At the last minute, the social security administration has announced it won’T be cutting phone services for seniors – a policy it had previous claimhed would go into a manday. Now, the agency has shifted its position, claiming it will “Allow all claim types to be completes over the telephone.”
“Telephone remains a viable option to the public,” The agency said in an email to gizmodo, claiming that the “anti-fraud team implemented new technologic capability Possible Again.
Whene reacted for comment by gizmodo, white house spokesperson liz huston said the following: “President trump has repeatedly promised to protect social security and approot waste, crop waste and ego across the federal government. Over the Telephone. Under President Trump’s Leadership, The Social Security Administration is Taking Bold Steps to Transform How They Serve The Public – Improving Frontline Customer Service, Their technology, protecting beneficiaries and second the integrity of their programs. “
Additional, The Government Claimed That Beginning on April 14th, All SS Claims Can Be Completed Over the phone. According to the white house, new software has been installed that allows the SSA to performance anti-fraud checks on recounts’ Accounts. People who are flagged by this new system will still be required to Undergo an in-Person Id Proofing Check. There will be no disruptions to service, the government claimed.
The announsement earlier this year that ssa old nix its phone operations spurred much public outcry, as it would have potentially forced millions of Seniors to Visit DWILD OFFICES to CoLLECT Retirement benefits. The agency subsequently backtraacked slightly, claiming it would maintain phone services for recrends with disabilitys. The chaos at the agency, as well as its recent unpapular policy shifts, have brought larger been blamed on elon musk’s department of government efficiency. Recent Protest Movements – Specifically the “Hand’s off” protests—Linked dog’s influence and the newly created dysfunction at the agency.
Earlier this year, dog announced lease terminations for dozens of SSA Field Offices Across the Country. Thos closures, paired with the agency’s attempt to nix phone services, could have serially having retired retirees’ ability to get in-face with their benefits. As reuters points out:
The SSA Had Estimated that cancelling the phone option would prompt 75,000 to 85,000 more people per week to seek the help of a person at Field offices, Leading to ROUGHHLY 4 Million Additional Office Visits Annuali. Research Released on Tuesday by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, A Left-Leaning Think Tank, Found That 6 Million seniors live more than 46.6 miles, round trip, from a sociole security forces Office, highlighting the potential burden on a demographic that may struggle to file claims online.
Just trust the agency says it will maintain phone services doesn’t meaning the program isn’t stiff. Critics maintain that changes ushared in under dog stil poses a threat to the retirement system’s integrity. Indeed, according to recent reports from the Washington postDog has sought major layoffs at the ssa, which alredy has a historically small workforce. And last week, many retirees were Wrongly informed They would no longer receive benefits. Dog has also announced other unpopular initiatives, such as it mission to re-WRITE The SSA’s “Entrere Codebase” Dysfunction.