Since being elected to office, the Trump Administration has been making a series of changes impacting various sectors of the country. Amongst the more pressing changes are the ones being enacted within the Social Security Administration (SSA) which is sparking large scale controversy from critics.
After the introduction of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) within the SSA, the latest change with the agency is an end to beneficiaries making changes to their direct deposit details over the telephone. The common sentiment in response to this change has been the additional burden millions of vulnerable Americans will now be faced with.
As such, the SSA is also warning beneficiaries to exercise extra caution when dealing with their benefit claims as there are many common mistakes that could lead to missed payments from as early as May and June of this year.
Big changes at the Social Security Administration
As of April 2025, the SSA has introduced a new deterrent to prevent fraud in the form of eliminating the option to verify one’s identity or make changes to direct deposit information over the telephone. This means that beneficiaries will now have to pay their nearest SSA office a visit to conduct any changes to their claims.
Subsequently, the SSA is now stressing that beneficiaries ensure all of their personal details are up to date and their verification steps have been completed. Failure to do so could result in a suspension of payments, and this includes beneficiaries who have been receiving Social Security checks prior to May 1997.
The SSA has shared a list of potential situations that could result in a missed payment. They are as follows:
- Returning to work: A beneficiary’s check could be cancelled if the allowed income limit before reaching full retirement age is exceeded.
- Leaving the U.S. for more than 30 days: Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients should be especially aware of this.
- Changes in marital status: Not updating SSA records when getting married, divorced, or widowed.
- Receiving additional income: Inheritances or unexpected income are to be reported for those collecting SSI.
- Failure to complete new requirements: Missing the new in-person updates or redetermination deadlines.
- Death of a beneficiary: Families may face overpayment penalties if a death is not promptly reported.
Furthermore, as the SSA rolls out these changes, retirees aged 70 or above should note that there might be a weeklong delay with their checks for May 2025.
How to ensure your payment comes through
As per SSA recommendations, beneficiaries should take the following steps to ensure payments continue uninterrupted:
- Regularly review your personal information via the My Social Security portal.
- Report any changes immediately—address, employment, marital status, and more.
- Respond quickly to any SSA notices or appointment requests.
- Keep documentation for all communications with SSA in case of disputes.
- Consult an SSA agent if you are unsure whether a change needs reporting.
Recipients should also bear in mind that the SSA does not always send out warning notices if payments are to be interrupted. A missed deposit should be taken as the first warning sign that there is an issue.
Additionally, in the case of a missed check, there are some other support plans available to get the recipient by until the matter is sorted. These include:
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI): Low-income individuals qualify. Up to $967 monthly for singles and $1,450 for couples is paid.
- SNAP benefits: Federal food assistance, available for those over 60.
- Medicaid: Medical coverage available in relation to income.
- State aid programs: Emergency support for rent, utilities, and basic needs. Amounts vary by state.
Whilst these support programs are available for the interim, it is crucial that a recipient act immediately if there is a pause in payments. This can be done by contacting the local SSA office to rectify the matter.
