Social Security Increases Transparency and Accountability – Shares More Information Online
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: March 26, 2025
The Social Security Administration (SSA) announced today several new initiatives and resources to promote greater transparency and accountability.
“President Trump has been clear that good government must serve the People. This begins with being transparent in how its government makes decisions and operates as good stewards of the resources entrusted to it,” said Lee Dudek, Acting Commissioner of Social Security.
“With this guiding principle in mind, Social Security is taking several important steps to increase transparency and accountability in order to help others understand our agency’s work and the complexities we navigate.”
What to Know about Proving Your Identity: SSA recently announced it is strengthening identity proofing requirements for people who do not use a personal my Social Security account to apply for cash benefits or to change direct deposit information for benefits. To help the public understand the new policy, SSA today published a new webpage, What to Know about Proving Your Identity | SSA.
Weekly Operational Report Meetings: Acting Commissioner Dudek meets with his senior leadership team throughout the week to tackle a range of challenges facing the agency. During the Weekly Operational Report (WOR) meeting, leaders focus on specific topics, the options presented to the acting commissioner, and the resulting decisions made during these meetings. Beginning March 14, 2025, each WOR is recorded and published to SSA’s YouTube channel. The WOR Playlist is available here: SSA Weekly Operational Report Meetings
Agency Actions: Acting Commissioner Dudek also published online a summary of select agency challenges, options presented, and the Acting Commissioner’s ultimate decisions. SSA plans to update this page periodically to include notable matters the current Administration is solving. Agency Actions | SSA
National 800 Number Wait Times: The American people do not receive the prompt customer service they deserve when calling the agency’s 800 number. Despite the knowledge, dedication, and experience of SSA’s telephone representatives, customers wait too long to speak with a representative. People deserve to know the wait time challenges they will face if unable to use the agency’s secure and convenient online services. Acting Commissioner Dudek is increasing the level of detail shared with the public to provide an honest and transparent view of wait times. Social Security Performance | SSA and Contact Social Security By Phone
Efficiencies and Cost Avoidance: SSA works closely with the General Services Administration to identify unused and underutilized office space. SSA published its Efficiencies and Cost Avoidance webpage that lists soft-term lease terminations, including an explanation for each location and whether any change affects the public or not. For nearly all locations, the space being terminated is only a small room within the larger Social Security office location.
Workforce Update: SSA identified opportunities to optimize its workforce by offering voluntary opportunities to depart the agency or move to a frontline customer service position. The Workforce Update | News | SSA webpage briefly explains each voluntary option and how many employees accepted that option.
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Tags: Commissioner, General Information, my Social Security account
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Linda
There is nothing new here. Everything you have on here was already available, only the format on the site changed. I never experienced long hold time because you put in the time for them to call you at your convenience and the call back always came at the time I chose. How is the wait time going to improve for the process with less workers?
Mike S.
I have lived outside the US, in Thailand for the last 26 years. Have had no problems with Social Security to date.
The last time I attempted to establish a Social Security account, I was informed I couldn’t because of my location. Has that changed?
What Social Security office should I contact if I have issues with my Social Security account?
C.B.
Hi, Mike. Thanks for reading our blog. Yes, you can access your personal my Social Security account by registering and signing in with ID.me. If you don’t have an ID.me account, you can visit here to get the process started. If you need assistance, you may contact ID.me support. You can also visit our Office of Earnings & International Operations webpage. We hope this helps.
Connie
Need to answer the phones. Hopefully Trumps focus on SS will help this issue.
Dana B.
How is anyone supposed to survive on $967 this day and age that’s the maximum if you don’t have enough work credits for disability I’ve been drawing for 7 years and I sometimes get a $20 a year cost of living raise.
Donna
This is all designed to screw the American people, out of their earned benefits..
The Trump, administration is the most corrupt, unqualified cabinet our country has ever had. The orange king doesn’t care about the middle class, l wonder when his base will finally realize he is going to screw them too.
JANICE M.
The more you talk about it, the less you do something about. I need to see positive action. I have worked over 50 years to accumulate my SS and now you are telling me I have to jump thru hoops to get what I have legally earned. Don’t play with MY HARD EARNED MONEY. You are correct one thing to be addressed is the wait time when I call with a question. No one needs to wait for 1.5 hours on phone. One last thing, if the present administration screw with my SS and lose my home, I will stake my claim to reside in the People’s House. Technically, it is OUR house, not just one man’s house.
Svetlana S.
I want to check my social security on line access.
JEFFREY F.
I cannot login. It recognizes my user name but won’t let me login.
C.B.
Thank you for reading our blog, Jeffrey. We are sorry you are having difficulty accessing your account. You can call our “Help Desk” at 1-800-772-1213. After you hear “How can I help you today?” please say “Help Desk” for help to access my Social Security account. The help desk is available to callers between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. We hope this helps.
Cynthia c.
I don’t know how.
Kenneth A.
How much of an increase this month ??
Pandy B.
Does this mean disability also?
C.B.
Hi, Pandy. Thank you for reading our blog and for your question. The Social Security Fairness Act ends the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO). Before the law was passed, WEP reduced Social Security retirement or disability benefits for many people who receive a pension based on work that was not covered by Social Security (a “non-covered pension”). GPO reduced or eliminated spouse or surviving spouse benefits for people with a non-covered pension. For more information, visit our Frequently Asked Questions.
If you receive civil service disability benefits, state temporary disability benefits, or state or local government retirement benefits that are based on disability, they may continue to reduce your Social Security benefits. To learn more, read How Workers’ Compensation and Other Disability Payments May Affect Your Benefits. We hope this helps.
Jason. M.
I’ve have an appeal in for a cessation for almost a year now and still waiting to hear something. They are supposed to have 60 to let me know something and it’s almost been a year. I was 12 days late on my paperwork so I could keep getting my check while the appeal is going on. I haven’t had a check since June 2024. Not to mention I didn’t get the paperwork until the day before the 10 days they gave me to get it in. Seems like double standards to me. Idk I wish I never got hurt. Anyhow I hope they get this Social Security system fixed. And as for they 800 line they are worthless!
Robert C.
Yes sir me I’ve sat on hold for the hole day and not to mention the hole week not to mention….
Jody W.
I fought with Social security for 6 years! I was injured on the job back in 2008. I had a 3 hearings, each were 2 years apart! Unable to return to work at the age of 49. Never received SSD and I’m 68 years old now.
DOGE a.
Social security is not money owed to anyone it’s not a right or an obligation it is a ax used as a sort of savings account which can be removed or changed at anytime with an executive order. There’s no law in any form that says anyone gets Money from the Government.
Peter R.
Very straight forward and answering my questions I get from to many folks who really should leave SSI SSDI & SSA to the people who have a desk at the Many offices around the country. I do say that working on the wait time is a step in the right direction. Also I look at my account every month and it is super easy to get a account. Just go to login.gov and few questions and Wa-La Boom Bang Zip easy pezy lemon squeeze. That was dumb I know. Remember to vote Republican
Michael
Vote Republican and kiss your SS BENEFITS bye bye 😭😫😬
VinceP
It’s actually quite challenging to open a SS account. Stop with this misinformation dissemination for your obvious agenda.
Phillip M.
Thank you