Story perspectives

SSA Modernization: Paper Checks Out, Fraud Fears Rise

9/11/2025

Center

Commissioner Modernizes SSA

Commissioner Frank Bisignano is modernizing the Social Security Administration (SSA) by eliminating paper checks by September 30.
Average wait times for the National 800 Number have decreased from 30 minutes to single digits, and field office wait times have dropped by 30%.
Increased online accounts for seniors raise concerns about fraud, as many are hesitant to share personal information online.
The SSA is restructuring leadership to improve service delivery and aims to boost online accounts from 75 million to 200 million by 2026 while maintaining field office access.
Senator Elizabeth Warren criticized the SSA for allegedly providing misleading information about service improvements.

Left

Trump Limits Drug Ads

President Trump has reinstated a policy to limit prescription drug advertising on television, supporting Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s objectives.
This change may greatly affect pharmaceutical revenues and major TV networks dependent on drug advertisements.
Democrats see recent GOP modifications to Social Security as a potential advantage for the 2026 midterms, raising concerns about program insolvency.
GOP leaders, including Trump, have typically shunned significant changes to Social Security, but new legislation could shift that position.
Republican spokespersons reject Democratic assertions about Social Security as baseless, highlighting ongoing partisan conflicts.

History

Historical Context

The 1996 Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act reformed welfare by replacing Aid to Families with Dependent Children with Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, emphasizing work requirements. This shift reflects ongoing debates about welfare efficiency and accountability, paralleling current efforts by the Social Security Administration to modernize services, aiming to increase online accounts from 75 million to 200 million by 2026.

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Commissioner Modernizes SSA

Commissioner Frank Bisignano is modernizing the Social Security Administration (SSA) by eliminating paper checks by September 30.
Average wait times for the National 800 Number have decreased from 30 minutes to single digits, and field office wait times have dropped by 30%.
Increased online accounts for seniors raise concerns about fraud, as many are hesitant to share personal information online.
The SSA is restructuring leadership to improve service delivery and aims to boost online accounts from 75 million to 200 million by 2026 while maintaining field office access.
Senator Elizabeth Warren criticized the SSA for allegedly providing misleading information about service improvements.

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