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BumRushDaShow

(165,658 posts) Tue Mar 18, 2025, 05:06 AM Mar 2025

Leaked memo: DOGE plots to cut Social Security phone support

Source: Axios

12 hours ago

An internal memo from the Social Security Administration proposes changes to its phone service that could derail the benefits application process for many Americans.

Why it matters: The Trump administration has repeatedly said it doesn't plan changes to Social Security, other than to address fraud and waste — but these proposals risk "crippling" a system already plagued by delays, and facing staffing cuts, former agency officials tell Axios.

The latest: Axios obtained a draft of the memo, signed by acting deputy Social Security commissioner for operations Doris Diaz on March 13, and written on behalf of the agency's operations department.

Its existence was first reported by Popular.Info, which published screenshots of a subsequent version, sent to acting commissioner Leland Dudek a little later that day.

Context: The memo was sent one day after the agency denied, in a press release, a report it was scrapping its toll-free phone line.

The agency, at the time, said the change would only preclude people from changing their bank account information by phone.
But the new memo — issued one day later — proposes changes that will further limit what people can do by phone. Under the proposal, phone service would still be available to people who call the agency and don't need to verify their identity, like someone making a general inquiry.
The draft of the memo viewed by Axios says the proposed limitations will be "significant" for those living in rural areas in particular.

11 replies

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Leaked memo: DOGE plots to cut Social Security phone support (Original Post) BumRushDaShow Mar 2025 OP

They will f up a lot of rural folks making them go to the big city just to get a question asked. GreenWave Mar 2025 #1

They have already told us that no one needs to vote after Traitor Trump got in. travelingthrulife Mar 2025 #6

Running govt like a business instead of a public service C_U_L8R Mar 2025 #2

And now they have AI BumRushDaShow Mar 2025 #4

Yup. Zero way to contact anyone. travelingthrulife Mar 2025 #7

In other words, if you make it too difficult to sign up people will just not bother. Lonestarblue Mar 2025 #3

Exactly... IthinkThereforeIAM Mar 2025 #5

... and they're closing offices ... mellow Mar 2025 #8

I think that's exactly what they are doing. StarryNite Mar 2025 #9

How the hell is that supposed to save significant $$$s??? FoggyLake Mar 2025 #10

Fuck ELOON MUSK !! IrishBubbaLiberal Mar 2025 #11

GreenWave

(12,316 posts)

1. They will f up a lot of rural folks making them go to the big city just to get a question asked.

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Tue Mar 18, 2025, 05:19 AM

Mar 2025

So have they thought about which way rural America votes?

travelingthrulife

(4,463 posts)

6. They have already told us that no one needs to vote after Traitor Trump got in.

Reply to GreenWave (Reply #1)

Tue Mar 18, 2025, 07:31 AM

Mar 2025

They don't care.

C_U_L8R

(48,852 posts)

2. Running govt like a business instead of a public service

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Tue Mar 18, 2025, 06:18 AM

Mar 2025

Ever try to call Amazon or Facebook? They make it as hard as possible to reach them because they don't want to speak to customers. they call it enlightened self-service but it's actually no service at all. Maximizing profits with the minimum effort and expense, because they serve shareholders, not you. On the other hand, a public service SHOULD be all about you. You are both the customer and the shareholder. And these silicon valley ketamine douchenozzles ought to be tossed in the Potomac.

BumRushDaShow

(165,658 posts)

4. And now they have AI

Reply to C_U_L8R (Reply #2)

Tue Mar 18, 2025, 07:00 AM

Mar 2025

to become the fancy equivalent to the "Automated Voice menu" hell.

travelingthrulife

(4,463 posts)

7. Yup. Zero way to contact anyone.

Reply to C_U_L8R (Reply #2)

Tue Mar 18, 2025, 07:31 AM

Mar 2025

Lonestarblue

(13,223 posts)

3. In other words, if you make it too difficult to sign up people will just not bother.

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Tue Mar 18, 2025, 06:44 AM

Mar 2025

And if you close rural offices so they can’t sign up or talk to someone when they’ve erroneously been declared dead, even better. I hate this administration and Trump/Musk completely. They are joined at the hip to destroy everything good in this country.

IthinkThereforeIAM

(3,277 posts)

5. Exactly...

Reply to Lonestarblue (Reply #3)

Tue Mar 18, 2025, 07:26 AM

Mar 2025

... make it as painful/delayed as possible. I have a friend who had an on the job injury from working at an auto parts manufacturer (Lear) in Roscommon, Michigan, plus fibromyalgia. It took her 5 years plus a lawyer to get her disability SS claim approved. Just giving folks an example of a real experience, before the SS cuts.

mellow

(112 posts)

8. ... and they're closing offices ...

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Tue Mar 18, 2025, 08:51 AM

Mar 2025

... so you can't call, you can't visit ... it's almost like they're trying to make the system fail, so they could convince us to privatize social security, hand our money over to them, and leave us at the mercy of the stock market.

StarryNite

(11,972 posts)

9. I think that's exactly what they are doing.

Reply to mellow (Reply #8)

Tue Mar 18, 2025, 10:33 AM

Mar 2025

FoggyLake

(307 posts)

10. How the hell is that supposed to save significant $$$s???

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Tue Mar 18, 2025, 01:59 PM

Mar 2025

IrishBubbaLiberal

(2,561 posts)

11. Fuck ELOON MUSK !!

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Tue Mar 18, 2025, 02:33 PM

Mar 2025

If you are old and weak, and maybe sickly,,,
the MULTI- BILLIONAIRE asshole Musk is cutting SS staff and even closing some regional/local Social Security Administration offices that US citizens depend on.

And plans to, is going to severely slash SS phone support, if not completely eliminate.

And on top of that is cutting/eliminating 1,000s and 1,000s of SS staff.

And reducing the number of localSS offices.

So if, when you’re old….you may now have to drive farther away to get to a Social Security Administration office, waiting longer and longer to get an appointment scheduled ,

Not be able to get telephone support from SS offices,
And/wait hours and hours and hours ON HOLD WAITING.

Who THE FUCK GAVE A FUCKING BILLIONAIRE THE RIGHT TO TAKE AWAY FROM AMERICANS !?.!!

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