Retirement Social Security

AARP Issues Warning: Major Social Security Changes Could Disrupt Your Benefits

These issues threaten timely payments.

By Katy Willis

Edited by Laura Hohenstein

Updated Dec. 12, 2025

When the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) starts warning about major changes that could disrupt your benefits, it can cause a certain amount of panic. Especially if you rely on your Social Security benefit for rent, groceries, and prescriptions.

But the issues they're warning about aren't that the government is cutting the amount of Social Security you're getting, but rather access. There are fewer workers at the Social Security Administration (SSA), closing offices, and new identity rules that push more people to show up in person or go online, even as phone lines and websites are already overloaded.

And it's these issues that can make it harder to fix problems or make changes without delays. Know who's most at risk and how you can protect yourself and your retirement plan before anything goes wrong.

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Why AARP is sounding the alarm now

Advocates for older Americans are worried because the SSA is shrinking at a time when more people need help. The agency has announced a major restructuring that will cut its workforce from about 57,000 employees to 50,000. This is a 12% reduction and a loss of 7,000 staff.

Unfortunately, a lot of the people leaving are frontline staff in local field offices. One internal update showed that about 2,500 workers took buyouts, with nearly 80% of them working in field offices that deal directly with the public. Other reports show that 30% of Social Security offices lost over 10% of their staff between March 2024 and March 2025. Plus, overall union-represented field office staffing fell in 46 states.

At the same time, AARP says it's been flooded with thousands of calls from seniors worried about disrupted checks, website crashes, hours-long phone holds, and overcrowded offices. That combination of more demand, fewer staff, and bigger hoops to jump through is why you're hearing the AARP raising the alarm now.

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What's actually changing at the SSA

A few different changes are happening at once. Staffing is being cut and reorganized. The restructuring plan reduces the number of regional offices from 10 to 4 and abolishes some internal units that worked on customer service projects and civil rights issues.

So, this means fewer managers and support staff. Plus, thousands fewer frontline staff handling calls, claims, and walk-ins.

Identity verification rules are getting tighter, too. New anti-fraud policies require many people who are applying for benefits or changing direct deposit information to prove their identity either online or in person, instead of relying on phone calls alone. The agency is pushing people to use "my Social Security" accounts that now require Login.gov or ID.me to access.

Who is most at risk from these changes?

If you don't have easy access to the internet or transportation, or you have complex health or mobility needs, you could run into problems. If you live in rural areas, with the closures, you could live hours from your nearest field office.

People without home internet and smartphones, and those without solid tech skills, are also at risk. New rules often assume you can create an online account, upload ID, and understand and manage multi-factor authentication. If you can't, you're pushed toward phone lines with incredibly long wait times or toward in-person visits that may now require appointments booked weeks in advance.

Retirees who rely on Social Security as their only income are especially vulnerable. For about 40% of older adults, Social Security makes up the majority of their entire monthly budget, so even a short delay or mix-up with direct deposit hits them very hard.

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How this could disrupt your benefits or access

These changes don't impact how much you're legally owed. Your benefit formula and cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) aren't changing. The risk is that it's becoming harder to access the money smoothly if something goes wrong.

If your bank merges, your account number changes, you move, or your card is compromised, you may need to update your direct deposit details quickly. Under the new rules, that usually means verifying your identity online or appearing at a field office in person. This can lead to delays and confusion.

Long wait times make it harder to fix errors. If a benefit is miscalculated, a payment is missing, or your record is flagged for possible fraud, you may need multiple calls and documents to resolve it.

When many callers report wait times of longer than an hour, receiving busy signals, or calls dropping before ever speaking to a person, having to make these calls is stressful and not easy. And it means your benefits may be delayed if the issue can't be resolved quickly.

Bottom line

You can't control SSA policies and federal staffing. What you can do is make sure your own setup is as solid as possible to minimize any risk of delays or issues. Sign in to your "my Social Security" account and make sure all of your details are correct, from your full name and address to your Social Security number. You can also ask a trusted relative to help you set up your online ID verification. Just don't share passwords with them.

Confirm your direct deposit details and make sure your routing and account numbers are accurate. Turn on banking notifications so you know when you get a deposit. That way, you'll also know if it's late.

Keep all your documentation in one safe place, like your government-issued ID, Social Security card, Medicare card, and a recent bank statement. You'll need these if you have to verify your ID at a field office.

It's also a good idea to try and build a small backup fund. Just in case. Just adding a few dollars every month to a savings account can quickly add up and is a lifeline if your benefit payment is ever delayed.

Be vigilant and proactive, but don't panic. You are still entitled to your Social Security benefits. For a stress-free retirement, be prepared and make your situation as solid and smooth as possible.

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