Rules, whether you love them or hate them, society in general cannot function without them. Now, some people believe that rules are made to be broken, but when it comes to the SSA, we recommend that you check yourself before you wreck yourself. In August, beneficiaries can expect a new rule, which will have one group in particular having to visit the nearest office.
The role of one of the oldest federal agencies in the US
On August 14, 1935, the Social Security Act was officially signed into law by the 32nd US President, Franklin D. Roosevelt, with the very first one-time payment distributed in the same month. Since then, millions and millions of US citizens have benefited from the act. The Social Security Administration (SSA) is the federal agency that manages the social insurance program.
The social insurance program distributed monthly benefits to qualifying beneficiaries, which include retirement, disability, and survivor benefits. These monthly benefits are a welcome addition to the income of many citizens, as they help them afford essentials such as groceries, housing, healthcare, and medication. Without it, financial burdens would significantly increase nationwide.
Now, it is almost satirically poetic of the SSA to implement a new rule 90 years later in the exact month the very first payment was distributed. This new rule will affect one group of beneficiaries in particular.
The SSA will be implementing a new rule
One thing that is an absolute must is to ensure that your personal information stays up to date on the SSA’s system, even if the change is something minor. By doing this, you not only make your own life easier, but you also ensure that your monthly benefits are correct. The only issue is, the new SSA rule will make this a little harder for one group of beneficiaries.
Earlier this year, the agency had the entire US buzzing after implementing a rule regarding claiming benefits over the phone. Now, they have taken it another step further. According to the Social Security statement on new identity proofing requirements, beneficiaries will no longer be allowed to do the following over the phone:
- Address changes
- Claim status checks
- Requesting benefit verification letters
- Ordering tax forms
From now on, if you attempt to utilize the call center, you must complete a multi-step digital verification process to receive a one-time PIN code. If you do not have this PIN, you must visit your local field office. This new policy will result in a significant strain on all the field offices. The new policy will significantly impact the rural regions where citizens have to travel far and lack public transportation.
This group of citizens will be affected the most
The group of citizens that will be affected the most is retirees, people with disabilities, and citizens without reliable internet access. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, this new policy will result in older citizens having to spend almost 3 million additional hours on the road annually, just to receive service. This estimation excludes the hours spent waiting in line.
The SSA reportedly plans on implementing this new rule mid-August, which means the already overburdened local field offices can expect their annual visits to jump by nearly 3.4 million soon. The new policy has raised concerns among many advocates and prior agency officials, with many wondering how the change will help the SSA, which is already struggling with severe staff shortages.
We know they say that change is as good as a holiday, but we believe this one in particular will be far from it. The sudden cuts in SSA staff were already enough for the US to try and handle, but only time will tell whether this policy will be beneficial at all.
Disclaimer: This content is informational only and does not supersede or replace the SSA’s or IRS’s own publications and notices. Always verify any specific dates and amounts by following the direct links in our article to SSA.gov or IRS.gov, or by consulting your local SSA field office or tax professional.