SOCIAL Security recipients will see a massive change in just weeks that will impact their accounts.
The move comes as the Social Security Administration (SSA) makes efforts to improve its customer service.
Social Security recipients will see a change soon that affects accounts (stock image)[/caption]
Some of the upgrades include the ability to interact with the federal agency’s online My Social Security online portal day or night.
It’s “uninterrupted, 24/7 access to customers starting mid-July,” according to a recent announcement from the SSA.
As it stands, there are select times during the week and on weekends where the portal is unavailable to beneficiaries.
The uninterrupted access is significant, as the My Social Security online portal serves as a vital resource for recipients and no-recipients to obtain documents and other details.
For example, a request for a replacement Social Security card if lost or stolen can be made through the portal.
Tax forms can also be downloaded, along with benefit verification letters, and changes of address can be made during a move.
Non-beneficiaries can also use the portal to get personalized estimates of their spouse’s Social Security benefits and check the status of any applications.
COMMISSIONER’S STATEMENT
SSA Commissioner Frank Bisignano said in a statement that the “top priority” on his list was to make the agency “a model of excellence — an organization that operates at peak efficiency and delivers outstanding service to every American.”
“The American people have waited long enough for better service, and they deserve the absolute best from their government.”
“I am deeply grateful to our dedicated employees who are already making this turnaround a reality,” he added.
The portal access is the second digital change the SSA has made recently, including upgrading phone technology at around 70% of its field offices, per Fox Business.
That helped reduce answering speed by at least 35%.
The SSA has had an eventful year so far in 2025.
It sent out backpay to about 3.1 million Americans after the controversial Government Pension Offset (GPO) and Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) were removed due to the Social Security Fairness Act of 2023.
HOW TO SUPPLEMENT YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY
Here’s how to supplement your Social Security:
Given the uncertainty surrounding Social Security’s long-term future, it’s essential for workers to consider ways to supplement their retirement income.
Senior Citizens League executive director, Shannon Benton recommends starting early with savings and investing in retirement accounts like 401(k)s or IRAs.
- 401(k) Plans
- A 401(k) is a retirement account offered through employers, where contributions are tax-deferred.
- Many employers also match employee contributions, typically between 2% and 4% of salary, making it a valuable tool for building retirement savings.
- Maxing out your 401(k) contributions, especially if your employer offers a match, should be a priority.
- IRAs
- An Individual Retirement Account (IRA) offers another avenue for retirement savings.
- Unlike a 401(k), an IRA isn’t tied to your employer, giving you more flexibility in your investment choices.
- Contributions to traditional IRAs are tax-deductible, and the funds grow tax-free until they are withdrawn, at which point they are taxed as income.
There were also job cuts at the SSA of over 7,000 staff, or about 13% of the agency’s total workforce, the largest in its history, per data from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
The SSA also caused controversy through an overpayment policy update.
OVERPAYMENT CHANGE
An overpayment occurs when the agency pays a recipient more money that they should’ve received in benefits.
Reasons for this happening vary, including if a recipient fails to update their annual income or an employment change, but sometimes its an error in the SSA system.
Either way, before the change this spring, the SSA would only withhold 10% of recipients monthly benefits to repay the overpayment.
Now, it’s 100% of future Social Security payments are withheld, according to a release from the SSA.
Supplemental Security Income is still at a 10% withholding rate.
It will recoup about $7 billion in overpayment over the next 10 years, according to estimates from the Office of the Chief Actuary.
The money is something the SSA sorely needs.
Projections show that a fund that the agency uses for benefits is expected to run out in just years, but there are two ways Americans can avoid the “depletion.”
There’s also an optimal age for retirees to start taking Social Security benefits, and it all depends on a single factor.
