Brian Patrick Hogan
brian-hogan.bsky.social
Brian Patrick Hogan
@brian-hogan.bsky.social
nc lawyer | greensboro, nc | ssi, medicaid, aca, snap, wic, tanf | board certified specialist in social security disability law | @UNC @unc_law alumnus | any views expressed are my own.
Reposted by Brian Patrick Hogan
Entire Staff Is Fired at Office That Helps Poorer Americans Pay for Heating www.nytimes.com/2025/04/02/c...
Entire Staff Is Fired at LIHEAP
The move threatens to paralyze the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, which helps to offset high utility bills for roughly 6.2 million people nationwide.
www.nytimes.com
April 4, 2025 at 3:52 AM
Reposted by Brian Patrick Hogan
SSA just announced some changes to the "identity proofing" policy that has caused so much controversy because it will force millions more people to seek in-person help.

TL;DR: There's not much to see here. 🧵

www.ssa.gov/news/press/r...
Press Release | Press Office | SSA
2025 Press Releases
www.ssa.gov
March 26, 2025 at 9:43 PM
Reposted by Brian Patrick Hogan
The Trump administration has announced a flurry of changes at the agency that oversees Social Security. Advocates warn these moves could lead to people having a harder time getting help with benefits.
The Social Security Administration's many proposed changes are worrying advocates
The Trump administration has announced a flurry of changes at the agency that oversees Social Security. Advocates warn these moves could lead to people having a harder time getting help with benefits.
www.npr.org
March 22, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Reposted by Brian Patrick Hogan
Oh, I remember when SSA was last in the headlines for the Treasury Offset Program! It triggered widespread outcry & bipartisan condemnation.

Well, it’s back: www.ssa.gov/news/press/r...

wapo.st/4ikuJ6X
Lawmakers blast Social Security for targeting family members to resolve old debts
Lawmakers from both parties sent letters to the Social Security commissioner after learning that that agency has not lived up to its pledge to end the practice.
wapo.st
March 20, 2025 at 10:24 PM
Reposted by Brian Patrick Hogan
Scary situation at SSA: “Millions of Americans could soon feel the impact of the deep staffing cuts being planned at the Social Security Administration, which is undergoing a massive reorganization …being steered by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency.” www.cnn.com/2025/03/08/p...
‘A disruptive effect’: How slashing staff at the Social Security Administration is sparking fears the system could collapse | CNN Politics
Millions of Americans could soon feel the impact of the deep staffing cuts being planned at the Social Security Administration, which is undergoing a massive reorganization that the acting commissione...
www.cnn.com
March 8, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Reposted by Brian Patrick Hogan
This CNN piece today is really good clear succinct. In plain language with examples of impacts. Musk and his DOGE team at Social Security are driving the agency to total system collapse. www.cnn.com/2025/03/08/p...
‘A disruptive effect’: How slashing staff at the Social Security Administration is sparking fears the system could collapse | CNN Politics
Millions of Americans could soon feel the impact of the deep staffing cuts being planned at the Social Security Administration, which is undergoing a massive reorganization that the acting commissione...
www.cnn.com
March 8, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Reposted by Brian Patrick Hogan
This “massive” reduction in SSA staff will cause real suffering for people who need Social Security—which is to say, all of us. 69 million Americans get benefits now—that’s us, our parents & grandparents, our neighbors. The rest of us will, perhaps sooner than we think. More tomorrow…
Here's the memo that went out short time ago from SSA HR announcing "organizational restructuring" of Social Security admin. essentially one last chance to quit before you're all fired. talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/memo-...
Memo on “Organizational Restructuring” at Social Security Administration
A short time ago the Human Resources office of the Social Security...
talkingpointsmemo.com
February 28, 2025 at 1:32 AM
Reposted by Brian Patrick Hogan
Among those fired from Social Security's Office of Transformation is the woman leading the effort to identify and enroll child survivors.

These kids experienced the death of a parent, but they aren't getting the Social Security benefits their parents earned. 🧵

www.govexec.com/management/2...
Social Security shutters its civil rights and transformation offices
Among the people affected are those managing the agency’s website, a front door to services for Americans online.
www.govexec.com
February 27, 2025 at 10:28 AM
Reposted by Brian Patrick Hogan
DOGE has announced a total of 45 Social Security field office closures--so far.

SSA has 1,200 field offices where people can receive in-person help getting benefits, updating records, enrolling in Medicare & more.

They served 30M applicants & beneficiaries in 2023 — nearly 120K *per day*.
February 26, 2025 at 9:59 PM
Reposted by Brian Patrick Hogan
the SSA is already understaffed, already has ultra-low overhead, and its beneficiary pool consists of 73 million Americans
February 26, 2025 at 7:09 PM
Reposted by Brian Patrick Hogan
Social Security Offices are critical because many people, including the disabled, cannot actually access benefits without being in person. SSA closures led to a 16% decline in disability benefit receipt-w/largest impact on those w/moderately severe disabilities www.aeaweb.org/articles?id=...
February 22, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Reposted by Brian Patrick Hogan
NEW: Elon Musk’s team has descended on an already understaffed Social Security Administration, which now faces further workforce cuts and closures of vital local offices. The consequences could be significant for millions of the most vulnerable Americans.
Anxiety Mounts Among Social Security Recipients as DOGE Troops Settle In
Elon Musk’s team has descended on an already understaffed Social Security Administration, which now faces further workforce cuts and closures of vital local offices. The consequences could be significant for millions of the most vulnerable Americans.
www.propublica.org
February 22, 2025 at 11:15 AM