Social Security is making it harder for seniors to do routine tasks by phone in latest anti-fraud effort

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: CNN Politics

Updated Jul 29, 2025, 10:14 PM ET
PUBLISHED Jul 29, 2025, 6:42 PM ET


Senior citizens soon won’t be able to simply call the Social Security Administration to change their address or check the status of their benefit claim. Instead, they will have to first verify their identity online or go to a field office if they are unable to do so. In its latest effort to thwart fraud, the agency is expanding its online authentication requirement for address changes, claim status requests, benefit verification letters and tax statements, according to a regulatory filing Social Security recently submitted to the Office of Management and Budget.

The agency intends to implement the change by August 18, assuming OMB approves it. Advocacy groups, however, are raising concerns that many senior citizens and people with disabilities will not be able to complete the verification process, which includes the generation of a one-time PIN, through their mySocialSecurity accounts. The agency said in the filing that it expects 3.4 million people will need to go to field offices annually to complete the tasks.

“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,” Nancy LeaMond, AARP’s chief advocacy and engagement officer, wrote in a letter Tuesday to Social Security Commissioner Frank Bisignano.

“We are concerned that under this new policy, older Americans, especially those in rural areas, will have to call, wait on hold for possibly hours, and then wait weeks for an appointment — and in some cases even take time off work — to complete simple transactions they have long been able to do over the phone,” she wrote, urging the commissioner to reconsider the measure.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2025/07/29/politics/social-security-extra-verification

[Walleye]

1. If there's so damn much fraud let's see it

This is collective punishment for a whole segment of the population because a few people might be committing fraud. That’s not the way we’re supposed to do things in the United States.

[OldBaldy1701E]

2. Nah, it is an excuse to purge older people from the working population.

After all, we are not making anyone else richer, nor are we going away quietly, so they want us out of the picture.

We cost too much and we are less inclined to care about the stupid things that the dick-waving rethugs are concerned about.

So, make it all but impossible to do the things we were doing. Make it all but impossible for anyone who is not employed to do anything, in the hopes that 'those useless people' will just die off and stop voting for things that the rethugs don't like.

It is by design.

[MuseRider]

3. I could not agree more.

[Owens]

7. This is what Democrats need to do, call the republicans out!

[Walleye]

8. Yes, it gets frustrating, watching these fascists get away with so much stuff

[Bobstandard]

4. This is CNN being a propaganda tool

The headline accepts the Trump assertion at face value when the real reason is to wreck Social Security.

[Ritabert]

5. I was on hold with SSA for 2 hours trying to get an appointment at my local office

That includes a hangup by them after 45 minutes so I had to call back.

[Quanto Magnus]

6. I think they are going after people on SSDI

I'm on SSDI from a work injury sustained in 2007, resulting in a severe spine injury and multiple surgeries, permanent nerve damage and 24/7 pain bath.... I received a letter asking for my Compromise and Release agreement years after I had been approved for SSDI. I suspect this is a way for them to either reduce benefits or cut them off entirely.

Of course, I'm going to send them the paperwork, but given how Social Security is now and prior acts, I am dreading the next few months.

The phone system has always been very frustrating to me. Making it worse is going to lead to a lot of people losing their benefits. I suspect that is the goal.

[Skittles]

11. keep a detailed record of all your dealings with them

KEEP FIGHTING and never compromise on getting what you deserve; yes INDEED

[Karasu]

9. Fraud fraudy fraud fraud. Fucking hell. "Anti-fraud" really needs be in quotation marks here.

CNN is legitimizing this transparent fucking excuse of theirs.

[Bettie]

10. The whole point is to find reasons

to cut people's benefits off.

[Skittles]

12. it's just another form of bullying

yup