The DOGE honorary secretariat, managed by Donald Trump and Elon Musk, is promoting drastic changes in the Social Security Administration, the entity in charge of managing benefits for 73 million Americans. The proposed cuts could affect essential services, especially for older adults and people with disabilities, who represent almost 90% of those over 65 years of age dependent on the Social Security system.
The agency had announced a few months ago the reduction of its staff by 12%, a percentage that would be reached in May, according to Musk, and that would mean the elimination of 7,000 employees, through voluntary resignations and layoffs. In parallel, six of the ten regional offices will close, including the Transformation Office, created to modernize processes using digital tools.
Social Security services and benefits at risk
Trump and Musk insist that SSA “waste, fraud and abuse” must be eliminated, but they do not intend to affect benefits. What is happening is the closure of regional agencies in states such as Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
It is not known exactly what the extent of the benefit cuts is, but some fear that funding for the SSA budget could be affected. To date, the average Social Security retirement benefit is $1,976, while the maximum to which a beneficiary can access – with the corresponding requirements – is $5,108.
SSA tightens requirements: It may now be more difficult to qualify
The Social Security Administration (SSA) will implement new identity verification measures starting March 31. According to officials, beneficiaries will not be able to confirm their identity over the phone and must use the “My Social Security” portal or go in person to local offices. The change will affect new applicants and those who modify direct deposit information.
The agency will also reduce the processing time for direct deposit changes from 30 days to one business day. This adjustment will apply to both online and in-person procedures. “Social Security loses more than $100 million annually to deposit fraud,” said Acting SSA Commissioner Leland Dudek during a media conference.
Dudek noted that current authentication methods are vulnerable because “the information used is already in the public domain.” Organizations such as the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) warn that the in-person verification requirement will harm older adults in rural areas, people with disabilities or mobility limitations.
Representative John Larson criticized the measure in a statement: “Requiring seniors to register online or in offices that plan to close creates chaos.” The SSA has announced the closure of 47 offices in states including Arkansas, Texas and Florida, along with layoffs of thousands of employees, as part of a restructuring plan.
