Social Security Payments 2022: Why Is the Heat Wave a Major Problem for Customers?

The heat wave in the U.S. is affecting not only reservoirs but also the Social Security Administration and the recipients of its payments.

Social Security payments 2022 and its long queue could be safety concerns as customers stand in the heat waiting to get inside field offices.

The House Ways and Means Committee sent a letter to the SSA, addressed to the agency's Acting Commissioner Kilolo Kijakazi, calling for a response over the concern, according to a Go Banking Rates report.

The bipartisan letter stated that some locations of SSA field offices have people standing outside in the heat for hours at a time without the assurance that their claims would be addressed. The letter was signed by U.S. Reps. Richard Neal, the Democrat chair of the House Ways and Means Committee and Kevin Brady, the committee's Republican leader.

The letter sent to SSA also noted that customers have experienced waiting more than six hours in 100-degree heat.

In the Florida SSA office, some customers slept outside the field office to secure their spots in line for the following day.

In some cases, some customers have had to come back on several days to get their needs addressed.

CNBC News noted that Kijakazi stated that people should call first or use the agency's online services rather than walking in without an appointment.

The acting commissioner added that SSA offices tend to be busiest in the morning and early in the week and month.

Heat Wave in the U.S.

Millions of people are expected to experience extreme temperatures more frequently and for longer periods across the United States. The rising temperature is seen to increase as climate change worsens.

Around 40 percent of Americans have endured at least three consecutive days of 100-plus degree heat on average, based on The Washington Post analysis. The analysis added that the number of Americans experiencing that kind of temperature will increase to 63 percent of the population in the next 30 years.

Texas and Florida residents could experience 70 consecutive days with the heat index rising 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

The analysis also found that Miami-Dade County in Florida will likely suffer the most extreme change, wherein the county sees about 50 days of a heat index above 100 degrees. It could likely turn to 91 hot days by 2053.

Social Security Offices

In March 2020, SSA closed its offices across the country due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The administration announced its reopening starting March 30.

More than 1,200 field offices of SSA were expected to open with the agreement reached in January between the unions representing workers for the agency.

Disability Scoop reported that the new agreement stated that all employees and visitors will be ordered to wear masks in the SSA offices regardless of their vaccination status.

Kijakazi noted at the time that they knew the public will have to question what the SSA offices reopening meant. He then advised to continue reaching out to the agency online or a national number and will let claimants know when they are able to restore additional services.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: People wait outside social security offices in near record heat - from ABC 13 Houston