Social Security Administration Backtracks On Part Of Trump Policy | EUROtoday

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has delayed the implementation of recent guidelines requiring Social Security claimants to verify their identities in-person at area places of work if they’ll’t do it on-line.

In an announcement, the Social Security Administration additionally mentioned Wednesday that individuals making use of for Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income claimants can be exempted from the forthcoming modifications.

“We have listened to our customers, Congress, advocates, and others, and we are updating our policy to provide better customer service to the country’s most vulnerable populations,” performing Social Security Commissioner Leland Dudek mentioned in a press launch.

Dudek introduced final week that Social Security would strengthen its identification proofing necessities to be able to forestall advantages fraud, which emerged this 12 months as a high concern of President Donald Trump and his chainsaw-wielding adviser Elon Musk.

Applicants for both retirement or incapacity advantages, or these calling to alter their checking account direct deposit info, have been allowed to show their identities partially by answering private questions over the cellphone. The new coverage goals to push extra claimants towards the company’s web site, and if they’ll’t go surfing, then they’ll should make a visit to one in every of Social Security’s 1,200 area places of work across the nation.

Democrats and advocates for seniors and other people with disabilities have warned requiring area workplace visits might be an unfair burden. In explicit, individuals making use of for Supplemental Security Income — a incapacity program of final resort for individuals with out substantial work histories, with month-to-month advantages topping out at $967 — might probably wrestle with the brand new guidelines.

“It is rare for someone applying for Supplemental Security Income benefits online. Most people have to do some portion of the application over the phone, usually through a scheduled interview,” mentioned a incapacity advocate talking anonymously in order to not jeopardize grant funding.

The new procedures will stay in place for retirement beneficiaries, which characterize nearly all of the Social Security Administration’s caseload, with 52 million retired staff on advantages in comparison with about 7 million on SSI and eight million receiving incapacity insurance coverage.

AARP’s Nancy LeaMond referred to as the delay a superb first step however reiterated AARP’s demand to cancel the coverage altogether.

“Ending phone service and requiring in-person office visits would have a very serious impact on older Americans everywhere,” LeaMond mentioned. “Our members nationwide have told us this change would require hundreds of miles and hours of travel merely to fill out paperwork.”

Dudek acknowledged in a gathering with exterior stakeholders this week that the cellphone service modifications are rushed, however mentioned he’s on orders from the White House.

“The leadership above me believes that we should do a rapid rollout,” Dudek mentioned.