Social Security in-person identity checks opposed by advocates and retirees alike
3 days, 19 hours ago

Social Security in-person identity checks opposed by advocates and retirees alike

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — The Social Security Administration’s plan to require in-person identity checks for millions of new and existing recipients while simultaneously closing government offices has sparked a furor among lawmakers, advocacy groups and program recipients who are worried that the government is placing unnecessary barriers in front of an already vulnerable population. The agency announced Tuesday that, beginning March 31, those who cannot properly verify their identity over the agency’s “my Social Security” online service will be required to visit an agency field office in person to complete the verification process. “We strongly urge you to consider the individuals who may be harmed.” One Social Security recipient, 80-year-old Sandi Bachom of New York, said she was terrified by the change. There’s no one to take care of me.” Bachom, a retired documentary filmmaker, credits Social Security with “saving my life” after losing a six-figure advertising job and falling on hard times. It could even cause major delays, and ultimately collapse the system, by overwhelming the field offices.” Altman, of the advocacy group, believes the administration’s ultimate goal is to privatize the Social Security system.

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History of this topic

'Despicable': Trump official threatens total Social Security shutdown over DOGE ruling
Trending News
2 days ago

'Despicable': Trump official threatens total Social Security shutdown over DOGE ruling

Raw Story  

Defenders of the Social Security Administration on Friday blasted acting Commissioner Leland Dudeks' threat to shut down the agency in response to a federal judge cutting off the Department of Government Efficiency's access to SSA data. Lee Saunders, president of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees —which filed the suit with the Alliance for Retired Americans and …

'A move of almost cartoonish cruelty': Economist slams ​Elon Musk Social Security scheme
4 days, 5 hours ago

'A move of almost cartoonish cruelty': Economist slams ​Elon Musk Social Security scheme

Raw Story  

Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman on Wednesday buried billionaire Elon Musk for his reported plans to gut the Social Security Administration by cutting telephone services for beneficiaries. "Bear in mind that we’re talking about older and/or disabled Americans, many of whom are unable to access the internet and physically unable to visit SSA offices — which would in any case …

'Parasitical': Analyst blames cruel worldview for driving Musk's Social Security agenda
5 days, 5 hours ago

'Parasitical': Analyst blames cruel worldview for driving Musk's Social Security agenda

Raw Story  

Elon Musk’s laser-like focus on Social Security can be blamed on one thing, a columnist wrote Monday — a belief that retired people are a “parasitical” drain on the nation’s resources. “In light of that, when he speaks of ‘waste’ in Social Security, he's hinting at this broader view that retired people are inherently illegitimate. “When the end goal is …

‘It’s a big deal’: DOGE reportedly eyes changes that would ‘break' Social Security
5 days, 17 hours ago

‘It’s a big deal’: DOGE reportedly eyes changes that would ‘break' Social Security

Raw Story  

An internal memo detailing the Social Security Administration’s proposal to revamp its phone service has come to light and could spell trouble for many retired and disabled Americans caught up in the benefits application process. That’s according to Axios, which reported Monday that while the Trump administration has repeatedly claimed it only plans to address fraud and waste within the …

Elon Musk's war on Social Security unmasks the GOP's true disdain for retirees
5 days, 18 hours ago

Elon Musk's war on Social Security unmasks the GOP's true disdain for retirees

Salon  

"Social Security is not being touched," Republican Rep. Bill Huizenga tried to assuage his panicked Michigan constituents earlier this month. Social Security is facing an all-out assault from Elon Musk's "Department of Government Efficiency" — and voters know it. While he tends to emphasize the "more babies" part of the equation to fix this alleged problem, it's not much of …

'Already happening': Outrage as seniors claim Trump is already 'stealing' benefits
6 days, 20 hours ago

'Already happening': Outrage as seniors claim Trump is already 'stealing' benefits

Raw Story  

"DOGE is a disaster of incompetence." That's how one political scientist responded to Saturday reporting about a Washington state man fighting for his Social Security benefits as U.S. President Donald Trump and the head of his Department of Government Efficiency, billionaire Elon Musk, attack the federal bureaucracy, including the agency that administers payments to seniors like Leonard "Ned" Johnson. U.S. …

‘Not above the law’: Fist-pounding Dem explodes and demands to know ‘where’s Elon Musk?’
1 week, 3 days ago

‘Not above the law’: Fist-pounding Dem explodes and demands to know ‘where’s Elon Musk?’

Raw Story  

A top House Democrat exploded in anger during a committee hearing on Wednesday, outraged over the absence of Elon Musk, the leader of President Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency, whose team has turned their attention to Social Security. He’s been on television the last couple of days, talking exactly about Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid and what he intends to …

Does Elon Musk plan to eliminate social security measures in US? Here’s what the billionaire says
Trending News
1 week, 5 days ago

Does Elon Musk plan to eliminate social security measures in US? Here’s what the billionaire says

Live Mint  

Elon Musk dismissed social security theories and called them fraud, highlighting that federal programs will be one of the major targets for reducing government spending, reported AP on Monday. Musk's statement on social security programs may spark a debate among American politicians, both Democrats and Republicans, amid his efforts to downsize the federal government. Musk's statement on Social Security programs …

Elon Musk Calls Federal Spending On Social Security, Benefit Programs 'The Big One' To Cut
Top News
1 week, 5 days ago

Elon Musk Calls Federal Spending On Social Security, Benefit Programs 'The Big One' To Cut

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING WASHINGTON — Elon Musk pushed debunked theories about Social Security on Monday while describing federal benefit programs as rife with fraud, suggesting they will be a primary target in his crusade to reduce government spending. “That’s the big one to eliminate.” The comments on the popular program and other benefits provided to Americans could rattle politicians on …

Musk eyes Social Security and benefit programs for cuts while claiming widespread fraud
Top News
1 week, 5 days ago

Musk eyes Social Security and benefit programs for cuts while claiming widespread fraud

Associated Press  

▶ Follow live updates on President Donald Trump and his new administration WASHINGTON — Elon Musk pushed debunked theories about Social Security on Monday while describing federal benefit programs as rife with fraud, suggesting they will be a primary target in his crusade to reduce government spending. Musk also said there were “20 million people who are definitely dead marked …

Elon Musk's 'hostile takeover' of Social Security Administration detailed by insider
1 week, 6 days ago

Elon Musk's 'hostile takeover' of Social Security Administration detailed by insider

Raw Story  

A former insider at the Social Security Administration has gone on the record to describe a "hostile takeover" by Elon Musk and his minions at the Department of Government Efficiency. As reported by the Washington Post, former SSA acting chief of staff Tiffany Flick is claiming as part of a lawsuit that Musk and his henchmen barged into the SSA …

What to know about Social Security office closures driven by Musk’s DOGE
2 weeks, 1 day ago

What to know about Social Security office closures driven by Musk’s DOGE

Associated Press  

Across-the-board cuts at the Social Security Administration are prompting questions about how the benefits of millions of recipients may be affected. Here’s a look at cuts to the agency, which serves more than 70 million Americans, and potential effects for recipients: Will the Social Security office near my home close? Some of the other properties had already been set for …

'So naive, so stupid': Former lawmaker raises alarm over Musk's Social Security plans
2 weeks, 4 days ago

'So naive, so stupid': Former lawmaker raises alarm over Musk's Social Security plans

Raw Story  

Plans by the Donald Trump administration and the Department of Government Efficiency, helmed by billionaire Elon Musk, to dismantle the Social Security Administration, were trashed by a former Democratic senator on Wednesday morning. During an appearance on MSNBC's "Morning Joe," ex-Sen. Claire McCaskill said the staffers working DOGE, with an assist from the Office of Personnel Management, hope to slash …

'Going to be a problem': Musk comments to Rogan cast cloud over Trump administration
2 weeks, 5 days ago

'Going to be a problem': Musk comments to Rogan cast cloud over Trump administration

Raw Story  

A CNN panel tackled Elon Musk, the world's richest man, signaling on a broadly popular podcast that Donald Trump's administration might disrupt Social Security payments. The president's billionaire benefactor and top adviser appeared Friday on Joe Rogan's podcast, where he called the New Deal-era social safety net a "Ponzi scheme," arguing that birth rates have fallen and life expectancy has …

Hiltzik: Social Security is in Trump's crosshairs
2 weeks, 5 days ago

Hiltzik: Social Security is in Trump's crosshairs

LA Times  

Perhaps the most frequently cited quote from Donald Trump relevant to his purported efforts to root out government waste has been “we’re not touching Social Security,” or variations thereof. Its press release about the reduction referred to the program’s “bloated workforce.” To anyone who knows anything about the Social Security Administration, calling its workforce “bloated” sounds like a sick joke. …

Elon Musk Calls Social Security 'The Biggest Ponzi Scheme Of All Time'
3 weeks ago

Elon Musk Calls Social Security 'The Biggest Ponzi Scheme Of All Time'

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING Elon Musk is calling Social Security a “Ponzi scheme,” prompting suspicion that the world’s richest man is merely hoping to privatize a social safety net that has existed since the 1930s — and has kept millions of elderly, poor and disabled Americans from destitution. The billionaire argued Friday on “The Joe Rogan Experience” podcast that the United …

'Chaos and fear' as Trump and Musk make major moves on Social Security: report
3 weeks, 2 days ago

'Chaos and fear' as Trump and Musk make major moves on Social Security: report

Raw Story  

A new report from Rolling Stone claims that Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency is taking a wrecking ball to the Social Security Administration, which could seriously hurt beneficiaries' ability to collect the money they are owed. According to the report, DOGE has already "shuttered at least 10 Social Security field offices in as many states" and "has eliminated the …

Fact check: Eight ways Elon Musk has misled Americans about government spending
1 month ago

Fact check: Eight ways Elon Musk has misled Americans about government spending

CNN  

Washington CNN — Elon Musk has repeatedly misled the public about federal spending while playing a leading role in President Donald Trump’s effort to cut that spending. Promoting a phony video about USAID and celebrities As the Trump administration worked to dismantle the US Agency for International Development, Musk shared an X user’s post that claimed “USAID spent your tax …

Fact check: Eight ways Elon Musk has misled Americans about government spending
1 month ago

Fact check: Eight ways Elon Musk has misled Americans about government spending

CNN  

Washington CNN — Elon Musk has repeatedly misled the public about federal spending while playing a leading role in President Donald Trump’s effort to cut that spending. Promoting a phony video about USAID and celebrities As the Trump administration worked to dismantle the US Agency for International Development, Musk shared an X user’s post that claimed “USAID spent your tax …

Are millions of dead people collecting Social Security? Fact-checking Musk and Trump’s claims
1 month ago

Are millions of dead people collecting Social Security? Fact-checking Musk and Trump’s claims

The Independent  

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. On Tuesday, Trump said at a press briefing in Florida that “we have millions …

Donald Trump vows no cuts to Social Security benefits, Medicaid amid Elon Musk-led fraud probe
1 month ago

Donald Trump vows no cuts to Social Security benefits, Medicaid amid Elon Musk-led fraud probe

Live Mint  

US President Donald Trump has reiterated that Social Security benefits will not be cut, despite growing concerns over Elon Musk’s review of the program for potential fraud. Musk’s fraud allegations spark concern Democrats have raised alarms that Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency may push for Social Security cuts under the guise of eliminating fraud. Musk’s controversial claims on Social Security …

Debunked: Trump And Musk's Myth Of Social Security For Tens Of Millions Of Dead People
1 month ago

Debunked: Trump And Musk's Myth Of Social Security For Tens Of Millions Of Dead People

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING WASHINGTON — The Trump administration is falsely claiming that tens of millions of dead people over 100 years old are receiving Social Security payments. Over the past few days, President Donald Trump and billionaire adviser Elon Musk have said on social media and in press briefings that people who are 100, 200 and even 300 years old …

Elon Musk uncovers ‘biggest fraud in (US) history’: Is there any truth to it?
1 month ago

Elon Musk uncovers ‘biggest fraud in (US) history’: Is there any truth to it?

Firstpost  

Elon Musk has alleged that millions of 150-year-olds are fraudulently receiving Social Security payments. Musk first made these claims during an Oval Office press conference, stating a “cursory examination of Social Security” revealed “crazy things.” “We’ve got people in there that are 150 years old,” Musk said on February 11. The reality of Social Security fraud Despite Musk’s sweeping allegations, …

Elon Musk uncovers ‘biggest fraud in (US) history’: Is there any truth to it?
1 month ago

Elon Musk uncovers ‘biggest fraud in (US) history’: Is there any truth to it?

Firstpost  

Elon Musk has alleged that millions of 150-year-olds are fraudulently receiving Social Security payments. The SSA’s inspector general previously identified $8 billion in improper payments in 2023, but experts argue that these errors do not equate to widespread fraud Billionaire entrepreneur and United States special government employee Elon Musk has once again turned heads with claims that his Department of …

Elon Musk’s Risky Attack On Social Security
1 month ago

Elon Musk’s Risky Attack On Social Security

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING WASHINGTON — Social Security is the electrified third rail of American politics, and now Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, and his band of 20-something acolytes are reaching for it. The Social Security Administration’s acting director resigned Sunday in the face of apparent demands for access to sensitive SSA information from Musk’s minions, according to the Washington …

Tens of millions of dead people aren’t getting Social Security checks, despite Trump and Musk claims
Trending News
1 month ago

Tens of millions of dead people aren’t getting Social Security checks, despite Trump and Musk claims

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration is falsely claiming that tens of millions of dead people over 100 years old are receiving Social Security payments. Over the past few days, President Donald Trump and billionaire adviser Elon Musk have said on social media and in press briefings that people who are 100, 200 and even 300 years old are improperly getting …

'Cadavers running around with Social Security checks?' Ex-gov wheezes over Musk remarks
1 month ago

'Cadavers running around with Social Security checks?' Ex-gov wheezes over Musk remarks

Raw Story  

Elon Musk’s recent suggestion that millions of deceased individuals continue to collect Social Security benefits sent former Gov. The on-air moment came during an interview on CNN as O’Malley made light of Musk’s social media remarks where he criticized the Social Security Administration, which he implied is rife with fraud and a source of millions of dollars in government waste. …

Social Security Head Steps Down Over DOGE Access Of Recipient Information: AP Sources
Trending News
1 month ago

Social Security Head Steps Down Over DOGE Access Of Recipient Information: AP Sources

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING WASHINGTON — The Social Security Administration’s acting commissioner has stepped down from her role at the agency over Department of Government Efficiency requests to access Social Security recipient information, according to two people familiar with the official’s departure who were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly. White House spokesperson Harrison Fields released a statement Monday night …

Top Social Security official resigns after Musk's DOGE seeks data access: Report
1 month ago

Top Social Security official resigns after Musk's DOGE seeks data access: Report

Hindustan Times  

The acting commissioner of the Social Security Administration stepped down this weekend after members of Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency sought access to sensitive personal data of American citizens that the agency holds, The Associated Press reported citing people familiar with the matter. Reportedly, the White House has replaced King as acting commissioner with Leland Dudek, who also currently …

Michelle King, head of Social Security, steps down over Musk’s DOGE-related access of recipient information: Report
Trending News
1 month ago

Michelle King, head of Social Security, steps down over Musk’s DOGE-related access of recipient information: Report

The Hindu  

The Social Security Administration's Acting Commissioner has stepped down from her role at the agency over Department of Government Efficiency requests to access Social Security recipient information, according to two people familiar with the official's departure who were not authorised to discuss the matter publicly. White House spokesperson Harrison Fields released a statement Monday night saying, “President Trump has nominated …

Social Security head steps down over DOGE access of recipient information: Sources
Trending News
1 month ago

Social Security head steps down over DOGE access of recipient information: Sources

Deccan Chronicle  

Washington: The Social Security Administration's acting commissioner has stepped down from her role at the agency over Department of Government Efficiency requests to access Social Security recipient information, according to two people familiar with the official's departure who were not authorised to discuss the matter publicly. White House spokesperson Harrison Fields released a statement Monday night saying: "President Trump has …

Trump and Musk set their sights on Social Security by spreading rumors
1 month ago

Trump and Musk set their sights on Social Security by spreading rumors

CNN  

A version of this story appeared in CNN’s What Matters newsletter. On X, Musk said he was “100% certain that the magnitude of the fraud in federal entitlements exceeds the combined sum of every private scam you’ve ever heard by FAR.” Musk also posted a photo of a chart – it’s not clear where it comes from – that appears …

Michelle King: Social Security head steps down over DOGE access of recipient information, sources say
1 month ago

Michelle King: Social Security head steps down over DOGE access of recipient information, sources say

CNN  

AP — The Social Security Administration’s acting commissioner has stepped down from her role at the agency over Department of Government Efficiency requests to access Social Security recipient information, according to two people familiar with the official’s departure who were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly. White House spokesperson Harrison Fields released a statement Monday night saying: “President Trump …

Elon Musk defends cost-cutting efforts in Oval Office appearance
1 month, 1 week ago

Elon Musk defends cost-cutting efforts in Oval Office appearance

Live Mint  

WASHINGTON—Elon Musk defended his cost-cutting plans as a common-sense campaign to reel in out-of-control government spending, amid opposition from Democrats and legal challenges that have stalled some of his efforts. Musk, wearing a black “Make America Great Again" hat, described federal workers as an “unelected, fourth, unconstitutional branch of government" that he said has “more power than any elected representative." …

Elon Musk reacts to claim of 150-year-olds receiving social security: ’They should be in Guinness or probably dead’
1 month, 1 week ago

Elon Musk reacts to claim of 150-year-olds receiving social security: ’They should be in Guinness or probably dead’

Live Mint  

Elon Musk responds to the fact that people over 150 are now receiving Social Security. Although the US government's Social Security program is intended for the elderly and disabled, surviving to 150 is past the average human lifespan. "Anyone who is 150 years old and still receiving Social Security should be in the Guinness Book of World Records, or either …

Trump promised he won't cut Social Security. Should you trust him?
3 months, 1 week ago

Trump promised he won't cut Social Security. Should you trust him?

LA Times  

Hello and happy Tuesday. “We know that the Social Security trust fund is going to run out of money, and that means something has to happen,” said Alan Auerbach, a professor of economics and law at UC Berkeley. Digging a deeper hole Despite that chilling reality, Trump’s only detailed plan on Social Security so far is one that would put …

'Nothing is sacrosanct': GOP floats Social Security cuts after Musk Capitol Hill visit
3 months, 2 weeks ago

'Nothing is sacrosanct': GOP floats Social Security cuts after Musk Capitol Hill visit

Raw Story  

Republican lawmakers on Thursday signaled a willingness to target Social Security and other mandatory programs after meeting with Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, the billionaire pair President-elect Donald Trump chose to lead a new commission tasked with slashing federal spending and regulations. After airing Norman's remarks, Fox Business reported that Musk and Ramaswamy told lawmakers that no federal program is …

Watchdogs say world's richest man Elon Musk has 'declared war on Social Security'
3 months, 2 weeks ago

Watchdogs say world's richest man Elon Musk has 'declared war on Social Security'

Raw Story  

A lengthy series of X posts attacking Social Security as a "nightmare" caught the attention of the platform's mega-billionaire owner, Elon Musk, who could soon take aim at the beloved New Deal program as co-chair of an advisory commission tasked with identifying federal spending to slash. Max Richtman, president and CEO of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and …

Alaska Republican Compared Social Security To 'Ponzi Scheme'
6 months ago

Alaska Republican Compared Social Security To 'Ponzi Scheme'

Huff Post  

Republican Nick Begich, a wealthy software entrepreneur, claimed, without evidence, that Social Security is a "Ponzi scheme," because its trust funds are invested in Treasury bonds. Mark Thiessen/Associated Press Nick Begich, the Alaska Republican challenging Rep. Mary Peltola in a critical House race, compared Social Security to a “Ponzi scheme” in an appearance on a conservative talk radio show last …

Column: The firing of a wretched Trump appointee opens the door to expanding Social Security
3 years, 8 months ago

Column: The firing of a wretched Trump appointee opens the door to expanding Social Security

LA Times  

With the ouster of a Trump appointee, Social Security could become even more important to your future. Tens of thousands of Social Security Administration employees began work Monday with the sense that a new day was dawning for themselves and the program’s more than 64 million beneficiaries: A Trump-appointed commissioner who had undermined its mission while picking fights with its …

Column: No, Joe Biden isn’t secretly planning to cut your Social Security
4 years, 3 months ago

Column: No, Joe Biden isn’t secretly planning to cut your Social Security

LA Times  

Advocates for Social Security and other social insurance programs never let their guard down against threats to the programs and their beneficiaries. — Nancy Altman, Social Security Works Biden “can’t hide 40 years of working with Republicans to cut Social Security,” Sanders has asserted, as in this March 7 tweet. That moment has led to concerns that a President Biden …

Column: Elizabeth Warren offers a Social Security reform plan that checks a lot of boxes
5 years, 6 months ago

Column: Elizabeth Warren offers a Social Security reform plan that checks a lot of boxes

LA Times  

Congressional progressives lately have been putting forth Social Security reform plans that shore up the system’s finances while improving benefits. Warren told me by email, “63 million Americans rely on monthly Social Security benefits, but current benefits are too small for millions of them to support a decent retirement.” Her $200 monthly increase would “address the current retirement crunch — …

Trump’s Budget Chief Is Trying To Make Him Rethink Social Security
8 years ago

Trump’s Budget Chief Is Trying To Make Him Rethink Social Security

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING WASHINGTON ― President Donald Trump made it clear during his successful run for office that he didn’t favor meddling with popular retirement programs, despite Republican calls to do just that. Mick Mulvaney, director of the Office of Management and Budget, told conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt on Monday that he’s been trying “to socialize the discussion” around …

Trump's Budget Nominee Still Thinks Social Security Is A Ponzi Scheme
8 years, 1 month ago

Trump's Budget Nominee Still Thinks Social Security Is A Ponzi Scheme

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING WASHINGTON ― President Donald Trump’s choice to manage the federal government’s budget admitted Tuesday that Social Security is in fact constitutional, but he was still not willing to renounce his description of the program as a “Ponzi scheme.” Rep. Mick Mulvaney, the nominee to head the Office of Management and Budget, also refused to say at his …

Column: Has President Obama appointed a fox to guard the Social Security henhouse?
8 years, 10 months ago

Column: Has President Obama appointed a fox to guard the Social Security henhouse?

LA Times  

Charles P. Blahous III has been a prominent figure in policy debates about Social Security for about 15 years. “By definition, securing a second term makes you an insider.” ---------- FURTHER READING: On Social Security’s 80th birthday, a dangerous leadership vacuum Is this Social Security trustee trying to undermine Social Security? “We should be working to expand and strengthen Social …

The Five Worst Things Presidential Candidates Said About Money in 2015
9 years, 3 months ago

The Five Worst Things Presidential Candidates Said About Money in 2015

Slate  

It’s often said that we reveal ourselves every time we discuss and handle money. As for Marco Rubio, there’s one Social Security beneficiary he’ s interested in: his mom. It’s the work of three academics affiliated with Harvard and Dartmouth who claim the Social Security Administration is using a flawed statistical model to estimate the financial health of the program. …

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