This bill, called the Hands Off Our Social Security Act, would set rules to protect Social Security benefits and how the Social Security Administration (SSA) operates. It would ban federal officers, special government employees, and contractors from changing, withholding, or delaying benefits except as the law allows. Any change to benefits would need an Act of Congress. The bill would bar collecting, sharing, or using beneficiary personal data except for running Social Security programs under current privacy laws and would forbid data use for commercial or political purposes. It would stop privatization or outsourcing of SSA services unless Congress approves. The bill would prevent workforce reductions, office closures, or consolidations at the SSA unless Congress authorizes them, and would require reports to Congress about staffing impacts. It would require the SSA to keep phone and in-person services as main ways for people to get help; new communication methods must be only supplementary. The Government Accountability Office would do yearly audits of SSA staffing, office operations, and communications and report findings to Congress. The bill also includes a severability clause.
If passed, the bill would make it harder for SSA leaders or contractors to change benefits, reduce staff, close offices, move services to private companies, or use beneficiary data for non-Social Security purposes without Congress passing a law first. People who use SSA services would have a legal expectation that phone and in-person help remain available. SSA employees would face restrictions on staffing changes that require congressional approval. The GAO would review and report on SSA operations each year.
No publicly available information.
The bill states its purpose is to ensure the continued effective operation of the SSA and to protect Social Security services for all Americans by prohibiting tampering with benefits, unauthorized data mining, privatization efforts, workforce reductions, office closures, and communication changes that hinder access to benefits.
No publicly available information.