Social Security is in the hotseat lately politically. Elon Musk recently said on Joe Rogan that it was a Ponzi scheme. Additionally, Axios has reported that they will be making cuts to social security phone services. This would curtail someone from continuing a phone call if they were unable to verify their identity. Acting deputy Social Security commissioner for operations Doris Diaz even acknowledged that the beneficiaries who would be impacted by the order would be ones that do not have a proper internet connection. Karoline Leavitt, the White House Press Secretary reiterated the White House’s position that Social Security claims would be unaffected.
Social Security Changes Potentially Affecting Elderly
According to reporting from the Washington Post and others, it seems as if the Trump administration said during the election that they were not going to touch social security. Yet, with a stated goal to lay off more than 12% of their staff and closing many field offices they seem to be doing exactly that. Verifying direct deposit will also no longer be handled over the phone. The stated goal is to combat fraud. but it affects beneficiaries in addition to new beneficiaries. Newly naturalized citizens will have to go in person to receive their benefit card rather than receiving it in the mail. Wait times are already very long. These can range from 120 minutes to 180 minutes, and sometimes waiting times can exceed 4 hours.
The Post reports on one such person who received a callback after two hours. The acting Director Leland Dudek agreed that 24% of the chance of your call being taken up by a participant on a phone call to reporters was unacceptable. The Post reports that elderly people are worried about receiving their social security benefits and are even showing up to the offices themselves to ask questions about the changes to DOGE. The Post reports that people are becoming very anxious, leading to a predictable line of questioning about the current state and future of Social Security.
Democrats Concerned About the Possibility of Privatization
DOGE has implemented a spending freeze on Social Security offices which require them to only purchase items in certain categories, and it does not include office supplies. In Portland Oregon, the phone system is so busy that they are telling people to send questions or info by fax because they can’t get to them. It was described by Chase Stowell, case management for Assist, a non-profit group that helps disabled people apply for benefits, a lot of which are homeless, as being off the charts.
This all comes as Frank Bisignano, the new pick for Social Security underwent hearings on Tuesday, March 25th in the Senate, categorically denying that he would want to or have ever entertained the idea that he would privatize the Social Security agency, a fear that Democrats have expressed as Trump and Musk and co have stepped up their attacks on the agency.
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