Thousands of people in the United States have received a troubling notification from the SSA, the Social Security Administration. Although many thought it was a mistake or a temporary warning, the reality is much more serious. The worst part: there's no way to turn back now.
The government has made a firm decision that's causing distress among millions of beneficiaries, especially in New York State.
Social Security in the United States (SSA) has confirmed a change in its policy. It will directly affect the monthly payments that many citizens receive.
This is an unpopular measure, but it aims to recover billions of dollars (miles de millones de dólares) in overpayments that the institution has issued by mistake in recent years.
Social security of the United States gives explanations
During President Joe Biden's term, SSA implemented a more flexible policy. It limited deductions from monthly benefits to just 10% to recover any overpaid amount. This provided relief for beneficiaries, who could keep receiving most of their money while regularizing their situation.
However, the new law passed under Donald Trump's administration sets a much stricter approach. Since July 1, SSA has started to seize up to 50% of Social Security monthly payments from those who have received an overpayment. The measure aims to speed up the reimbursement of these funds.
It represents a hard blow to the personal finances of those who depend on Social Security as their only source of income. This measure especially affects beneficiaries in New York. Notifications have already been sent since last April.
Affected individuals had 90 days to appeal the decision, but this deadline has already expired. Those who didn't file an appeal in that time will now see a direct reduction in their monthly checks, with no way to avoid it.
Another update in the SSA
In addition to the payment cut, SSA also announced another important change. Starting in September 2025, it will stop issuing paper checks. All payments must be made electronically, such as direct deposits into bank accounts.
This decision aims to make the system more efficient, but it can also create complications for older adults or those who aren't familiar with technology.
In total, more than 73 million people in the United States receive Social Security payments. This means that any change in SSA policies has a major impact nationwide.
That's why this urgent notice from U.S. Social Security has caused concern, and some fear this is just an early sign of more aggressive cuts to come.