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2w ago

Social Security to End Phone Services for Benefits Applications Starting April 14

Millions of seniors face travel and access challenges as the SSA shifts to online and in-person verification amid operational hurdles.

Stock image/file photo: An elderly person holding an empty wallet/purse.
Social Security Administration headquarters. Photo: Wesley Lapointe for The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Social Security Administration stated that it manages roughly 4.5 million telephone claims per year and that 70,000 of them “may be flagged.”
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Overview

  • The Social Security Administration will end phone-based applications for retirement benefits and direct deposit updates on April 14, requiring applicants to use online tools or visit field offices in person.
  • Nearly 6 million seniors, particularly in rural areas like Alaska and North Dakota, face significant travel burdens, with some living hundreds of miles from the nearest field office.
  • Survivors’ benefits and children’s claims cannot be filed online, forcing grieving families and guardians to visit offices shortly after a loss.
  • The policy shift, framed by the Trump administration as a fraud prevention measure, has been criticized for its rushed rollout, operational confusion, and potential delays in service delivery.
  • The SSA is grappling with staffing cuts, technical issues, and a projected surge of 85,000 additional weekly walk-in visits, straining already backlogged field offices.