The Social Security Administration on Tuesday addressed outages being reported on its website and access issues for some users as a new deadline calling for more online usage nears.
The Administration confirmed the website “went down,” but said the errors did not have anything to do with the Department of Government Efficiency or cuts being made.
“SSA website went down because of atypical high volume and it’s a 1979 platform. It had nothing to do with DOGE,” the agency wrote on social media. “In fact, this problem has alerted to an issue that DOGE will promptly fix.”
SSA website went down because of atypical high volume and it’s a 1979 platform. It had nothing to do with DOGE. In fact, this problem has alerted to an issue that DOGE will promptly fix.
— Social Security (@SocialSecurity) April 8, 2025came in response to a Washington Post report that indicated “retirees and disabled people are facing chronic website outages and other access problems” as the agency pushes for more users to utilize online services.
On Monday, the administration noted plans were underway to “launch a public dashboard for showing system performance.
“While the #SocialSecurity website has faced challenges, these issues predate the current Administration. Our new Chief Information Officer has prioritized improving website uptime and resilience,” the SSA wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
Website Performance (2/2): And plans are underway to launch a public dashboard for showing system performance.
— SocialSecurity_Press (@SSAPress) April 7, 2025The issues come as April checks begin to roll out for many and just days away from shift that will see some users forced to verify their identity online or go to an SSA office.
Here’s what else you should know:
Payment schedule for April
Supplemental Security Income was slated to go out on April 1, while most other forms of payments are based on birthdays. The only exception is for those who received Social Security before May 1997 or those receiving both Social Security and SSI. In that case, Social Security is paid on the third of the month and SSI on the first.
For those whose birthday are between the 1st and the 10th of their birth month, payments will be distributed starting April 9. For those with birthdays between the 11th and the 20th, payments go out on the third Wednesday of the month, which is April 16. And for those between the 21st and 31st, payments will go out on April 23.
Changes in store
Fast-moving changes at the Social Security Administration have prompted concerns that it may be more difficult for beneficiaries to access the agency’s services. Some experts raised concerns that efforts to update the agency’s systems could impact the continuity of benefits.
“Now I’m concerned that benefits could get disrupted,” said Jason Fichtner, a former deputy commissioner at the Social Security Administration who was appointed by President George W. Bush.
Recent changes that have been announced by the agency are cause for concern, experts including Fichtner say.
The changes were slated to begin Monday, but the agency delayed the rollout following feedback and concerns.
“We have listened to our customers, Congress, advocates, and others, and we are updating our policy to provide better customer service to the country’s most vulnerable populations,” Lee Dudek, acting commissioner of Social Security, said in a statement last week.
Not only did the administration delay the start date for the new requirements, it also changed who is required to follow the new rules.
“In addition to extending the policy’s effective date by two weeks to ensure our employees have the training they need to help customers, Medicare, Disability, and SSI applications will be exempt from in-person identity proofing because multiple opportunities exist during the decision process to verify a person’s identity,” Dudek’s statement read.
Social Security Mar 31Social Security changes: When do new requirements take effect? What to know
Social Security Mar 28Chicago organization aims to help clients navigate social security benefits
The new start date for the changes will shift from March 31 to April 14, the agency announced.
Previous announcements had said anyone applying for cash benefits or changing their direct deposit information would need to provide proof of identity. Those who receive payment via paper checks will also need to prove their identity before changing their mailing address.
Those who don’t have a my Social Security account would need to visit an office in person to verify their identity.
But among the newest updates are several exceptions. That means anyone applying for Social Security Disability Insurance, Medicare or Supplemental Security Income who can’t verify their identity online will be allowed to complete their claims over the phone “without the need to come into an office.”
Now, the office said anyone who “cannot use their personal my Social Security account to apply for benefits will only need to prove their identity at a Social Security office if applying for Retirement, Survivors, or Auxiliary (Spouse or Child) benefits.”
“SSA will enforce online digital identity proofing or in-person identity proofing for these cases. The agency will not enforce these requirements in extreme dire-need situations, such as terminal cases or prisoner pre-release scenarios. SSA is currently developing a process that will require documentation and management approval to bypass the policy in such dire need cases,” the administration said.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( ‘Atypical': Social Security Administration reveals what it says caused website errors )
Also on site :
- Assault suspect shot by police at Morgan Hill Safeway
- ‘He’s got MS-13 tattooed onto his knuckles’: Trump appears to hold up photoshopped image of Abrego Garcia’s hand
- ‘Law & Order: SVU' Fans Can't Hold It Together Over Mariska Hargitay's Major Message About Christopher Meloni