Through a series of widely reported moves, the Trump administration through Elon Musk’s Department of Administration Efficiency (DOGE), is a barrier to social security’s ability to provide services.
SSA services are crucial, but insufficient resources
Many people must turn to the Social Security Agency (SSA) for major milestones in life, including the birth of children, participation in health insurance, and apply for various benefits such as retirement, disability, low-income subsidies (“extra help”) and supplementary safe income (SSI).
Despite its functionally critical functions, the agency has long been underresourced and understaffed to keep up with growing demand. As the figure shows, the number of people serving SSA increases as staff drops. In 2015, the most recent staffing highs, SSA staffing 7 million fewer beneficiaries than today. Currently, the agency has a staffing capacity of 25 years.
This understaffed person has resulted in a backlog, waiting time for calls is high, and limited in-person services are available only for dates. About Medicare Rights National Hotline, we often hear from people facing these obstacles. Many people report spending a lot of time and other resources on finding solutions as well as cascading effects, which can be difficult to obtain timely information about benefits, coverage and enrollment, which can lead to delays in care.
Although the agency is slim
Doge claims it is necessary to cut SSA in the name of efficiency, so targeting the agency's on-site offices, workforce and telephone services. These are key touch points for those with Medicare.
Doge presided over the announcement that the SSA field office will be closed soon. Those currently being demolished include: White Plains, New York; Logan, West Virginia; Carlsbad, California; Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina; Batesville, Arkansas; Columbus, Ohio; Okeemos, Michigan; Nacogdoches, Texas; Green Bay, Wisconsin; and Las Vegas, Nevada.
These, along with any closed options, will negatively affect SSA customer service and beneficiary experience. These cuts will make face-to-face dates more difficult and by forcing people to wait longer and go further. People who need face-to-face assistance now have to travel 135 miles due to the closing of the White Plains office. This will be difficult for many people, and it will be impossible for some.
People who need face-to-face assistance now have to travel 135 miles due to the closing of the White Plains office.
The government also announced that it would reduce SSA's workforce by 7,000 and claimed that it was already “clumsy” institution “swelling”.
The government then said in a two-time fist that it would severely cut opportunities for restricting retirement or disability services by phone – announcing that they went back later – while also requiring parents in certain states to go to the on-site offices to get the social security number of newborns, announcing that they went back later, too.
Despite the words
Although President Trump claims that Taoist events and SSA promised to “prioritize customer service” and that Social Security “will not touch”, each of these actions poses a threat to the services of beneficiaries. To sum up, they may cause people to move forward without health insurance coverage, social security benefits and other services needed.
On Medicare rights, we know how many people have Medicare and those close to Medicare qualifications rely on the agency, and we are deeply concerned about the impact of employee shortages, office closures and service backlogs. The attack on SSA puts everyone at risk of losing these important services and undermines millions of dollars in income and health insurance. SSA must not be in trouble, and social security itself must be protected to ensure that current and future beneficiaries receive the help they need and pay for their lifetime.
Take action today
If you are worried about Doge limiting opportunities to gain key benefits, hear your voice.
Contact the White House:
You can find the name and contact information of the members of Congress (office phone number and website, most of which have a contact form or portal) by entering your address at your address or calling the U.S. Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121 and asking to connect it to their office.
Medicaid remains under threat. Take action immediately and tell Congress not to cut Medicaid.
Further reading
Read more about SSA’s threatened personnel cuts and office closures.
Visit SSA's website to view services provided by Services SSA.
Read the fact sheet for SSA on justice for aging.
Learn about ways to improve social security benefits.
