Medicare Snafus Snare Social Security Staffers; a Busy Signal Answers 1 of Every 3 Callers

Summary

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WASHINGTON (AP) - The Social Security Administration is straining from spending cuts and extra work brought on by the new prescription drug benefit, according to internal correspondence from an agency official.

The agency is helping senior citizens and the disabled enroll in the drug benefit, plus it has responsibility for determining who qualifies for extra government help in paying for medicine. The agency is seeing a huge increase in phone calls and office visits as a result.

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Extract

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Medicare Snafus Snare Social Security Staffers; a Busy Signal Answers 1 of Every 3 Callers

One out of three calls to the agency's 1-800 number for information results in a busy ...

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