Social Security office hours cut

Everyone is talking about proposed cuts to Social Security such as changing the inflation rate used to calculate cost-of-living-adjustments or raising the retirement age.

But other cuts are already underway. The agency announced today that it will close its nationwide offices to the public a half hour early each day.

Why less face time with the public? Social Security Commissioner Michael J. Astrue says Congress provided nearly $1 billion less for the agency’s budget than the president requested.