millions of americans rely on social Security Benefits face major changes after the Social Security Administration (SSA) launched a nationwide overhaul that changed the way claims and appointments are processed, replacing a long-standing system of local offices with a centralized national model.
The SSA said earlier this year that starting March 7, Social Security beneficiaries will no longer receive assistance from local office personnel when scheduling appointments.
Instead, appointments and claims will be processed through the national workload management system, meaning cases can be handled by staff anywhere in the country.
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National Appointment Scheduling Calendar (NASC) and National Workload Management (NWLM)
SSA Two new technology platforms were launched across the country: the National Appointment Scheduling Calendar (NASC) and the National Workload Management (NWLM) system.
The NASAC system allows users to make their own reservations. Beneficiaries can now plan their own Social Security appointments through the new NASC system, rather than relying solely on local offices.
Previously, Social Security cases were typically managed by staff at the beneficiary’s local office, where appointments were scheduled and claims processed. Under the new system, requests will be routed across the country and assigned to any available staff member with relevant expertise.
Once a claim is submitted, a second system will manage it. Once a Social Security application is received, the National Workload Management (NWLM) system takes over and determines which employee will handle the case.
Officials said the change was intended to reduce delays and clear a backlog of orders in some areas. The agency believes the state system will speed up case processing by evenly distributing work across the country.
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Why did SSA launch these two systems?
The reform also comes at a time of pressure on workers. SSA has experienced attrition in recent years, with thousands of employees leaving the agency, leaving various field offices struggling to manage workloads.
SSA has eliminated thousands of jobs. The agency previously laid off 7,000 employees, or about 12% of its workforce, primarily through voluntary incentives, The Sun reported.
An SSA spokesperson told nexda“We are leveraging technology to improve the customer experience and give our employees the tools they need to better serve the American people.”
They further discussed providing better service to beneficiaries, saying: “This internal-facing technology will be implemented on a rolling basis this year. Customers will not notice any changes other than expanded appointment availability.”
