DOGE’s Latest Chaotic Move May Make It Harder To Receive Your Social Security Benefits

Millions of Americans rely on Social Security benefits to make ends meet, which is why any change to the program can be alarming.

And lately, under Elon Musk — who has described Social Security as “the biggest Ponzi scheme of all time” –– the so-called Department of Government Efficiency is pushing major changes to the program in ways you or your loved one may soon be affected by as part of its broader anti-fraud campaign.

Since DOGE has taken over, the Social Security Administration has made plans to cut thousands of staff and downsize services. One of biggest changes involves taking away the phone-call option for verifying enrollees’ identities.

Soon, the agency will no longer allow the majority of beneficiaries to authenticate their identity over the phone as they file for benefits or report a change in direct deposit details. People will now need to apply for benefits online or in person at their nearest Social Security office — which just isn’t convenient or even possible for many people, depending on their circumstances.

The problem is that many people enrolling into Social Security benefits do the whole application over the phone, and losing the phone option is a burden, said Kathleen Romig, director of Social Security and disability policy at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a think tank.

With online enrollment, people typically need to submit a photo of their identification, and if they don’t have the right smartphone or the right technological knowledge, that may be impossible.

“Not everybody is that adept at using a smartphone. Not everyone has the internet. So there’s a big chunk of people for whom this is just not possible with the technology they have,” Romig said. “And not everyone has an ID, especially older or disabled people, if they’re not driving.“

In other words, if you seek to claim your retirement benefits and have trouble navigating the web or accessing your online account to start your application, you can enroll by simply calling a toll-free Social Security number. This number is 1-800-772-1213.

But soon, that won’t be available for most people. SSA said it is eliminating enrollment by phone to strengthen identity verification and safeguard “against fraudulent activity.”

But it gets even more confusing. Following outcry from Social Security advocates about how this change will affect rural Americans and people with mobility issues, the agency announced on Wednesday that the requirement for online or in-person identity verification will not apply to disability insurance, Medicare and Supplemental Security Income applications. These groups can continue to file their applications entirely by phone, if desired.

But people filing for retirement, survivor or family benefits will soon still need to make an appointment at an SSA field office if they cannot complete a claim online. This change will now go into effect on April 14.

This new identity verification requirement will affect the majority of beneficiaries since three-quarters of Social Security beneficiaries are retirees.

“This policy will force more people to go online or make the time-consuming, arduous ― in the case of those who have mobility issues ― trip to a field office, which can be hours away for those in rural communities,” said Nancy Altman, president of Social Security Works, an advocacy group for the program. “The policy is creating a problem where none existed.“

Romig pointed out the change is also burdensome for families seeking survivor benefits since there is no online application for this particular program. “All parents of minor children are now going to have to visit a Social Security office in person to enroll when they used to be able to enroll over the phone,” she said. “These are grieving families, like their parent or spouse just died.“

People will also no longer be able to change a direct deposit routing number or make other bank updates by phone. You now will have to do it in person or online only.

You don’t need to do any identity verification if you are already enrolled in Social Security benefits. But these chaotic changes ― and SSA backtracks ― are causing people who already claim benefits to be confused, and they could be scammed into thinking they need to verify their personal information over the phone to maintain benefits.

“If you are getting benefits right now, you do not have to do any additional identity proofing unless you’re changing your direct deposit,” Romig said.

Bad actors are capitalizing upon the SSA changes, she added. Romig said she has heard from people who were told, “‘Unless you give me your Social Security number and your personal information via phone or text right now, your Social Security benefits will stop being paid.’ And that’s scaring people, and it’s also scamming people.“

Sometimes, a legitimate Social Security Administration staffer will call you if requested, likely if you have recently applied for benefits or require an update to your record. But know that a real Social Security Administration agent will never give you an unsolicited call or text demanding to know your Social Security number.

Ironically, Altman said that the DOGE-led effort to prevent fraud is making it more likely to happen. “The scammers are pretending that they are from the Social Security Administration and, in the guise of enforcing the new policy, are threatening that the beneficiary’s benefits will be suspended unless they provide the scammers all kinds of personal information,” she said.

If people find these DOGE-led changes upsetting, “My best advice is to complain loudly to their members of Congress,” Altman said. “Working families have earned and paid for first-class service that they are not getting.“

Altman added she has been advocating for Social Security for 50 years, “and I’ve never been as worried about it as I am today.”