Chicago – April 10, 2025
The Trump administration has decided to back off its plan that would have required Americans to visit Social Security offices in person to get services. This decision came just days before the policy was supposed to take effect on Monday.
Liz Huston, a spokesperson for the White House, said in a statement that people will still be able to use telephone services to get help from the Social Security Administration.
“President Trump has promised to protect Social Security and fight waste and fraud,” Huston said. “The Social Security anti-fraud team has worked hard to improve technology, and now they can check claims for fraud even when filed over the phone.”
Last month, Social Security officials announced that people filing claims or seeking benefits would have to go in person to a local office if they couldn’t use the agency’s online system. This would have made it harder for many people to use the telephone services that they rely on.
The new policy raised concerns from groups that support seniors and people with disabilities. Many lawmakers also voiced their worries, saying it would create more challenges for people who live far from an office.
The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a group focused on economic issues, estimated that the new requirement would have meant a 45-mile trip for around 6 million seniors.
A White House official said the administration changed its stance after the anti-fraud team quickly improved their technology, allowing them to check claims over the phone and not require in-person visits.
