According to American media reports, an internal letter from the Social Security Administration (SSA) dated Thursday suggests changes to telephone service rules that might restrict access to key services. The paper, issued by acting deputy commissioner Doris Díaz, aims to limit identification verification procedures for certain questions, according to official sources.
“It’s a big problem,” said Kathleen Romig, a former Social Security Administration director and current analyst at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. In words carried by national media, Romig noted that the measures would create a “true Catch-22,” making processes onerous for recipients, particularly in rural regions. The document recognizes that the limits would be “significant” for these populations.
changes would affect operations in local Social Security offices
A former SSA officer, commenting on the condition of anonymity, said that the ideas will “cripple already overstretched field offices.” The research emphasizes that requiring users to do in-person processes to update data or verify identities will worsen delays in a system facing staff reductions. The SSA has not acknowledged whether Acting Commissioner Leland Dudek approved the actions. “It’s a disaster in the making,” stated the anonymous official.
Jen Burdick, a disability benefits attorney, described the revisions as an effort to “block people from getting benefits.” According to their experience, 70% of telephone operations include identification verifications, which are critical for populations with limited mobility or no access to digital resources. The SSA has not made an official remark on the topic.
The letter advises that phone service be limited to basic queries that do not need identification verification. Users may now finish this step over the phone if automated methods fail. Experts say that discontinuing this option would harm 2.3 million yearly recipients, according to SSA figures for 2023, who live in locations with inadequate office presence.
Although the paper does not provide application dates, sources close to the agency suggest that the measures may be implemented in 2025. The Trump administration has repeated that its priority is combatting fraud and waste, but opponents argue that these changes will have a “devastating effect” on an already overburdened system, according to remarks cited in national media.
Cuts being done by Elon Musk’s DOGE
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, has implemented a series of measures that have significantly affected social benefits in the United States. These actions include:
Social Security Office Closings: At least 10 Social Security Administration (SSA) offices have been closed in various cities, including Brunswick, Columbus, Gainesville, Thomasville, Vidalia, Anniston, Cullman, Gadsden, Jasper, Batesville, Forrest City, Jonesboro, Texarkana, Elizabeth City, Franklin, Greenville, Roanoke Rapids, Grenada, Greenwood, Meridian, Abilene, Nacogdoches, Horseheads, Poughkeepsie and White Plains.
Mass layoffs of federal employees: Approximately 77,000 federal employees have been laid off, affecting agencies such as the SSA and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
Suspension of Social Security payments: Monthly Social Security payments have been proposed to be suspended for more than 170,000 beneficiaries, including children, disabled adults and seniors who receive benefits through representatives.