Trump’s social security administration has proposed a major change that could force thousands of people each week to appear at a list of narrowing field offices before being able to receive services.
In an effort to fight against fraud, SSA has suggested that citizens apply for social security or invalidity services by phone would also have, for the first time, to check their identity using an online program called “Internet ID. Washington Post.
If they cannot check their online identity, they will have to file documents in their nearest field office, according to the memo sent last week by the acting commissioner for Doris Diaz operations to the Social Security Commissioner Leland Dudek.
The memo recognized that the potential change could force around 75,000 to 85,000 people per week to search for offices in the field to confirm their identity and could lead to “increased challenges for vulnerable populations”, “longer waiting times and treatment time” and “an increased request for office appointments”, the memo read, according to the Job.
Change would disproportionately affect older populations who may not be warned on the Internet and those who have a handicap. Applicants looking for a field office will also have less to choose, because more than 40 out of 1,200 New York Times reportedCiting the social security defense group. The list of offices that should close is based on an unreliable list published by DOGE, according to Social Security Works. The Doge of Elon Musk also said that it would reduce 7,000 of the 57,000 SSA employees.
The White House and the Social Security Administration did not immediately respond to FortuneComment request.
SSA previously planned to remove the telephone service for complaints, the Job Reported, but back after a report of the point of sale. Be that as it may, the SSA said that applicants seeking to modify their bank account information will now have to do so online or in person and could no longer do so by phone.
Almost all transactions from a campaign office require an appointment that already takes months to make, according to the Job.
The White House said several times He will not reduce social benefits, medication or medicationAnd said the changes had to reduce fraud. A July 2024 report by the Inspector General of the Social Security Administration said that between the 2015 financial year and the year 2022, the SSA sent 8.6 billions of dollars in disbursements. According to the report.
The acting commissioner of Social Security Dudek said that for telephone calls, the agency “explores the means to implement the AI - safely and governed in accordance with the” guidance of the management and budget office “to rationalize and improve the resolution of calls”, according to a memo on Tuesday obtained by NBC News.
Dudek mentioned in the memo that the agency was frequently mentioned in the media, which insisted on the employees.
“During the last month, this agency experienced an unprecedented level of media coverage, some of which are true and deserved, while some have not been factual and painted the agency in a very negative light,” he wrote. “I know it was stressful for you and caused disturbances in your life. Personally, I made mistakes, which makes me human like you. I promise you, I will continue to make mistakes, but I will learn from them. My decisions will always be with the best intentions for this agency, the people we serve and you. ”
This story was initially presented on Fortune.com
