Social Security Bureau It offers financial incentives ranging from $15,000 to $25,000 for employees who choose to voluntarily resign from federal agencies.
A message sent to employees on Thursday said the agency would soon implement a restructuring, including workforce cuts and a “massive restructuring.”
The SSA said there could be a “repeal of organizations and positions” for wholesale.
Earlier this week, the Human Resources Bureau Advised agency A “reorganization plan” will be submitted by March 13th to prepare for “forced reductions.”
Thursday’s message will offer all Social Security employees three options ahead of the agency’s expected cuts. “voluntary reallocation to mission-critical positions,” voluntary early retirement, if eligible, or “voluntary separation incentive payments.”
Those who receive a voluntary separation incentive payment must opt ​​in by March 14th and leave the agency by April 19th. This option can be used as a “Road Fork” or Postponed resignation programme From the OPM, eligible federal employees may resign from their position until September 30th to maintain full amounts and benefits.
The incentive payments provided by SSAs depend on the classification of employees or where they are based on federal pay. People under the GS-8 will earn $15,000, while those classified as GS-9 will be classified as GS-12. Those with a GS-13 or higher will receive $25,000.
The SSA notes that employees who opt in can take administrative leave until April 19th and should not yet opt ​​for the buying program offered by OPM earlier this year.
Nancy Altman, president of advocacy group Social Security Works, told CBS News that she feared that employees would opt in to receive payments for the segregation, could already put a burden on benefits agencies that said they needed to reduce wait times and open more field offices rather than cuts.
“If people don’t take it, they’ll be constantly looking over their shoulders and watching emails waiting to see if they’ll be fired,” Altman said. “We’re going to add stress, chaos and uncertainty.”
Altman added that employees should first check whether their retirement payments from potential termination are greater than what the SSA offers to voluntarily resign.
Jill Hornik, a 33-year Social Security employee, said that public employees working in the field office and processing claims under Social Security’s 1-800 number were told they were exempt from the OPM acquisition offer from former acting SSA commissioner Michelle King.
“I knew (the King) would hurt public services,” said Hornick if these jobs were allowed to offer. Hornik is also the administrative director of the Illinois local branch of the United States Federation of Government Employees and represents hundreds of thousands of federal workers. “Because we’re staffed for 25 years.”
Now that the separation incentive is available, Hornick said there is “no doubt” that these frontline employees will take it, warning that the time for the claims to be processed “passing the roof.”
“I have tried to reassure (these) employees to take a deep breath, they are scared and scared that they will not be working tomorrow, so I put the roof on my head.
The incentive payments offered do not apply to probation employees who generally have work for less than a year, and must have been working in the enforcement department for at least three years.
Those looking to retire early must opt-in between March 1st and December 31st. To qualify for early retirement, employees must be at least 50 years old and have 20 years of “credible services” or provide 25 years of trustworthy services at any age.
SSA has seen some changes in recent weeks. Deputy SSA Committee Member Leland Dudek He was appointed to the role after the previous commissioner, kingresisted the efficiency of the White House government, or the ability for Doge staff to access sensitive institutional data.
Earlier this week, two SSA offices It’s closed – Bureau of Change and Bureau of Civil Rights and Equal Opportunity – As a result, 190 staff members took administrative leave.
