Americans could go without Social Security benefits for months: SSA insider's warning amid Trump's changes
Americans could be forced to go without their Social Security checks for months as proposed changes from Donald Trump and the Republicans could wreak havoc on the system.
The 78-year-old President plans to cut jobs at the Social Security Administration as part of his war against what the billionaire perceives as unnecessary spending and bureaucracy.
Axed are those with the skilled software knowledge needed to operate such a large and complex system, as well as those who update the system and fix glitches. The remaining group are considering moving to the private sector.
So, it could dramatically backfire as an SSA employee, who specialized in payment systems, revealed 25% of his team have been laid off and thus residents could be without their Social Security checks for months.
“That has to get cleaned up on a case-by-case basis,” an SSA employee told The Washington Post. “And the experts in how to do that are leaving.
“We will have cases that get stuck, and they’re not going to be able to get fixed. People could be out of benefits for months.”
Further chaos could come through the Department of Government Efficiency, headed by Elon Musk, which has accused the SSA of widespread fraud and is desperate to investigate.
That means access to sensitive data, although thus far the United States’ judicial system has repelled the world’s richest man from getting access to confidential information about citizens.
Trump’s Commerce Secretary makes bizarre claim
Howard Lutnick, a billionaire who was handpicked by Trump to serve as the new Commerce Secretary, indicates how out of touch the Republicans are with the impact of missing Social Security payments.
The 63-year-old suggested anyone who has the audacity to call up over a missed payment is a fraudster, despite Social Security making up 50% of all income for Americans over 65.
“Let’s say social security didn’t send out their checks this month,” Lutnick said. “My mother who’s 94, she wouldn’t call and complain.
“She’d think something got messed up, and she’ll get it next month. A fraudster always makes the loudest noise, screaming, yelling and complaining.”