the war machine, well-connected corporations and agenda-pu$hing intere$ts, and the maintenance of lavi$h political lifestyles (in that order).  Those paying for it will get back whatever is left over to be grudgingly offered as services by this government.

‘‘I can hire a lot of employees with $4 million,’’ Berryhill said.

For where and what?

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Don't worry, though; this lying, looting government will take care of you.