Social Security employees warn massive delays coming as bosses make 4 changes – and millions of checks may be stopped

SOCIAL Security workers have warned that huge delays over at the SSA could soon impact Americans, potentially impacting millions of payments.

Turmoil is taking root at the federal agency as four big changes roll out, including one particularly disruptive switch-up.

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Major changes are underway at the Social Security Administration[/caption]

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Four big Social Security changes could mean delayed or stopped payments for beneficiaries[/caption]

SSA workers at processing centers typically prioritize new claims and appeals each day, but these routine tasks are now being put on the back burner.

Staff at a handful of the country’s eight processing centers were instructed late last month to prioritize Social Security Fairness Act payments over other daily tasks.

Before leaving office, former President Joe Biden signed the Social Security Fairness Act into law on January 5, eliminating the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset.

These two provisions reduced Social Security benefits for Americans who also received pensions from public employment not covered by Social Security. 

Thanks to the Social Security Fairness Act, millions of public sector workers will now receive larger Social Security checks and some may qualify for benefits for the first time – but the law also entails a greater workload for SSA staff.

While the administration originally set out to process over 3.2 million Fairness Act claims by November, new Social Security commissioner Frank Bisignano is speeding up that timeline.

He has instructed Social Security staff to focus on processing those payments, aiming to get the work done “while the weather is warm,” Bisignano told senators during his March confirmation hearing.

“Using automation, SSA has already expedited over $15.1 billion in long-delayed retroactive payments to more than 2.3 million individuals affected,” White House spokesperson Liz Huston said.

The complexity of the remaining roughly 900,000 cases requires that they be manually updated.

The SSA is now prioritizing these cases, with Bisignano targeting a July 1 completion date, several Social Security employees told USA Today.

Social Security employees have even been offered weekend overtime to complete the remaining Fairness Act claims on time.

HOW WILL YOU BE IMPACTED?

As SSA staff scramble to complete their new top priority task, the White House has said that the additional work will not impact other Social Security recipients.

“This project is very important to leadership and it’s critical the agency executes it swiftly, efficiently, and without letting anything else fall through the cracks,” said Huston.

Social Security employees, on the other hand, have warned that millions of Americans could be impacted.

Making an address or bank account change may take much longer than usual, for example, and many beneficiaries could experience delays or even stopped benefits, Social Security employees told USA Today.

Several of the typical tasks that may be cast aside, such as switching direct deposit details or fixing issues with Medicaid billing, could mean the difference between receiving a check or not, according to the workers.

Because over 71 million Americans rely on Medicaid, any widespread disruption to these processes could affect a significant portion of beneficiaries – potentially causing delays or interruptions for millions.

Some SSA customer service workers have even been instructed to only assist callers if they need help with a Social Security Fairness Act case, new claim, or appeal, “until our workload focus is lifted.”

The administration receives roughly 400,000 calls each day, but those needing help with “non-priority” issues – such as overpayment assistance, updating direct deposit information, checking on monthly payment rates, and Medicare billing related issues – may be turned away.

SOCIAL SECURITY SWITCH-UPS

Beyond the upheaval at the SSA caused by the new Social Security Fairness Act, three other major changes are impacting Americans.

For example, mass layoffs and buyout offers are shaving down the number of Social Security staff, potentially exacerbating delay issues at the SSA.

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.

The agency is working to cut down its staff by roughly 7,000 jobs, or 12%, aiming for a target workforce of 50,000 employees.

Another big change pertains to identity verification procedures, with the SSA looking to reduce Social Security fraud by requiring Americans to visit a local office if unable use their online account for certain services.

This new requirement, effective April 14, could potentially cause delays or issues for those without the necessary documentation, facing language barriers, or those with mobility issues.

Technological barriers may also prove problematic for certain beneficiaries, such as those without reliable internet access, computer literacy, or the necessary technology.

The SSA has also made a handful of changes to its tech systems that have resulted in several website failures, sparking fear among the millions of Americans who rely on their Social Security benefits.

The series of changes has resulted in increased wait times for phone assistance as well as a lengthier wait to schedule an in-person appointment at a field office.

Check out these other changes underway at Social Security.

One “massive” change could impact hundreds of thousands of Americans each day – it’ll be “completed this year.”

Plus, Social Security is set to make history with the first ever payout switch in 90 years – and millions are affected.