Social Security Administration updates and news

By Mark Popolizio, J.D., Shawn Johnson, J.D.

June 12, 2025 / 6 min read

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In our latest national policy and industry update, we look at recent activity regarding the Social Security Administration (SSA). The SSA is another area that has experienced considerable activity since late January. In this article, we examine certain SSA updates over the past few months, including a general overview of current SSA initiatives, modernization efforts, information regarding SSA staffing and field offices, along with some background information on the social security program as follows:

SSA Facts and Figures

Briefly, by way of background, the Social Security Administration (SSA) provides benefits for retired workers, workers with qualifying disabilities, survivors of deceased workers, and the dependent spouses and children of Social Security beneficiaries.^[1] SSA pays monthly benefits to approximately 69 million Americans per month, 78.5% of whom are retired workers and their dependents.^[2] According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, in 2024, $1.5 trillion (21% of the federal budget) was spent on Social Security.^[3]

Frank Bisignano named as new SSA Commissioner

A recent SSA press release notes that Frank Bisignano has been sworn in as the 18^th Commissioner of Social Security.^[4]It is noted that Commissioner Bisignano joins the SSA from Fiserv where he was Chairman and CEO.^[5]Per the SSA’s press release, Commissioner Bisignano will oversee “the administration of all Social Security programs” which, according to this press release, “paid over $1.5 trillion in benefits to more than 72 million beneficiaries” last year.^[6]

Current SSA Activity and Initiatives

In late April, the SSA issued a press release titled “Social Security Administration Highlights Key Accomplishments in the First 100 Days of the Trump Administration.” ^[7]The authors provide a selective, and non-exhaustive, outline of the following items noted by the SSA in this press release:

SSA Workforce, Retirements, and Field Offices – The SSA addresses recent activity regarding certain staffing items, such as retirements, resignations, reassignments, and questions regarding its local field offices. In this regard, the press release notes that “[a]s SSA reshapes its organization to focus on direct customer service to the public, all non-essential staff received the option of deferred resignation” and that the “SSA further extended to all staff the option of voluntary early retirement, voluntary separation incentive payment, and voluntary reassignment to a frontline position.”^[8] In response, the SSA notes that it “has processed to completion about 350 deferred resignations, over 3,000 voluntary separations, and about 2,000 employees in support positions have accepted and will be reassigned on a flow basis to the offices in most need of staffing resources.”^[9]

The SSA also addresses questions regarding reports that it has closed local field offices. On this point, the SSA states that “[i]mportantly, reports that the agency is permanently closing local field offices are false.”^[10] (SSA’s emphasis). Further, the SSA notes that {s]ince January 1, 2025, SSA has not permanently closed or announced the permanent closure of any local field office. From time to time, SSA must temporarily close a local field office for reasons such as weather, damage, or facilities issues, and it reopens when the issues are resolved.”^[11]

Workforce Optimization – The SSA notes that it “has broken down work silos by combining similar functions across offices. By streamlining outdated and inefficient organizational structures at headquarters and in the regions, SSA has increased accountability enterprise-wide.”^[12] In addition, the SSA reports that it has also implemented President Trump’s directive that teleworking employees must return to work in-person full time.^[13]

Social Security Fairness Act – According to the SSA, it “has made significant strides in implementing the Social Security Fairness Act, having paid over $14.8 billion in retroactive payments to more than 2.2 million individuals affected by the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset.”^[14]

Cost Avoidance and Efficiency Initiatives – The SSA reports, in part, that it “has identified over $1 billion in cost avoidance or efficiencies for fiscal year 2025 through new, common-sense approaches in areas such as payroll, information technology, contracts and grants, real property, printing, travel, and purchase card policies. These efforts reflect SSA’s commitment to being a good steward of taxpayer dollars while enhancing service delivery.”^[15]

Modernizing Telephone Services - SSA notes that it has started to roll out to all its field offices “a modern, telecommunications platform that it successfully implemented on its National 800 Number.”^[16] According to the SSA, “[o]nce fully implemented, this platform will allow the agency to better manage calls to its field offices nationwide while providing more self-service options for customers, including artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled enhancements.”^[17]As part of this project, the SSA notes that “[t]o date, SSA has migrated over 350 offices in the Southeast and Northeast Regions” and that “[i]t expects to complete rollout to all field offices and card centers nationwide by the end of the summer 2025.”^[18] Further, the SSA notes that “[e]arly results show improvements in office answer rates and average speed of answer. Approximately 30 percent of calls are being serviced by automation, improving efficiency.”^[19]

Fraud Prevention – On this topic, the SSA notes that it “has implemented enhanced fraud prevention tools for claims filed over the telephone, further modernizing the agency’s services and strengthening program integrity.”^[20] The SSA reports that “[t]he new technology enables SSA to identify suspicious activity in telephone claims by analyzing patterns and anomalies within a person’s account. If irregularities are detected, the individual will be asked to complete in-person identity proofing to continue processing their claim.”,^[21] According to the SSA, “[t]hese advancements allow SSA to maintain the security of its services while continuing to provide access for customers who may be unable to file online or visit an office in person. The agency will continue to conduct identity verification for all in-person claims.”^[22]

Default Overpayment Withholding Increased – The SSA has also announced that “it will increase the default overpayment withholding rate for Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) beneficiaries from 10 percent of a person’s monthly benefit, resulting in an increase in overpayment recoveries (i.e., program savings) of about $7 billion in the next decade.^[23]SSA also announced the immediate resumption of the Treasury Offset Program (TOP) for debts accrued prior to March 2020.”^[24] On this change, the SSA notes that “[t]his decision came after a suspension of collections due to the economic challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Since 1992, SSA has referred delinquent OASDI and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) debts to TOP as mandated by law. Prior to the suspension in March 2020, SSA had successfully collected almost $2 billion in previously unrecoverable delinquent debt through TOP.” ^[25] Per the SSA, this “program is essential for maintaining the integrity of the OASDI and SSI programs.”^[26]

Going Forward

Per the above, the SSA’s press releases provide information on several current initiatives and activities in several different fronts. Going forward, it will be interesting to see what may further develop in each of these areas and what additional updates may arise. In addition, it will be interesting to monitor whether the SSA changes and updates could, in any manner, potentially impact claims.

[1] Social Security, Understanding the Benefits, Publication No. 05-10024 (January 2025).

[2] Social Security, Press Office: Facts and Figures, Social Security Basic Facts

[3] Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Policy Basics: Where Do Our Federal Tax Dollars Go? (January 28, 2025).

[4] Social Security, Press Release, Financial Services Industry Leader Frank Bisignano to be the 18^th Commissioner of Social Security (May 7, 2025).

[5] Id.

[6] Id.

[7] Social Security, Press Release, Social Security Administration Highlights Key Accomplishments in the First 100 Days of the Trump Administration (April 29, 2025).

[8] Id.

[9] Id.

[10] Id.

[11] Id.

[12] Social Security, Press Release, Social Security Administration Highlights Key Accomplishments in the First 100 Days of the Trump Administration (April 29, 2025)

[13] Id.

[14] Id.

[15] Social Security, Press Release, Social Security Administration Highlights Key Accomplishments in the First 100 Days of the Trump Administration (April 29, 2025).

[16] Id.

[17]Id.

[18]Id.

[19]Id.

[20] Social Security, Press Release, Social Security Administration Highlights Key Accomplishments in the First 100 Days of the Trump Administration (April 29, 2025).

[21] Id.

[22] Id.

[23]Social Security, Press Release, Social Security Administration Highlights Key Accomplishments in the First 100 Days of the Trump Administration (April 29, 2025).

[24] Id.

[25] Id.

[26] Id.

Social Security Administration Updates and News

SSA Facts and Figures

Frank Bisignano named as new SSA Commissioner

Current SSA Activity and Initiatives

Going Forward