The Trump administration announced last week that changes to Social Security procedures will require certain individuals in New Jersey and across the country to visit an office in person to file for benefits or update banking information.
The shift eliminates phone service for identity verification starting March 31.
The Social Security Administration says the move aims to combat fraud, which costs the agency over $100 million annually in direct deposit schemes. Acting SSA Commissioner Leland Dudek said knowledge-based authentication methods have become unreliable due to the availability of personal information in the public domain.
“This is a common-sense measure,” Dudek said.
As of December 2023, about 1.7 million New Jersey residents collected Social Security benefits.
Who Is Affected by Changes to Social Security?
Starting March 31, individuals unable to verify their identity through the SSA’s online my Social Security system must visit a field office. The requirement also applies to new applicants and those modifying direct deposit details.
Access to Benefits Concerns
Critics argue the policy change could burden older Americans, particularly those in rural areas with disabilities, mobility challenges or limited internet access.
The move coincides with SSA plans to close dozens of field offices nationwide and reduce its workforce by up to 50%. While most closures target locations in the South and Southeast, no New Jersey offices are on the list, according to Kiplinger.
The closures are part of a broader government cost-cutting initiative overseen by Elon Musk, head of the Department of Government Efficiency. Dudek downplayed the impact, noting that many shuttered locations are small hearing sites serving few individuals.
Americans Support Social Security
Social Security remains a politically sensitive issue. A January poll by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that two-thirds of Americans believe the program is underfunded.
Rep. John Larson, the top Democrat on the House Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee, criticized the changes. “By requiring seniors and disabled Americans to enroll online or in person at the same field offices they are trying to close, rather than over the phone, Trump and Musk are trying to create chaos and inefficiencies at SSA so they can privatize the system,” he said.
The SSA faces long-term financial challenges. A May 2024 trustees’ report warned that Social Security’s trust funds could only pay 83% of benefits starting in 2035 unless Congress takes action. However, in Social Security’s 90 years of existence, it has never missed a payment.
Nancy Altman, President of Social Security Works, reacted to the Trump administration’s several moves on SSA, including Dudek’s threat to shut it down due to a court order blocking DOGE, which he later retracted.
Altman stated Friday: “Donald Trump and Elon Musk installed Leland Dudek as acting Social Security commissioner six weeks ago. Plucked from administrative leave, Dudek was elevated over more than 100 higher-qualified civil servants because he was willing to give Musk’s DOGE complete, unfettered access to Americans’ most personal, sensitive data.”
Commerce Sec. Suggests Seniors “Wouldn’t Complain” if a Payment is Missed
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, a billionaire, stirred controversy by suggesting only “fraudsters” would complain about missing a Social Security check. “Let’s say Social Security didn’t send out their checks this month. My mother-in-law, who’s 94, she wouldn’t call and complain,” Lutnick said on the All In Podcast. “She’d think something got messed up, and she’ll get it next month.”
More than 70 million Americans rely on Social Security, and for many, it is their primary income source. AARP and other advocacy groups condemned the remarks.
Legal Challenges
A federal judge rebuked Dudek on Friday for allegedly threatening to shut down SSA operations in response to a temporary restraining order limiting the Department of Government Efficiency’s access to Social Security data. Judge Ellen Lipton Hollander called his claims “incorrect.”
Advocates warn that SSA cutbacks, including 7,000 planned job reductions, will make it harder for people to access benefits. The agency is already at a five-year staffing low, with many field offices overwhelmed by demand.
SSA officials maintain that restructuring will improve efficiency. However, Kristen Dama, an attorney with Community Legal Services of Philadelphia, said regional offices play a crucial role in resolving benefit issues.
“For almost 90 years, Social Security has never missed a paycheck,” said Lee Saunders, president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. “But 60 days into this administration, Social Security is now on the brink.”
Identity Verification Changes
Dudek defended the identity verification overhaul, arguing that requiring in-person visits would reduce fraud.
“For far too long, the agency has used antiquated methods for proving identity,” he said.
AARP Vice President Nancy LeaMond criticized the plan as “impractical” and warned it would lead to longer wait times.
As the SSA moves forward with these sweeping changes, many beneficiaries remain uncertain about how they will access essential services.
The New Jersey Digest is a new jersey magazine that has chronicled daily life in the Garden State for over 10 years.