Since Trump’s arrival to power, changes have not ceased, and the Social Security Administration (SSA) has not been exempt. The upcoming changes come from Frank Bisignano, the Social Security Commissioner appointed by Trump, whose goal is to digitalize SSA procedures. The next modifications aim to eliminate potential identification frauds. If approved, the new measure will require that any transaction with the SSA depend on identification through the mySocialSecurity portal, or by physically visiting one of its offices.
This poses a serious problem for older people or those with disabilities, who until now conducted their transactions by phone without any issues, as stated by Nancy LeaMond, Director of Promotion and Engagement at AARP. In response to this, Kathleen Romig, director of Social Security and disability policy at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, argues that there is no evidence pointing to fraud issues at the time of identification. In light of the avalanche of complaints, the Commissioner has claimed that it will not be a mandatory identification, although that is not what was said in the presentation.
Changes in Social Security Administration
Almost as if it were a game, Trump has only modified laws, repealed, implemented, suppressed here, cut back there, increased for some and taken away from others. Even the Social Security Administration (SSA) has been a victim of these changes, from withholding 50% to recover overpayments to beneficiaries, to mass layoffs of 7,000 employees under the downsizing plans of the Department of Government Efficiency that he created for his now ex-friend Elon Musk. Among the latest news is the appointment of Frank Bisignano as Commissioner of the SSA last January.
Latest news from Social Security
The objective of Bisignano is clear: to turn Social Security into a “digital organization.” According to the Commissioner, the measures on the table would prevent potential fraud when identifying oneself to the Administration. Until now, any beneficiary, including the elderly, could check the changes to their accounts or the status of their applications through a phone call. However, the new proposal intends that before accessing this information, the applicant will have to verify themselves online or visit an SSA office in person. According to the Social Security Office of Management and Budget recently, “The agency is expanding its online authentication requirement for address changes, claim status requests, benefit verification letters, and tax statements”.
How does this change affect older adults?
In the event that this proposal is approved, it would come into effect starting August 18, 2025. It would be then that users would have to verify online through mySocialSecurity, where they would receive a unique pin. Only then could they be assisted over the phone. If this option is not convincing, the alternative would be to go in person to a Social Security office. The issue is that millions of elderly citizens and disabled people do not have the means to opt for either of the two options proposed by Bisignano. Many associations have come out in defense of these groups, arguing about the problems this poses for them.
What do the defending associations declare?
Nancy LeaMond, Director of Promotion and Engagement at AARP, wrote in a letter to SSA Commissioner Frank Bisignano, where it read, “For many older Americans, the phone is how they access Social Security services without having to rely on complicated technology or long, difficult or costly trips to field offices.” She adds, “We are concerned that with this new policy, older Americans, especially in rural areas, will have to call, wait on hold for hours, and then wait weeks for an appointment – and in some cases even take time off work – to complete simple transactions that they have been able to do by phone”.
On her part, the director of Social Security and Disability Policy at the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, Kathleen Romig, argues that there is no precedent case of fraud justifying this new measure. “The new anti-fraud policies will increase field visits by 17%, which will require beneficiaries to spend 3 million hours driving to the offices to complete their transactions,” she explained.
Bisgnano also wants to eliminate these elements from the SSA, find out what they are!