Latest news with #FrankBisignano
CNN
43 minutes ago
- Business
- CNN
Social Security is making it harder for seniors to do routine tasks by phone in latest anti-fraud effort
FacebookTweetLink Senior citizens soon won't be able to simply call the Social Security Administration to change their address or check the status of their benefit claim. Instead, they will have to first verify their identity online or go to a field office if they are unable to do so. In its latest effort to thwart fraud, the agency is expanding its online authentication requirement for address changes, claim status requests, benefit verification letters and tax statements, according to a regulatory filing Social Security recently submitted to the Office of Management and Budget. The agency intends to implement the change by August 18. Advocacy groups, however, are raising concerns that many senior citizens and people with disabilities will not be able to complete the verification process through their mySocialSecurity accounts. The agency said in the filing that it expects 3.4 million people will need to go to field offices annually to complete the tasks. 'For many older Americans, the phone is how they access Social Security services without having to rely on complicated technology or long, difficult, or costly trips to field offices,' Nancy LeaMond, AARP's chief advocacy and engagement officer, wrote in a letter Tuesday to Social Security Commissioner Frank Bisignano. 'We are concerned that under this new policy, older Americans, especially those in rural areas, will have to call, wait on hold for possibly hours, and then wait weeks for an appointment — and in some cases even take time off work — to complete simple transactions they have long been able to do over the phone,' she wrote, urging the commissioner to reconsider the measure. It currently takes 35 days to get an appointment at a Social Security field office, according to the agency, which has been reducing staff amid a major reorganization. The new policy is the agency's latest controversial attempt to combat fraud, spurred by the Trump administration. Prior efforts sparked widespread confusion among beneficiaries, who flocked to Social Security's 800 number or field offices, fearing they had to prove their identities in order to continue receiving their monthly payments. Social Security had to walk back a measure instituted this spring to review retirement benefit applications for fraud after the process created a backlog and flagged only a tiny number of claims for additional verification. But the agency retained an initiative that bars beneficiaries from changing their direct deposit information by telephone, requiring that they do so through their online accounts or at field offices. That policy is expected to send an additional 1.9 million people to field offices annually. There is no documentation that requesting address changes and other routine tasks over the phone leads to fraud, said Kathleen Romig, director of Social Security and disability policy at the left-leaning Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. 'There's just no evidence that this is a problem,' said Romig, who worked for the agency during the Biden administration. The new anti-fraud policies will increase field visits by 17%, requiring beneficiaries to spend 3 million hours driving to offices to complete their transactions, she estimated. The latest effort also aligns with Bisignano's push to have more beneficiaries use the agency's online services to handle their requests. All the tasks that require added verification can be done through mySocialSecurity. Social Security did not return a request for comment on the regulatory filing.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Social Security makes screeching U-turn on controversial policy
Social Security will continue mailing paper checks — in a major U-turn from a previously announced plan. The agency had planned to halt checks after September 30 to cut costs and reduce fraud, shifting entirely to electronic payments. Paper checks cost about 50 cents to issue, compared with 15 cents for direct deposits, officials said. But the agency has now reversed course, saying that it will continue to issue paper checks for Americans who have no other means of getting payments, a spokesperson confirmed to This includes both recipients of retirement and disability benefits. Despite the about-face, the agency urged people to switch to direct deposit if they can. 'We will continue to drive down paper check volume, which is less than 1 percent of total,' the spokesperson said. The news comes as a grim new forecast this week warned Social Security's retirement fund is set to run short in just seven years — which could end up meaning benefits will be slashed for millions of recipients. The check U-turn came after pushback from Massachusetts Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren. Warren met with Social Security Commissioner Frank Bisignano on Wednesday and asked about the plan to discontinue paper checks, according to CBS News. 'There are about 600,000 Americans who still receive their paper checks — it's a small fraction of people who receive Social Security payments, but it's a population that often needs checks through paper' instead of through electronic deposit, Warren said. She added that Bisignano made a commitment that 'no one would be left behind.' Millions of Americans are 'unbanked,' which means they do not have a traditional checking or savings account at a bank or credit union. The reasons why can vary, from past money mistakes to losing a job or not having enough money to meet minimum balance requirements. These people tend to rely on alternative banking services, such as check cashing establishments, in order to access vital funds. But paper checks are also more than 16 times more likely to be reported stolen or lost compared to electronic transfers, according to government data. There is also a higher chance that they will be returned deliverable or altered. The policy reversal came after pushback from Massachusetts Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren Social Security relies on its trust funds to provide monthly benefit checks to around 70 million Americans who still receive paper checks but are able to switch can provide a bank account or credit union for direct deposits or an approved pre-paid debit card. Registration can be completed at the government's Go Direct website. The policy reversal comes after latest forecasts painted a grim picture for the future of the program. Social Security's retirement fund is set to run short in just seven years — which could end up slashing benefits for millions of Americans by thousands of dollars a year. According to latest projections, retirees could face automatic 24 percent benefit cuts as early as the end of 2032. This means a couple who both worked would receive $18,100 less each year if they retire at the start of 2033. The new forecast from the nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget (CRFB), released Thursday, moves up the insolvency date for both Social Security and Medicare trust funds. A projection just last month had funds lasting until 2033, but that has already been revised. A major factor is the impact of President Donald Trump's 'Big, Beautiful Bill ', which experts warned would speed up the use of funds.
CBS News
5 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
Social Security retreats from plan to eliminate paper checks for beneficiaries
The Social Security Administration said it will continue issuing paper checks to the retirement program's beneficiaries, backing away from a previously announced plan to switch all payments to electronic deposits after Sept. 30. On Wednesday, the Social Security Administration told CBS MoneyWatch it would continue issuing paper checks for beneficiaries who have no other means of receiving payments. But the program will also emphasize the advantages of electronic transfers to its roughly 70 million beneficiaries in an effort to encourage check recipients to switch, a Social Security spokesperson added. The about-face comes after the agency said on July 14 that it would phase out paper checks beginning in October, citing the advantages of electronic deposits including faster payment processing and enhanced security. Eliminating paper also saves the federal government money, with checks costing 50 cents each, compared with 15 cents for an electronic funds transfer, the agency said at the time. The reversal of the policy to eliminate paper checks comes after Senator Elizabeth Warren, a Democrat from Massachusetts, met with Social Security Commissioner Frank Bisignano on Wednesday morning and asked about the plan to discontinue paper checks, along with other changes at the agency. "There are about 600,000 Americans who still receive their paper checks — it's a small fraction of people who receive Social Security payments, but it's a population that often needs checks through paper" versus electronic deposit, Warren said in a press call to discuss her meeting with Bisignano. She added that Bisignano "made a commitment that no one will be left behind and that people who have access to paper checks will get access to paper checks." Millions of people in the U.S. are "unbanked," meaning they lack traditional bank accounts, often because they believe they don't earn enough to qualify for an account or are worried about costs or other issues, according to Bankrate. Typically, these people rely on check-cashing services or other non-bank financial companies, such as PayPal or Venmo, rather than banks. About one out of every five households headed by someone over the age of 65 is unbanked or underbanked, according to the AARP. People who are underbanked may have a bank account but still primarily rely on alternative banking services, like check cashing establishments, to handle their money. Warren also said she addressed other issues with Bisignano, including concerns that a major workforce reduction at the Social Security Administration this year could affect customer service. The senator said Bisignano agreed to her request that the agency's inspector general conduct an independent audit to assess the state of customer service at SSA, such as call wait times and how many Social Security recipients are able to reach a human employee when they call for help. "More accurate data is absolutely essential to oversight, to holding the Social Security Administration accountable to the job they are required to do," Warren said. On Wednesday, the Social Security Administration said customer service is improving, noting that the agency has reduced its phone response time to an average of 18 minutes in 2025, down from 30 minutes in 2024. "Commissioner Bisignano had a productive meeting with Senator Warren where he presented improved customer service metrics that are currently being realized on the phone, in field offices and online," a Social Security Administration spokesperson told CBS MoneyWatch. "Senator Warren reacted positively to many of the indicators, specifically lower phone and field office wait times, the reduction of the disability claims backlog by 25% and the speed at which the SSFA payments were completed — give months ahead of schedule."
Economic Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Economic Times
Social Security announces major shakeup affecting 70 million Americans: Will your benefits go up or down?
The SSA announced it has implemented new telephone technology on the national 800 number and in its field offices The Social Security Administration (SSA) is handling more calls with a faster response time, thanks to technology enhancements and process engineering. The SSA announced a major update to its technological advancements on Wednesday as part of its larger mission, led by new Commissioner Frank Bisignano, to modernize the agency, reports NewsWeek."Our vision is centered on providing outstanding service that works for everyone we serve—whether they call, walk into a field office, or choose to manage their benefits online," said Bisignano in a statement. "We are transforming the customer experience, investing in technology to build frontline capacity, and using real-time data to monitor performance across the board. We are delivering higher levels of customer service—and this will continue." ALSO READ: $1,390 Stimulus check in 2025: Do Americans need to pay tax on the amount and who needs to apply? Around 69 million people in the US receive Social Security payments each month and with President Trump returning to the White House, the SSA has been undergoing a period of restructuring. Thousands of employees no longer working for the agency due to the Department of Government Efficiency's (DOGE) cost-saving to NewsWeek, the SSA announced it has implemented new telephone technology on the national 800 number and in its field offices. The SSA stated that this resulted "in improved service to the American people," according to its release. Specifically, the SSA is handling more calls with a faster response time. Last week, the agency handled nearly 1.3 million calls on the national 800 number, which was 70 percent more than the same week last fiscal year. The average speed of answer also dropped to 6 minutes from an average of 30 minutes last year- an 80% reduction. The administration also reported reducing the customer wait time in field offices to 23 minutes, a 23% reduction from the average of 30 minutes last year. ALSO READ: Extreme heat warning in 11 US states and record-high temperatures could be broken. Is yours on the list? Online service has also been improved through elimination of regular scheduled downtime of 29 hours a week. The agency reported that this allowed 125,000 more people to access their online accounts during the first week. The agency also eliminated its longstanding scheduled downtime of 29 hours a week for the my Social Security portal. In the first week alone, the SSA said 125,000 more customers were able to access their online accounts. Despite these improvements, some experts have sounded the alarm on the tech upgrades while the SSA faces a funding crisis projected to hit as early as the early 2030s. ALSO READ: Netflix's 'Building the Band' official winning group's name revealed. You won't believe the prize they received "This modernization is happening while Social Security faces its worst funding crisis in decades. The trustees in 2024 projected the program's combined retirement and disability trust funds may last until 2035," Michael Ryan, a finance expert and the founder of told Newsweek."Think about that. The agency is investing millions in new technology while knowing it might only be able to pay 83 cents on the dollar in 10 years. It's like renovating the kitchen while the house is on fire."Under the Social Security Fairness Act, the SSA said it would be sending 3.1 million payments to eligible recipients. which became law on January 5. Under the new law, the agency identified 2.8 million Social Security beneficiaries whose benefits were reduced because of the Windfall Elimination Provision or Government Pension Offset. Those included police officers, firefighters, teachers, and other public servants. The agency said it completed the task five months ahead of the estimated time of a year or more. ALSO READ: Was Elon Musk right? Trump caught in Jeffrey Epstein files' lie involving Pam Bondi SSA Commissioner Frank Bisignano said in a statement: "Our strategy is clear: serve customer needs quickly and completely, no matter how they contact us. We will continue to evaluate our tools, technology, and processes to empower our workforce to provide best-in-class customer service to the American people."The SSA also alerted recipients to another change heading their way in the fall. Starting September 30, the SSA will no longer issue paper checks for benefit payments.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Social Security announces major shakeup affecting 70 million Americans: Will your benefits go up or down?
The Social Security Administration (SSA) is handling more calls with a faster response time, thanks to technology enhancements and process engineering. The SSA announced a major update to its technological advancements on Wednesday as part of its larger mission, led by new Commissioner Frank Bisignano, to modernize the agency, reports NewsWeek. "Our vision is centered on providing outstanding service that works for everyone we serve—whether they call, walk into a field office, or choose to manage their benefits online," said Bisignano in a statement. "We are transforming the customer experience, investing in technology to build frontline capacity, and using real-time data to monitor performance across the board. We are delivering higher levels of customer service—and this will continue." 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Thousands of employees no longer working for the agency due to the Department of Government Efficiency's (DOGE) cost-saving initiatives. According to NewsWeek, the SSA announced it has implemented new telephone technology on the national 800 number and in its field offices. The SSA stated that this resulted "in improved service to the American people," according to its release. Live Events Specifically, the SSA is handling more calls with a faster response time. Last week, the agency handled nearly 1.3 million calls on the national 800 number, which was 70 percent more than the same week last fiscal year. The average speed of answer also dropped to 6 minutes from an average of 30 minutes last year- an 80% reduction. The administration also reported reducing the customer wait time in field offices to 23 minutes, a 23% reduction from the average of 30 minutes last year. ALSO READ: Extreme heat warning in 11 US states and record-high temperatures could be broken. Is yours on the list? Online service has also been improved through elimination of regular scheduled downtime of 29 hours a week. The agency reported that this allowed 125,000 more people to access their online accounts during the first week. The agency also eliminated its longstanding scheduled downtime of 29 hours a week for the my Social Security portal . In the first week alone, the SSA said 125,000 more customers were able to access their online accounts. SSA faces major funding crisis Despite these improvements, some experts have sounded the alarm on the tech upgrades while the SSA faces a funding crisis projected to hit as early as the early 2030s. ALSO READ: Netflix's 'Building the Band' official winning group's name revealed. You won't believe the prize they received "This modernization is happening while Social Security faces its worst funding crisis in decades. The trustees in 2024 projected the program's combined retirement and disability trust funds may last until 2035," Michael Ryan, a finance expert and the founder of told Newsweek. "Think about that. The agency is investing millions in new technology while knowing it might only be able to pay 83 cents on the dollar in 10 years. It's like renovating the kitchen while the house is on fire." Under the Social Security Fairness Act, the SSA said it would be sending 3.1 million payments to eligible recipients. which became law on January 5. Under the new law, the agency identified 2.8 million Social Security beneficiaries whose benefits were reduced because of the Windfall Elimination Provision or Government Pension Offset. Those included police officers, firefighters, teachers, and other public servants. The agency said it completed the task five months ahead of the estimated time of a year or more. ALSO READ: Was Elon Musk right? Trump caught in Jeffrey Epstein files' lie involving Pam Bondi SSA Commissioner Frank Bisignano said in a statement: "Our strategy is clear: serve customer needs quickly and completely, no matter how they contact us. We will continue to evaluate our tools, technology, and processes to empower our workforce to provide best-in-class customer service to the American people." The SSA also alerted recipients to another change heading their way in the fall. Starting September 30, the SSA will no longer issue paper checks for benefit payments.
