Richard Fiesta, Executive Director of the Alliance for Retired Americans, issued the following statement regarding the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) reversal of its decision to end phone services for benefit claims:
“Organizing and mobilizing works. From the moment DOGE announced its dangerous plan to eliminate SSA telephone services, our members sprang into action—making thousands of calls to elected officials, organizing rallies and demonstrations, and demanding the protection of the services they have earned and paid for.
“We are grateful that our voices were heard. As of today, most Americans will still be able to apply for their earned retirement, survivor, or disability benefits through the method that works best for them—whether by phone, in person, or online.
“Forcing millions of seniors and people with disabilities to rely solely on an understaffed network of closing field offices or an online-only system would have placed an unreasonable burden on vulnerable people and done little to curb fraudulent claims.
“We will continue to fight to ensure that SSA is fully staffed and that local field offices remain open and accessible to the public.”
This content originally appeared on Common Dreams and was authored by Newswire Editor.