Millions of people received false messages claiming that Social Security payments had been suspended due to technical failures. The Social Security Administration (SSA) blames errors on outdated systems and staff cuts, while beneficiaries demand immediate action.
According to reports, millions of Social Security recipients received erroneous messages indicating that their payments had been suspended. Computer system failures, combined with budget cuts and staff reductions, have resulted in recurring outages on critical platforms such as My SSA, which is used to manage online benefits.
The situation has caused confusion and concern among vulnerable groups, including elderly and disabled people who rely on these payments to cover their living expenses.
Social Security beneficiaries got notified that their payments just stopped
Internal sources informed the press that the SSA’s outdated technological infrastructure is experiencing more failures than usual. A recent example was the failure of the My SSA portal, which prevented users from accessing their accounts.
Furthermore, anti-fraud software updates pushed by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) were not extensively tested, according to documents obtained by The Washington Post.
Staff cuts orchestrated by Donald Trump and Elon Musk as part of a federal cost-cutting initiative have reduced technical support teams.
Employees specializing in systems such as COBOL, an archaic language still used by the SSA, are leaving or retiring. “Without experts, errors take longer to resolve,” an anonymous former official told CNN. This is consistent with reports of delays in technological modernization processes.
In a recent incident, 7.4 million Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients received an automated message saying they “are not currently receiving payments.” Although the funds arrived at their accounts, the error caused panic.
According to The Post, another ruling forced the cancellation of disability claim appointments. “If the systems fail, people may be without benefits for months,” warned a Baltimore employee on the condition of anonymity.
The SSA is investigating the causes of the 20-minute interruptions, excluding the erroneous message. However, it did not specify how it will address long-term risks.
Meanwhile, DOGE encourages the migration of old systems to new platforms, a process that experts believe is “rushed” and lacks qualified personnel.
DOGE cuts: could your payments be affected?
Despite President Donald Trump’s promise not to reduce benefits, critics accuse DOGE of using technological advancements as a “back door” to reduce services.
According to Wired, the department intends to replace COBOL within the next few months, despite its use in key payment systems. “Without proper testing, these changes are risky,” one IT analyst told The Post.
The loss of employees with specialized technical skills exacerbates the problem. According to internal data, nearly 25% of a Baltimore-based payment systems team has resigned or will retire soon. “Those who remain do not have the capacity to resolve complex failures,” warned one worker. This raises the possibility that future errors will impact actual payments.
SSA will send two Social Security payments this month
Did you know that the date you collect your Social Security check is directly related to your birthday? Let’s start with the basics: the payment schedule is organized by the day of your birth within each month.
If you were born between the first and tenth of any given month, your money will arrive on the second Wednesday of that month.
The third Wednesday is for those born between the 11th and the 20th. Those who celebrate their birthdays beginning on the 21st receive payment on the fourth Wednesday.
But here’s the first “but”: this only applies if you began receiving benefits after May 1997. If you have been collecting prior to that date or if you receive SSI (a government program that assists the elderly or disabled in difficult financial situations), the rules change slightly, and your payments are sent on the third of every month.
Some beneficiaries receive up to $5,108 per month, but this amount is limited to a small number of beneficiaries, less than 1% of the total 70 million recipients.
