Social Security, facing pressure from DOGE, weighs big cuts to phone service

[Zincwarrior]

Doge is pressuring the Social Security Admin to close down much of its phone answering network, referring recipients to the internet or in person field offices. This seems to be the opposite of efficient, given the older makeup of their recipient base.

MSN

Under pressure from the U.S. DOGE Service team to root out alleged fraud, the Social Security Administration is considering dramatically curtailing the phone services that 73 million retired and disabled Americans rely on to apply for and access their earned government benefits, according to two people briefed on internal deliberations and records obtained by The Washington Post.


Social Security leadership is considering a proposal to end telephone service for claims processing and direct-deposit bank account transactions, instead directing elderly and disabled people to the internet and in-person field offices, according to one of the people and the records. The change would disrupt Social Security’s internal operations and threaten its ability to serve the public, current and former officials warned, just as DOGE is targeting the agency for across-the-board staff cuts of more than 12 percent. They also noted that the agency’s toll-free number is a mainstay for older customers who do not have online access or who have trouble navigating the internet.

The proposed change comes less than a month after members of the DOGE team arrived at the agency and began looking for ways to cut what they labeled “fraud, waste and abuse” as part of their mandate from President Donald Trump to slim down government, the people said. DOGE, which stands for the Department of Government Efficiency, has sought to slash staff and spending across all federal agencies, stirring chaos and criticism that the team is cutting essential functions.

 

[IM2]

DOGE needs to be closed.

 

[d0gbreath]

Neither my wife, nor I, got our SS earnings reports this year. I tried calling them yesterday, but got the computer voice that is completely worthless.

 

[theHawk]

Doge is pressuring the Social Security Admin to close down much of its phone answering network, referring recipients to the internet or in person field offices. This seems to be the opposite of efficient, given the older makeup of their recipient base.

MSN

They don’t have a phone answering network.

I have family that try calling SS for their issues and stay on hold 5+ hours. Nothing is ever resolved.

It needs to be totally rebuilt from the ground up.

 

[WorldWatcher]

Neither my wife, nor I, got our SS earnings reports this year. I tried calling them yesterday, but got the computer voice that is completely worthless.

They used to mail them out to everyone. We got one for years. Then they stopped.

To reduce fraud, waste and abuse they now only mail them to individuals over 60 who are not receiving Social Security benefits.

You can login and download your regular statements as normal.

It was a waste to mail out millions of statements that no one read. It reduces fraud and abuse be eliminating the possibility of the the statements being lifted from mail boxes.

If you would like to receive a paper statement, download and complete Form SSA-7004, "Request for Social Security Statement," and mail it in.

WW
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Get Your Social Security Statement | my Social Security | SSA

Check out what the Social Security Statement should look like based on your age.

www.ssa.gov

 

[WorldWatcher]

They don’t have a phone answering network.

I have family that try calling SS for their issues and stay on hold 5+ hours. Nothing is ever resolved.

It needs to be totally rebuilt from the ground up.

Called before Christmas as my wife was retiring Feb 1st and we had some questions.

We were on hold for about 15 minutes and the person was very helpful.

Of course we are in Virginia and called early in the morning before Central, Mountain, and Pacific people came online.

WW

 

[d0gbreath]

They used to mail them out to everyone. We got one for years. Then they stopped.

To reduce fraud, waste and abuse they now only mail them to individuals over 60 who are not receiving Social Security benefits.

You can login and download your regular statements as normal.

It was a waste to mail out millions of statements that no one read. It reduces fraud and abuse be eliminating the possibility of the the statements being lifted from mail boxes.

If you would like to receive a paper statement, download and complete Form SSA-7004, "Request for Social Security Statement," and mail it in.

WW
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.
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Get Your Social Security Statement | my Social Security | SSA

Check out what the Social Security Statement should look like based on your age.

www.ssa.gov

I did request one from SS.gov. but I can't request one for my wife, and she's not living here now. Maybe I should just drop filing to the IRS. We haven't paid a penny in the last seven years. I doubt that they'll miss us.

 

[WorldWatcher]

I did request one from SS.gov. but I can't request one for my wife, and she's not living here now. Maybe I should just drop filing to the IRS. We haven't paid a penny in the last seven years. I doubt that they'll miss us.

Well, she can request her own, and she doesn't need to "live here now" (as in the US) to order it. SS records are individual and as her husband you don't have access.

I suppose you could get her to issue you a General Power of Attorney to act on her behalf. I doubt that is likely.

WW

 

[d0gbreath]

Well, she can request her own, and she doesn't need to "live here now" (as in the US) to order it. SS records are individual and as her husband you don't have access.

I suppose you could get her to issue you a General Power of Attorney to act on her behalf. I doubt that is likely.

WW

If they send me mine, I can probably do the CoL math on hers from last year.

 

[OhPleaseJustQuit]

Neither my wife, nor I, got our SS earnings reports this year. I tried calling them yesterday, but got the computer voice that is completely worthless.

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Just opened my bank statement. No missing SS deposits. Ditto VA Disability deposits.

All's good.


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[d0gbreath]

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Just opened my bank statement. No missing SS deposits. Ditto VA Disability deposits.

All's good.


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Same here, but that is not what I was talking about.

 

[bendog]

Called before Christmas as my wife was retiring Feb 1st and we had some questions.

We were on hold for about 15 minutes and the person was very helpful.

Of course we are in Virginia and called early in the morning before Central, Mountain, and Pacific people came online.

WW

yeah, my wife received very helpful phone info when she retired early, and again when I hit 67. And the walk in and wait office was helpful with my kid getting documentation for college.

It seems Dodge's plan is to reduce benefits by not answering questions.

 

[OhPleaseJustQuit]

Same here, but that is not what I was talking about.

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Yeah, I got my earnings statement too. I just toss into a pile that I haven't looked at in a couple of years, because I have no taxable income.


.

 

[WorldWatcher]

If they send me mine, I can probably do the CoL math on hers from last year.

Ya you can get a guesstimate, but that's all the statements are anyway.

COL is only part, the AMOUNT of SS changes from year to year also depending if you retire early, at FRA, or have waited past FRA.

WW

 

[d0gbreath]

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Yeah, I got my earnings statement too. I just toss into a pile that I haven't looked at in a couple of years, because I have no taxable income.


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Since we don't either, are you telling me that you don't file, and neither should I?

 

[WorldWatcher]

Since we don't either, are you telling me that you don't file, and neither should I?

See below.

WW
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Check if you need to file a tax return | Internal Revenue Service

Find out if you have to file a federal income tax return and why it may pay you to file even if you don’t have to.

www.irs.gov

 

[debbiedowner]

DOGE needs to be closed.

eliminated, extermindated, closed and ....

 

[debbiedowner]

They don’t have a phone answering network.

I have family that try calling SS for their issues and stay on hold 5+ hours. Nothing is ever resolved.

It needs to be totally rebuilt from the ground up.

If you call them 8AM est on the dot they answer. I am on cst I call at 701 and never had problem. Of course on the west coast needs to call at 5AM

 

[d0gbreath]

See below.

WW
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Check if you need to file a tax return | Internal Revenue Service

Find out if you have to file a federal income tax return and why it may pay you to file even if you don’t have to.

www.irs.gov

We always come in just under "$32,300 or more (both spouses 65 or older)". so I'm not going to file this year. Yippee!

 

[debbiedowner]

I did request one from SS.gov. but I can't request one for my wife, and she's not living here now. Maybe I should just drop filing to the IRS. We haven't paid a penny in the last seven years. I doubt that they'll miss us.

You can download one from SSA.gov but it sometimes is a hassle signing up with ID,me but once you do every silly thing to get your used id and password it fairly easy.

Our local office is packed everyday from the time open until closed. Most people don't have the time to stand in line.