Acting Social Security Administration Commissioner Leland Dudek, billionaire Elon Musk, and his Department of Government Efficiency (also known as “DOGE”) are creating nothing but distress and confusion for more than 73 million Social Security beneficiaries who depend on their benefits to get by, while risking irreparable damage to the Social Security system. |
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Dudek, who we expect will be replaced by President Trump’s nominee to head the agency, Frank Bisignano, announced last week that SSA will postpone its new policy ending customers’ ability to validate identity for benefit claims over the phone (effectively forcing them to go online or visit a field office), though the policy now has been revised to exempt applicants for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Medicare. |
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(We should note, during Bisignano’s confirmation hearing he would not commit to ending Musk and DOGE’s interference at SSA, nor to reversing any of their dangerous policies.) |
While it is good that a bad policy is being postponed — and that some of the least mobile, most vulnerable groups are now exempted — it is still bad policy. There was no reason to end the validation of identity by phone and limiting it in any way creates an unnecessary hurdle for seniors and families claiming their earned benefits.
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It very much appears that the decision makers at SSA — under the influence of Elon Musk, DOGE and President Trump — are making up policy as they go along. And millions of Social Security beneficiaries are facing delays and increased barriers to accessing their earned benefits.
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As you know, Musk and his DOGE squad are engaged in a campaign to discredit and dismantle the Social Security program. This is what the seizure of Americans’ personal data, the firings and attempts to bully employees into early retirement, the closing of field offices, and the elimination of entire divisions of SSA are all about. |
Under the banner of rooting out “fraud” (of which they have found none), Musk’s minions are in the process of rendering SSA dysfunctional and jeopardizing the delivery of benefits. |
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Max Richtman President & CEO |
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