Two big changes coming to Social Security you need to know about

Yahoo Finance ^ | 3/15/25 | Jordan Weissmann

[Libloather]

In recent days, the Trump administration has announced two high-profile and controversial policy changes it says are meant to combat waste and fraud in Social Security.

First, the agency said it would resume garnishing entire benefit checks from Americans who receive overpayments, undoing a reform that had capped clawbacks at a smaller amount. Social Security officials claim the change will help the government recover an additional $7 billion over 10 years.

Later, the agency announced that enrollees would no longer be allowed to change their direct deposit information over the phone but would instead be required to use an online process with two-factor authentication or visit a Social Security office in person. The measure is meant to prevent some types of fraud.

Both decisions have been met with criticism. Former officials and outside experts worry the new clawback policy will punish poorer beneficiaries who can’t afford to have their full checks taken away, while the additional security measures around bank account information will unnecessarily burden many seniors who lack computer skills.

Here’s what you need to know.

Clawbacks

[BipolarBob]

So is the SS payments for my turtle in danger?

[Ann Archy]

Sounds OK to me!!

[shelterguy]

I’m good with it.

“”””while the additional security measures around bank account information will unnecessarily burden many seniors who lack computer skills.”””

Crock.

[mass55th]

"So is the SS payments for my turtle in danger?"

You have Mitch McConnell as a pet?

[LouAvul]

From another thread on the subject: A Social Security overpayment occurs when a beneficiary receives more money than they are entitled to, usually due to not reporting changes in their income, marital status, or living situation to the Social Security Administration (SSA) in a timely manner.

The "usually due to" clause is key.

[plain talk]

“Later, the agency announced that enrollees would no longer be allowed to change their direct deposit information over the phone but would instead be required to use an online process with two-factor authentication or visit a Social Security office in person. The measure is meant to prevent some types of fraud.”

I just got a ID.me account which is a means of authentication to social security and other .gov sites. I had dreaded it but was surprised at how well the process worked to upload your drivers license and take a selfie on your mobile phone. Well done.

[thinkthenpost]

I believe there should be an income test to determine what degree the beneficiary relies on Social Security for their day to day expenses.
Those that do not have alternate sources of monies coming in and the government is responsible for the over payments not the retiree it is my opinion the amount to be recovered should not exceed 50% of the payment.
If the government screwed up I would certainly hope the first action is to ensure that Social Security stops screwing up people's payouts.
Claw backs are fine, but since Social Security was supposed to be Beans and rice meals, and to keep the roof over your head, rather than your entire pension and retirement income for those that it is all they have or all they get you simply can't take food out of their mouths.
Two wrongs don't make a right.
Finally, if the over payment is due to some kind of fraud or claims the payee is not entitled to I believe that prosecution should definitely be on the table.

[butlerweave]

If you want Social Security you have to put some effort into it

[mass55th]

“”””while the additional security measures around bank account information will unnecessarily burden many seniors who lack computer skills.”””

Sounds like the racist RAT claims that blacks don't know how to use computers. Biden himself said "minorities don't know how to use the internet."

Governor Hochul said: "Right now, we have young black kids growing up in the Bronx who don't even know what the word 'computer' is. They don't know these things."

[madison10]

Seniors are not as computer illiterate as they hope.

[VeniVidiVici]

They realized thieves are getting SS recipient account info and are using the automated SS system to change direct deposit information into their own account

[TexasGator]

“I just got a ID.me account which is a means of authentication to social security and other .gov sites. I had dreaded it but was surprised at how well the process worked to upload your drivers license and take a selfie on your mobile phone. Well done.”

I opened a SS account years ago but couldn’t get into it using my normal login last week to get my 1099.

On a whim, I tried the id.me and to right in.

[dforest]

I am a senior and I end up doing all kinds of things on the computer for a couple neighbors who won’t try and won’t learn. They are trapped in the past and content to stay there.

Until they need something.

[shelterguy]

I’m an uneducated deplorable senior. The SS website is easy to navigate. Two step verification is no big deal. Internet fraud and identity theft is massive so I have no problem doing one more thing.

[Thank You Rush]

“”From another thread on the subject: A Social Security overpayment occurs when a beneficiary receives more money than they are entitled to, usually due to not reporting changes in their income, marital status, or living situation to the Social Security Administration (SSA) in a timely manner.””

That doesn’t make any sense. What is the source? Employers report income to SS, not the individual and no recipient or applicant reports changes in their income or marital status...no one’s living situation is required for receiving earned SS benefits. If the source was talking about a SPOUSE receiving the benefits for a dependent child, that’s something entirely different...

[dforest]

I don’t think it is right to take the whole check if an overpayment was made. I would also hope that the same thing would happen if there are underpayments made. Whole checks should be coming in.

I was one of them.

When my husband died, I reported it and they wasted no time removing his SS payment that just went into our joint account. So yeah, they are sure fast at removing it. LOL

[ansel12]

The army did that to me, suddenly I received zero pay.

[Thank You Rush]

Did she really say that? Either she’s living in a cave or she thinks kids in the Bronx are..

[shelterguy]

“””If you want Social Security you have to put some effort into it”””

I did it online in about 20 minutes. Never talked to a human. Very easy which was quite surprising. They know more about you than you do. They asked what kind of car you had years ago, do you know so and so, etc.