Puerto Rico’s Family Department responded to union claims that a call center for the agency was paying $7,000 in monthly salaries, saying the new hires respond to a proposal approved and authorized by the Social Security Administration (SSA) for Puerto Rico’s Disability Determination Program. The agency said maximum monthly compensations range between $3,200 and $4,480, under two-year contracts.
The hourly pay is $20 for the Program Support 1 (PS1) category, $23 for PS2 and $28 for PS3, the last reserved for specialized functions. These independent contractors receive no marginal benefits and do not replace career personnel. According to the Family Department, on September 17, 2026, the SSA confirmed in writing its commitment to reimburse the necessary costs associated with these hires, in accordance with applicable federal procedures.
The agency said the operational reinforcement has the backing of the program’s federal management and responds to duly justified needs. The contracted functions are exclusively administrative and specialized support, with no authority to adjudicate claims or determine eligibility for benefits.