Overview

• The SSA has fully reversed its proposal to restrict telephone-based claims, ensuring continued access for millions of beneficiaries after widespread criticism.
• The initial plan, aimed at combating fraud, would have required up to 85,000 claimants weekly to visit field offices for in-person verification.
• Only claims flagged for fraud risk—estimated at 70,000 out of 4.5 million annual telephone claims—will now require in-person follow-up.
• Advocacy groups like AARP and public figures, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren, mobilized against the policy, citing harm to vulnerable populations.
• Critics linked the policy to Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency under the Trump administration, accusing it of undermining SSA services.