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Post Layoffs, Recipients Are Having Trouble Contacting the SSA

Reports say the SSA workforce reductions are making it harder for Social Security beneficiaries to contact the organization or access their account online.

Headshot of Blake Stimac
Headshot of Blake Stimac
Blake Stimac Writer
Blake has over a decade of experience writing for the web, with a focus on mobile phones, where he covered the smartphone boom of the 2010s and the broader tech scene. When he's not in front of a keyboard, you'll most likely find him playing video games, watching horror flicks, or hunting down a good churro.
Blake Stimac
3 min read
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Layoffs at the SSA are imminent. Here's how beneficiaries could be affected. 

 CNET

A few short weeks after the Social Security Administration announced that it would cut 7,000 jobs, or about 14% of its workforce, those layoffs are starting to have a noticeable effect.

Beneficiaries have been experiencing greater challenges communicating with the agency stemming from those job cuts, according to a report from The Washington Post this week. Callers have had significant issues reaching the SSA by phone, and the website crashed four times in 10 days, preventing people from accessing their My Social Security account online, according to the Post.

Millions of Americans rely on Social Security benefits each month, including retirement and survivor benefits, as well as Disability Insurance, so even minor disruptions can have a big effect. Below, we'll cover the latest report on the happenings at the SSA as well as catch you up on the workforce reduction. 

For more, don't miss all the details about working and receiving Social Security benefits. 

The SSA clarifies reduction details

According to the announcement from last month, the SSA says that streamlining customer service is a high priority and it's looking to reassign some employees to customer service positions. But that could require training, which would only further delay a reliable source of support for people either applying for benefits or needing help with additional matters.    

While the layoffs will certainly have an impact, some of these problems existed long before any changes in leadership or administration. It may have not been the norm but it wasn't uncommon for someone calling the SSA to receive a response that wait times would exceed two hours to speak to an agent.  

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How could the SSA layoffs affect you?

Layoffs at the SSA could affect soon-to-be and existing Social Security beneficiaries in a couple of ways. News reports suggest there would be an immediate closing of local SSA field offices that serve benefit recipients. 

The SSA said in its news release that the reorganization efforts would move some employees from "non-mission critical positions" to "mission-critical direct service positions," such as field offices, telecenters and processing centers. 

Closures of Social Security Administration offices would require beneficiaries to travel further to find an office or to rely on the SSA's telephone service. While you can get some things done through a My Social Security account now, not everyone has reliable access to a computer or internet service. 

Another way Social Security recipients could be affected is delays in applications. Social Security Disability Insurance already has a long wait for cases to be reviewed. A reduction in workforce could potentially slow these reviews to an even slower crawl.

Will the layoffs affect my benefit money?

So far, there's no indication that layoffs at the SSA would affect your benefit amount directly. Delays in application processing and access to local offices seem to be the most immediate concerns. But fewer people on staff could make it harder to sort out any payment issues that arise. 

However, former SSA Commissioner Martin O'Malley's comments are pointedly ominous, telling CNBC, "Ultimately, you're going to see the system collapse and an interruption of benefits." He later said he believes this will happen within the next 30 to 90 days and that beneficiaries should start saving now.

What can you do right now?

You can do a few things up front, most notably, make sure your account with the SSA is in good standing today. 

First, sign up for a My Social Security account if you haven't already. Not only does it provide a host of tools for you to access at any given time for estimating your Social Security benefits but you can also add your up-to-date direct deposit information and check the status of your application. Providing all the information you can through the online portal will help minimize any hiccups that could delay your benefits. 

If you're not ready to jump into the SSA's online services just yet, you can also find nearby field offices by checking out the SSA's office locator. Simply add a ZIP code to find the closest office and quick access to a map and directions to get you there, assuming it stays open. 

For more, check out the maximum amount of Social Security money you can get in 2025. 

About the Author

Headshot of Blake Stimac
Writer
Writer

Blake has over a decade of experience writing for the web, with a focus on mobile phones, where he covered the smartphone boom of the 2010s and the broader tech scene. When he's not in front of a keyboard, you'll most likely find him playing video games, watching horror flicks, or hunting down a good churro.