Anxiety Mounts Among Social Security Recipients as DOGE Troops Settle In

[babylonsister]

Anxiety Mounts Among Social Security Recipients as DOGE Troops Settle In
Elon Musk’s team has descended on an already understaffed Social Security Administration, which now faces further workforce cuts and closures of vital local offices. The consequences could be significant for millions of the most vulnerable Americans.
by Eli Hager
Feb. 22, 2025, 6 a.m. EST

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“Social Security will not be touched,” Trump answered, echoing a promise he has been making for years. Despite his eagerness to explode treaties, shutter entire government agencies and abandon decades-old ways of doing things, the president understands that Social Security benefits for seniors are sacrosanct.

Still, the DOGE team landed at the Social Security Administration this week, with Musk drawing attention for his outlandish claims that large numbers of 150-year-old “vampires” are receiving Social Security payments. DOGE has begun installing its own operatives, including an engineer linked to tweets promoting eugenics and executives with a cut-first-fix-later philosophy, in multiple top positions at the Social Security Administration.

Their first wave of actions — initiating the elimination of 41 jobs and the closing of at least 10 local offices, so far — was largely lost in the rush of headlines. Those first steps might seem restrained compared with the mass firings that DOGE has pursued at other federal agencies. But Social Security recipients rely on in-person service in all 50 states, and the shuttering of offices, reported on DOGE’s website to include locations everywhere from rural West Virginia to Las Vegas, could be hugely consequential. The closures potentially reduce access to Social Security for some of the most vulnerable people in this country — including not just retirees but also individuals with severe physical and intellectual disabilities, as well as children whose parents have died and who’ve been left in poverty.

The Social Security Administration, headquartered just outside Baltimore, has more than 1,200 regional and field offices — nearly a fifth of all of the federal government’s offices nationwide. There are 119,000 visitors to these brick-and-mortar facilities every business day. Many of them do not have high levels of computer and internet literacy and need someone to help them through all the legalese of a nearly century-old social program with a wonky user interface. This is also where elderly people can apply for Medicare, which doesn’t have physical outposts of its own. And it’s where hearings are held — due process provided — for beneficiaries who believe that they have been unfairly kicked off of desperately needed assistance.

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https://www.propublica.org/article/doge-social-security-elon-musk-trump-closures-benefits

[SheltieLover]

1. Kick

[Norrrm]

2. Who are these super seniors? They must have names. Have you gone to get them or just talk about it?

Where is their money being cashed or deposited?

You have had enough time to get moving on it.

So far, it is just talk.

[babylonsister]

5. Who are you referring to as super seniors?

Who exactly are you writing to? What is just talk? Care to elaborate?

[Bayard]

3. K&R

This senior citizen is getting more worried every day.

[Rainman4u2C]

4. Social Security

Is run like shit. I am currently trying to get disability for a seizure condition that leaves me flopping on the floor about once a week. I was denied on the first application and have filed for reconsideration. The original application took 14 months for denial and I provided all the medical evidence, they asked for no independent tests. The other day they called looking for an item I mailed them WEEKS AGO. The investigator said she just wanted to confirm I sent it that they have 38,000 documents waiting to be scanned into the system. This agency is run like shit!! Not only have I paid into it my entire 35 year career my company THAT I OWN has matched every employees contribution for 30 years. I'm not saying rump or husk can or will fix it but somebody needs to.

[XanaDUer2]

6. Pls get a lawyer

It took 14 months from application to winning. They did every thing once I was first turned down.

[Rainman4u2C]

7. Thx.

Thank you!!!