Over the past week, significant portions of the Social Security Administration’s website have been inaccessible, prompting the agency to investigate the cause of these service disruptions. This situation arises shortly after the agency urged retirees to rely more heavily on online services as it seeks to reduce its phone operations.
According to a report from the Washington Post, the agency’s website experienced crashes four times within ten days of this month due to server overloads, preventing millions of retirees and disabled Americans from accessing their online accounts. However, the agency has contested this, stating that the site was operational, but some users faced difficulties logging into their ‘My Social Security’ accounts. SSA spokeswoman Nicole Tiggemann mentioned ongoing efforts to determine the root cause of these incidents in a conversation with the Associated Press.
These disruptions follow the agency’s encouragement for retirees to seek assistance online and its announcement to discontinue phone-based identity verification. After receiving significant backlash, the agency partially retracted the policy change for applicants of Social Security Disability Insurance, Medicare, or Supplemental Security Income. Nonetheless, it seems the agency still plans to significantly reduce its phone services, potentially affecting Americans’ access to benefits. Newsweek reported that these changes would likely have a major impact on certain political demographics.
The agency is currently defending its policy changes against ongoing criticism, especially regarding the involvement of Elon Musk’s DOGE unit. Critics allege deliberate attempts to undermine the agency, aiming to justify its closure. At a recent political event, Musk claimed a high percentage of fraudulent calls to Social Security, a statement the New York Times has challenged for lacking validity.
The SSA recently refuted claims of permanently closing field offices nationwide, insisting that no permanent closures have occurred or been announced since the beginning of 2025, aside from the White Plains hearing office in New York. The agency explained that temporary closures may occur due to specific issues but are resolved promptly.
The closure of the White Plains office, one of New York’s largest, is significant, as it serves the populous Westchester County. The agency noted optimizing taxpayer money by identifying underutilized office spaces, including small hearing rooms, and pointed to virtual hearings reducing the need for physical space.
Social security activists are concerned the changes implemented under DOGE may lead to fatalities, and former federal officials have expressed substantial criticism regarding the government’s revised approach to the nearly century-old program. Former agency commissioner Martin O’Malley has warned that these changes might cause extensive service disruptions as early as June.
