More Americans are suddenly filing for Social Security earlier than planned — and it isn’t necessarily because they’re eager to retire. Interference in the Social Security system by Trump, Musk and DOGE has triggered a wave of public panic about the future of the program. For many, it’s created a sense of urgency to claim benefits before any other harmful changes are made. The recent feuding between Trump and Musk — entertaining, disturbing, and inevitable as it is — does not undo their craven efforts to undermine public faith in Social Security. Unfortunately, it’s working.
According to CBS News, early Social Security claims have surged by 17% this year compared to the same period in 2024. If this trend continues, annual filings are on track to reach 4 million. This spike comes amid the slashing of workforce and resources at the Social Security Administration under the guise of ‘efficiency’ — along with Trump and Musk’s lies about the program (like the one about long-dead people supposedly receiving benefits). Trump’s SSA has even declared living people dead, forcing them to go to a field office in person to be officially ‘resurrected.’
Americans are Worried
Many retirees are worried that these confusing, chaotic changes at SSA could impact their benefits. NCPSSM President and CEO Max Richtman has spoken at congressional town halls across the country, where constituents are voicing their concerns loudly and clearly. Richtman notes that attendees often ask if they should file for Social Security early to ensure they receive benefits before further disruptions affect the system.
Understandable as those concerns are, Richtman cautions against filing out of fear. At a recent town hall he explained, “It’s reasonable to be worried, but claiming benefits early may hurt you in the long run. We normally encourage workers to wait till full retirement age or beyond, because the longer you wait (up to age 70), the higher your lifetime benefit will be.”
Conversely, workers who claim before full retirement age take a 7% hit in lifetime benefits for every year they file early. “Those who can wait to claim benefits often end up in a much better financial position over the long term,” Richtman says.
Customer Service at SSA is Suffering
Trump, Musk, and DOGE-instigated cutbacks at the Social Security Administration have disrupted customer service, fueling public concern about their benefits. Long waits, busy signals, and ongoing issues with new AI-powered customer service systems have further complicated operations. CNET called SSA’s customer service bots “maddeningly bad” – answering questions in non-sequiturs and refusing to connect callers to live agents. (See the AI bot talking in circles to an MSNBC anchor here.) Meanwhile, SSA’s website has crashed multiple times since DOGE’s tech bros invaded the agency.
Making matters even worse, Ill-advised policies (mandated by the Trump administration) have put up unnecessary roadblocks for customers simply trying to access their Social Security accounts or make changes to their information. Supposed ‘anti-fraud’ measures on the 1-800 phone lines are causing more claimants to travel to understaffed Social Security field offices for help.
The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities reports that SSA’s restrictive, new policies will require claimants to make nearly 2 million additional trips to understaffed Social Security field offices every year. Imposing this burden on seniors and people with disabilities is further proof of the administration’s indifference to the people who rely on this program as a financial lifeline.
Public Pushback
Americans are alarmed by these changes and are making their voices heard. Protests under the banner “Hands Off Social Security” have gained traction nationwide. Congressional town halls around the country are drawing standing-room-only crowds. Max Richtman is encouraged by these grassroots efforts, comparing them to the successful public campaign that halted George W. Bush’s plans to privatize Social Security in 2005. “We can stop bad things from happening if people continue to make their voices heard.”
NCPSSM CEO Max Richtman speaks at Social Security town hall in Oregon (April, 2025)
Town halls across the country are drawing packed audiences worried about Social Security
As evidence, Richtman points out that SSA has walked back some of its more egregious, new policies in the face of public blowback. Earlier this spring, the agency announced that claimants could no longer verify their identities via the 1-800 phone line because of ‘fraud,’ even though actual telephone fraud in the program is about .001% of total benefits paid. When the advocacy community and the grassroots movement pushed back in a very public way, the SSA loosened the new policy so that not every senior would have to travel to a crowded field office or go online to verify ID.
Social Security has been a lifeline for seniors for nearly 90 years. The Trump/Musk/DOGE changes to the system are dangerous and unnecessary. (Musk even called Social Security a Ponzi scheme.) “This program works and has stood the test of time,” Richtman says. “We must ensure it continues to do so for decades to come” by maintaining public pressure on President Trump and his acolytes at the Social Security Administration.