📋 Social Security to Place New Limits on Phone Services (AARP Article)

[Winter2025VA]

FROM THE ARTICLE.

SSA to Introduce New Restrictions on Some Phone Services.

Agency says move would steer more than 3 million customers to field offices to verify identity.

By Deirdre Shesgreen, AARP.

*** There are 3 comments on the AARP Website. Stop by to add yours. ***

Published July 29, 2025.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) is planning to limit telephone access for four routine services, including reporting a change of address to the agency or getting a tax document.

The new rule would steer more than 3.4 million customers a year to local Social Security offices for services now fully available by phone, the SSA estimated in a July 18 regulatory filing. If approved by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, the change would take effect Aug. 18.

USE LINK BELOW TO READ THE ARTICLE.

https://www.aarp.org/social-security/ssa-new-phone-service-restrictions/

[GailL1]

Personally, I think this is a good idea - we need to do what we can to protect a person’s benefits and that does mean being able to identify them positively when there are changes to things like:

1.  Direct Deposit changes

2.  Address Change 

3. Obtain [tax] info that bears their SS #

If a beneficiary has a SS account, they can make these changes for themselves.  If they don’t know to use it, then they get the code from their SS account and give it to the SSA representative as an identification method.

Tech’s influence is coming to all of us and has actually already arrived.  We have to protect ourselves and our information from falling into the hands of those could steal money (benefits) or information that could lead to further stealing.

I do wish that those beneficiaries that can’t work through these technological changes of all types - not just at the SSA - had somebody trust -worthy to rely upon to help them.  They do have the ability to appoint a (if needed) Personal Representative on their SSA account.  We should do this for ourselves while we can, if not and the situation occurs that we need one, if you haven’t named anyone, then the SSA could appoint one themselves - and this would most likely be a trusted institution to which they can assign such a responsibility.  

I hear that the complaint here is because so many people cannot do these tech things - all the more important in having somebody you trust help you with such matters that an SSA account can maneuver easily.

We are getting rid of SSA paper checks real soon - so the choice is either direct deposit or a type of linked debit card for most people - if not, they have to file for an exemption and these are gonna be for only specific cases as I understand.

It will not be too long down the road that banks, credit unions and other type institutions will stop most paper submissions.  There are all kinds of reasons for this but for the beneficiary, it can mean less likelihood of their paper information being stolen.  I trust the USPS but not the people that could steal the information that is being submitted via snail mail. And more secure types of mailings is very expensive.

[Winter2025VA]

Thanks for stopping by Gail @GailL1 , YES I agree with you. Lol, just hate going to my Local Office.

Take care,

Nicole!

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@GailL1 wrote:

Personally, I think this is a good idea - we need to do what we can to protect a person’s benefits and that does mean being able to identify them positively when there are changes to things like:

1.  Direct Deposit changes

2.  Address Change 

3. Obtain [tax] info that bears their SS #

If a beneficiary has a SS account, they can make these changes for themselves.  If they don’t know to use it, then they get the code from their SS account and give it to the SSA representative as an identification method.

Tech’s influence is coming to all of us and has actually already arrived.  We have to protect ourselves and our information from falling into the hands of those could steal money (benefits) or information that could lead to further stealing.

I do wish that those beneficiaries that can’t work through these technological changes of all types - not just at the SSA - had somebody trust -worthy to rely upon to help them.  They do have the ability to appoint a (if needed) Personal Representative on their SSA account.  We should do this for ourselves while we can, if not and the situation occurs that we need one, if you haven’t named anyone, then the SSA could appoint one themselves - and this would most likely be a trusted institution to which they can assign such a responsibility.  

I hear that the complaint here is because so many people cannot do these tech things - all the more important in having somebody you trust help you with such matters that an SSA account can maneuver easily.

We are getting rid of SSA paper checks real soon - so the choice is either direct deposit or a type of linked debit card for most people - if not, they have to file for an exemption and these are gonna be for only specific cases as I understand.

It will not be too long down the road that banks, credit unions and other type institutions will stop most paper submissions.  There are all kinds of reasons for this but for the beneficiary, it can mean less likelihood of their paper information being stolen.  I trust the USPS but not the people that could steal the information that is being submitted via snail mail. And more secure types of mailings is very expensive.

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[Winter2025VA]

I have only visited my "local" office one time & had hoped NOT to do a "repeat" when I need to change my address at some point. Now to HOPE my "local" office is STILL OPEN when & if I need to go see them.  🙄