Latest news with #FrankBisignano
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Social Security plans to add AI to phone systems: Reports
(NewsNation) — The commissioner of the Social Security Administration, Frank Bisignano, told CBS News that he believes artificial intelligence could improve customer service at the agency. Bisignano said, 'We're bringing a massive technology effort to transform the servicing agenda. We're gonna bring AI into the phone system… I intend it to be completed this year.' No taxes on overtime pay: What to know about tax break in GOP budget bill Social Security data shows that the agency receives nearly 400,000 calls each day. The average wait time for calls in April was 68 minutes, which is down from 112 minutes in January. Bisgnano said that the agency will 'meet our beneficiaries where they want to be.' This comes as the SSA announced in March that in-person identity checks would be required at local officers. However, the White House rolled back that requirement after it faced backlash. Bisignano argued that, despite the cuts to employees at Social Security, the agency's efficiency will not be affected. He said that 'through technology and process engineering,' the agency can become more efficient. Can you get unemployment benefits if you quit a job? Bisignano also wants to make sure that those who file for Social Security in 10 years will still receive all their benefits when the time comes. The Congressional Budget Office has estimated that by 2033, funds could be gone. 'There's lots of senators that I've heard from that have all ideas about how to fix it. So, we need to just go to work on how to fix it,' Bisignano said. He also said, 'Everybody is committed to Social Security for the rest of time.' Back in April, the agency announced that it would be using the social media platform X to make all announcements going forward. Social Security calculator: Figure out your monthly benefits 'The agency will be using X to communicate to the press and the public — formerly known as Twitter,' Linda Kerr-Davis, SSA Midwest-West Regional Commissioner, told employees, according to Federal News Network. 'This will become our communication mechanism.' Kerr-Davis also said that we are 'in different times now,' and 'If you're used to getting press releases and Dear Colleague letters, you might want to subscribe to the official SSA X account.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Miami Herald
2 days ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
Social Security Announces Major Change to Phone System
The Social Security Administration (SSA) plans to address growing waiting times on hundreds of thousands of daily calls by incorporating artificial intelligence. In an interview with CBS News on Wednesday, SSA Commissioner Frank Bisignano said: "We're bringing in a massive technology effort to transform the servicing agenda... We're going to bring AI into the phone system." He added: "I intend it to be completed this year." Newsweek has contacted the SSA for comment outside of regular working hours. Bisignano's suggestions for revamping the SSA phone system come as the agency continues to struggle with serving the nearly 70 million Americans reliant on Social Security benefits each month. SSA data shows that the agency deals with hundreds of thousands of calls each day, leading to increasingly long wait times on the phone. The agency's ability to meet the needs of beneficiaries has also been made more challenging by the policies of President Donald Trump's administration, such as workforce reductions and office closures driven by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). According to SSA data, the agency dealt with 369,138 daily calls on average in April, down from 483,549 in March, with a monthly average of 390,825 in the fiscal year so far. Additionally, average call wait times have risen from just over an hour to 86 minutes this year, reaching a peak of 112 minutes in January following the passage of the Social Security Fairness Act. Earlier this year, the SSA announced plans to implement in-person identity checks amid efforts to combat fraud, preventing beneficiaries from verifying over the phone and requiring them to visit agency field offices. This proposal was scrapped after significant pushback and concerns it could create difficulties for those living far from in-person facilities and those unable to navigate the SSA's online portal. Prior to Bisignano's confirmation in early May, the SSA had floated potential ways to incorporate AI into its system, including the launch of an AI anti-fraud check on claims filed over the phone, which it said was "further modernizing the agency's services and strengthening program integrity." Regarding the agency's plans to cut its workforce by 12 percent to 50,000 employees, Bisignano told CBS News the SSA would be able to continue carrying out its duties "through technology and process engineering." During an address to SSA managers last week, Bisignano said that AI would prove to be a "great enabler" for employees handling their larger workloads, according to the Federal News Network. When asked whether less tech-capable recipients would benefit from the incorporation of AI, Bisignano said: "We're going to meet beneficiaries where they want to be. You want to come into a field office, we'll always be there. You want to meet us on the web, we will be there. You want to meet us on the phone we'll be there." Bisignano did not specify how exactly AI would be incorporated into the SSA's phone system, or when recipients could expect to see the changes, but said the change would be completed this year. Related Articles US Shutting Nursing Facilities Despite Ageing PopulationMap Shows States Where Seniors Are Most Vulnerable to Social Security CutsDOGE Cuts to Cause 2 Million Extra Visits to Social Security Offices: Study 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Newsweek
2 days ago
- Business
- Newsweek
Social Security Announces Major Change to Phone System
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Social Security Administration (SSA) plans to address growing waiting times on hundreds of thousands of daily calls by incorporating artificial intelligence. In an interview with CBS News on Wednesday, SSA Commissioner Frank Bisignano said: "We're bringing in a massive technology effort to transform the servicing agenda... We're going to bring AI into the phone system." He added: "I intend it to be completed this year." Newsweek has contacted the SSA for comment outside of regular working hours. SSA Commissioner Frank Bisignano speaking in Washington D.C. in March. SSA Commissioner Frank Bisignano speaking in Washington D.C. in It Matters Bisignano's suggestions for revamping the SSA phone system come as the agency continues to struggle with serving the nearly 70 million Americans reliant on Social Security benefits each month. SSA data shows that the agency deals with hundreds of thousands of calls each day, leading to increasingly long wait times on the phone. The agency's ability to meet the needs of beneficiaries has also been made more challenging by the policies of President Donald Trump's administration, such as workforce reductions and office closures driven by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). What To Know According to SSA data, the agency dealt with 369,138 daily calls on average in April, down from 483,549 in March, with a monthly average of 390,825 in the fiscal year so far. Additionally, average call wait times have risen from just over an hour to 86 minutes this year, reaching a peak of 112 minutes in January following the passage of the Social Security Fairness Act. Earlier this year, the SSA announced plans to implement in-person identity checks amid efforts to combat fraud, preventing beneficiaries from verifying over the phone and requiring them to visit agency field offices. This proposal was scrapped after significant pushback and concerns it could create difficulties for those living far from in-person facilities and those unable to navigate the SSA's online portal. Prior to Bisignano's confirmation in early May, the SSA had floated potential ways to incorporate AI into its system, including the launch of an AI anti-fraud check on claims filed over the phone, which it said was "further modernizing the agency's services and strengthening program integrity." Regarding the agency's plans to cut its workforce by 12 percent to 50,000 employees, Bisignano told CBS News the SSA would be able to continue carrying out its duties "through technology and process engineering." During an address to SSA managers last week, Bisignano said that AI would prove to be a "great enabler" for employees handling their larger workloads, according to the Federal News Network. What People Are Saying When asked whether less tech-capable recipients would benefit from the incorporation of AI, Bisignano said: "We're going to meet beneficiaries where they want to be. You want to come into a field office, we'll always be there. You want to meet us on the web, we will be there. You want to meet us on the phone we'll be there." What Happens Next? Bisignano did not specify how exactly AI would be incorporated into the SSA's phone system, or when recipients could expect to see the changes, but said the change would be completed this year.
CBS News
3 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
Social Security plans to add artificial intelligence to phone systems, commissioner says
Washington — Frank Bisignano, commissioner of the Social Security Administration, told CBS News that he believes technology, and specifically artificial intelligence, could be the key to improving his agency's customer service, despite recent changes that have prompted concern among some of the nearly 69 million Americans that receive Social Security each month. "We're bringing a massive technology effort to transform the servicing agenda," Bisignano said. "We're gonna bring AI into the phone system...I intend it to be completed this year." The agency gets about 390,000 calls per day, according to SSA data. The average wait time for those calls as of April was 68 minutes, down from 112 minutes in January. "I say, we're gonna meet our beneficiaries where they want to be," said Bisgnano, who was CEO of financial services company Fiserv before being tapped by President Trump in December to lead the SSA. "You want to come into a field office? We we'll always be there. You want to meet us on the web? We will be there. And you want to meet us on the phone, we'll be there." The SSA announced in March that it would require in-person identity checks at field offices for new and existing beneficiaries, with some limited exemptions. Following backlash to the move, however, the White House in April backed off that requirement, saying that seniors and other recipients could verify their identities over the phone. About six million seniors would have faced a 45-mile trip to reach an SSA office, according to an analysis from the Center on Budget and Public Policies. There are questions about how Bisgnano plans to implement changes despite a smaller workforce. In February, the agency said it intended to cut its staffing levels down from about 57,000 to 50,000, a 12% reduction. The website for the White House's Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, has identified more than a dozen field offices for closure. Bisignano argues that the cuts won't prevent the SSA from increasing its efficiency, which he believes can be achieved "through technology and process engineering." The SSA turns 90 this year, but as the U.S. ages, the gap between benefit payments and revenue is widening. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that by 2033, the fund used to pay retirement and survivor benefits will be exhausted. "There's lots of senators that I've heard from that have all ideas about how to fix it," Bisignano said. "So, we need to just go to work on how to fix it." Bisignano is seeking to reassure Americans who are planning to file for Social Security in 10 years that they will still receive their full benefits, not just a portion of them. "Everybody is committed to Social Security for the rest of time."
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Former Social Security head says media ‘hysteria' false, Trump team paid $14.8B in long-delayed benefits
As Americans got increasingly uneasy about the future of the Social Security program, former acting commissioner Leland Dudek wrote an opinion piece in the New York Post in an attempt to soothe some of these concerns. Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 5 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Nervous about the stock market in 2025? Find out how you can access this $1B private real estate fund (with as little as $10) 'In these first 100 days, we paid over $14.8 billion in long-delayed retroactive benefits to 2.2 million Americans under the Social Security Fairness Act,' Dudek wrote in his department's defense, in the piece published May 6. The new head of the organization, Frank Bisignano, was sworn in the following day and said, 'President Trump has been clear about Social Security. We will protect it.' Taking a page out of the commander-in-chief's playbook, Dudek also took aim at journalists. 'Some in the media have erroneously reported that our optimization effort includes terminating 12% or more of our workforce,' he said in the piece, titled 'Don't trust the media's Social Security hysteria.' 'Not true: In fact, the number of SSA employees involuntarily removed from federal service so far this fiscal year amounts to one-tenth of one percent of our total employees, in line with the prior year, under the previous administration.' He also said no local SSA field offices are being permanently closed and listed other accomplishments like identifying over $1 billion in savings. However, earlier statements from the administration itself contradict some of Dudek's op-ed. The agency's incoherent communication may exacerbate fears about the future of America's retirement safety net. During a March meeting, officials revealed that panicked Americans were claiming benefits earlier, paying the SSA $100 for certified copies of earnings records, and making more visits to field offices and calls to the agency. This came after news of multiple changes at the agency and President Trump and Elon Musk claiming there was widespread fraud. The SSA is also expected to run out of funds by 2035, at which point only around 80% of full benefits will be paid. Action from Congress will be needed to avoid this. It should be noted that the 'Social Security Fairness Act' which Dudek takes credit for was passed into law on January 5 — roughly 15 days before President Donald Trump took office and more than a month before Dudek was appointed as acting commissioner. The bill was first introduced in 2023. In other words, billions of dollars in retroactive benefits were put into motion by the previous administration. On February 28, the SSA published a statement on its website stating that it plans to reduce the workforce from 57,000 to 50,000 — which would imply a 12% reduction. It should be noted that this statement is focused on future plans. Dudek's statement about the workforce is backward looking since the federal government's fiscal year runs from October 1 to September 30. While the SSA has said no field offices are being permanently closed, a report from Government Executive says, a draft plan for service delivery includes 'field office consolidation" as a goal for next year. "The scope of the envisioned 'consolidations' is unclear, though the document singles out field offices as on the chopping block next year," it said. Read more: This is how American car dealers use the '4-square method' to make big profits off you — and how you can ensure you pay a fair price for all your vehicle costs Meanwhile, American taxpayers looking ahead see a bleak future for this program. According to a March Gallup poll, public concern about Social Security has hit a 15-year high. Another survey by the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) and Greenwald Research found that 8 in 10 workers (79%) and 7 in 10 retirees (71%) are at least somewhat about the U.S. government making significant changes to the American retirement system. Sixty percent of workers and 80% of the retirees who are concerned worry that changes could reduce their Social Security benefit. If you're worried about the future of this program, here's how you can protect yourself. The future of the public safety net is uncertain, and if you haven't already, this could be a good time to start weaving your own safety net for retirement. Lean on tax-advantaged accounts such as the 401(k) and Roth IRA to accumulate a retirement nest egg in the most tax efficient way. You could also consider a Health Savings Account, which has a triple tax advantage, to prepare for the costs of medical care in your senior years. Speak to an expert financial advisor to create the best portfolio for your goals. Create an emergency fund so that you don't have to raid your 401(k) if something unexpected takes place. Picking the right age to retire and minimizing your spending could go a long way towards protecting your family's finances. Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan 'works every single time' to kill debt, get rich in America — and that 'anyone' can do it Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Robert Kiyosaki warns of a 'Greater Depression' coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 'easy-money' assets will bring in 'great wealth'. How to get in now Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
