Social Security helps millions of Americans retire with dignity, but now it’s in the crosshairs of Elon Musk’s so-called “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE). This entity has already taken aim at key federal agencies like the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Education, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Now, they’re coming for one of the biggest and most effective programs in our social safety net. 

Musk hasn’t been shy about his plans to slash Social Security, and DOGE is already making changes that put millions at risk.

So, what’s happening to Social Security? What’s next? And most importantly—how will these changes hurt regular Americans?

Social Security to Stop Allowing Online Identity Verification Amid Office Closures and Layoffs

Musk has made it clear that he wants to slash Social Security, and he’s going back to his tried-and-true playbook of weaponizing misinformation to justify cuts and distract from his true objective: cutting public services to enrich himself and his billionaire friends. 

During a recent appearance on Fox Business, Muskspread lies about Social Security being overrun with fraud by undocumented immigrants, and called for massive cuts. 

But the facts don’t back him up: undocumented immigrants pay billions into Social Security without getting anything in return. Additionally, Social Security’s inspector general has reported that less than 1% of payments between 2015 and 2022 were improper. 

Unsurprisingly, the truth hasn’t stopped Musk and his team from making changes that will hurt millions of Americans. DOGE recently announced that it is taking away the option for Social Security beneficiaries to verify their identities over the phone. Now, people will have to verify themselves online or in person, which creates huge problems for older Americans, people with disabilities, rural residents, and those without reliable internet. 

To make matters worse, DOGE has also annoncé that leases for 47 Social Security offices across the country will be ended, making it even harder for people to access their benefits.

DOGE and the SSA have released plans to gut its workforce, cutting thousands of jobs at an agency that is already operating at the lowest staffing levels in 50 years. With 73 million people receiving Social Security benefits, these cuts will mean longer wait times, delayed benefits, and more confusion for those who need help the most. 

Musk and DOGE claim that they’re making the government more “efficient,” but, in reality, they’re just making it harder for regular Americans to get the benefits they’ve earned. Cutting staff, closing offices, and forcing people to travel long distances to file claims isn’t efficiency – it’s a deliberate attack on a program that millions depend on.

Are There More Changes In Store?

Musk and DOGE aren’t done messing with Social Security. A new rule they’re considering could take benefits away from 170,000 vulnerable people – just because of who manages their money.

Right now, some Social Security recipients rely on a trusted person, like a family member or caregiver, to handle their finances. These “representative payees” help children, people with disabilities, and others who can’t manage money on their own. Currently, payees don’t need a Social Security number to do this job, and many are noncitizens.

DOGE wants to change that. If the new rule goes into effect, anyone without a Social Security number would no longer be allowed to serve as a representative payee. That means 170,000 people—many of them children and people with disabilities—could lose their benefits simply because their caregiver doesn’t have a Social Security number. 

What’s worse is that there’s no clear plan for how these people would get the money they’re entitled to. Imagine a disabled child who qualifies for Social Security, but whose parents aren’t U.S. citizens. The child can’t manage the money alone, so without a guardian who meets DOGE’s new requirements, how will they access their benefits?

This rule change wouldn’t stop fraud – it would just create chaos, punishing people who rely on Social Security the most. It’s a clear sign that Musk has no respect for the program or the people who depend on it. If he’s willing to strip benefits from these eligible recipients now, what’s stopping him from going even further?

What It Means For You If You Collect Social Security

So far, it appears that no one has been stripped of their eligibility for Social Security benefits. These changes impact how you can access your benefits. If you are a new or existing Social Security recipient and need to verify your identity, you are now no longer able to complete this process over the phone. You will need to use the SSA’s online portal or go in person to a Social Security office. For certain people, online verification might not be an option: people without Internet access, people without a driver’s license, and children, who are not allowed to open a My Social Security account.

If you do need to go in person, check to make sure that the office near you is still open. 47 offices are listed for closure (DOGE has disputed this claim, but as of publishing, all 47 Social Security offices in question are still included on the list of 800 federal leases scheduled for closure). Le Associated Press has a list of offices with anticipated closure dates, though we are still waiting on more details about which offices will close and when.

If you have trouble accessing your Social Security benefits, contact your elected representatives, who can help you look into the issue. That said, keep in mind that both the SSA et constituent services aides for your members of Congress might be overwhelmed by an increase in logistical problems.

DOGE Can’t Be Allowed To Destroy Social Security

This attack on one of our country’s most successful and widely used programs is dangerous, and even Trump appointees in the SSA privately express fears about what DOGE’s changes will do to the program. In a recording obtained by ProPublica, acting SSA commissioner Leland Dudek said that it “would be catastrophic for the people in our country” if DOGE continues to make the sweeping changes at his agency that we’ve seen across the federal government. 

Elon Musk has received billions in government subsidies throughout his life, but he clearly takes an “all for me, none for thee” approach to government benefits. Why should the world’s richest man get to destroy the program that keeps seniors, kids, and people with disabilities out of poverty – a benefit that hard working Americans earn throughout their careers? 

That’s why Common Cause is calling on President Trump to fire Elon Musk. Join us by calling your senators to #FireMusk at the link ici.