Social Security Offers Assurances on Payments, Data as AARP Pushes for Protections

By Kenneth Terrell, AARP

The acting head of the Social Security Administration (SSA) on Feb. 19 sought to reassure older Americans that payments will continue as usual and that Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) staff have limited access to its systems, amid growing concerns over service disruptions and the privacy of beneficiaries’ personal data.

“Our continuing priority is paying beneficiaries the right amount at the right time, and providing other critical services people rely on from us,”  Acting Social Security Commissioner Lee Dudek said in statement.

“DOGE personnel CANNOT make changes to agency systems, benefit payments, or other information. They only have READ access,” he added. “DOGE personnel must follow the law and if they violate the law they will be referred to the Department of Justice for possible prosecution.”

As it has for over 65 years, AARP stays in close contact with administration officials and works tirelessly to protect the Social Security payments received by the 67 million Americans who have earned them. For most older Americans, Social Security is their largest source of income. Nearly 1 in 5 beneficiaries rely on on-time payments for almost all of their income.

Older Americans express concerns, seek answers

Shortly after his inauguration, President Donald Trump signed an executive order creating DOGE, tasking the group with “modernizing Federal technology and software to maximize governmental efficiency and productivity.” Earlier this month, the group started work at SSA, which holds critical personal data about almost every American.

AARP has received thousands of inquiries from members seeking assurances and information about the status of their Social Security payments and the safety of their personal data. These concerns had already been relayed to administration officials before Dudek released his statement. AARP advocates for more than 100 million Americans ages 50 and older.

In a Feb. 20 follow-up letter to Dudek, AARP thanked him for his statement but said many older Americans, including some AARP members, “remain concerned about potential changes at SSA and have questions about their impact on data security, payments, customer service, and other critical issues.”

AARP asked Dudek to address in more detail questions around payments, data privacy and other essential service:

• How is SSA keeping track of any issues that could delay Social Security payments? Additionally, does SSA anticipate any circumstances that might cause delays, and if so, how is the agency preparing to address them?
•   What specific steps is SSA taking to protect people’s personal data and make sure it is not misused?
• If a Social Security payment is flagged as incorrect, what process is in place to ensure fairness for the person receiving it?
• What is SSA doing to prevent service disruptions, such as keeping field offices open, making sure people can reach representatives quickly, and reducing long wait times for disability claims and appeals?
• Are there plans to close or relocate SSA field offices? If so, how will SSA ensure that older Americans – especially those who have difficulty using technology – can still get in-person help when they need it?

“We would appreciate your help in answering these questions so we can communicate this information to our members and the broader community of older Americans,” AARP wrote. “As additional questions arise, we would like to continue this dialogue, as your ongoing transparency and engagement will be key to reassuring the American people – especially millions of older Americans – that their earned benefits, personal data, due process rights, and essential services remain protected.”

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Kenneth Terrell covers employment, age discrimination, work and jobs, careers, and the federal government for AARP. He previously worked for the Education Writers Association and U.S. News & World Report, where he reported on government and politics, business, education, science and technology, and lifestyle news.