The Social Security Administration has announced a significant shift in how beneficiaries can file for benefits or change their payment bank. From March 31, beneficiaries must verify their identity online or visit a field office, a move expected to stress an already overwhelmed agency undergoing downsizing. This new requirement could pose challenges particularly for older or disabled individuals, as many often struggle with online services. Delays are anticipated as staff cuts coincide with increased demands for appointments, complicating access to earned benefits further.
The change, which takes effect on March 31, is expected to add stress to the agency's already thinning work force, which is being significantly downsized.
This change will substantially delay their access to their earned benefits, said Kathleen Romig, director of Social Security and disability policy...
These delays will only worsen as S.S.A. cuts thousands of staff and millions more people need to make appointments, she added.
The average callback time on phones to make an in-person appointment is more than two hours and the wait time to make an in-person appointment is over a month.
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