If you’re one of the millions stuck waiting on your Social Security check, you’re not imagining things – there’s a real delay.
The Social Security Administration has been overwhelmed with a backlog that’s left around a million claimants still waiting on payment increases that were promised months ago. And the chaos behind the scenes? It’s not pretty.
Acting SSA Commissioner Lee Dudek has pointed fingers directly at President Joe Biden, claiming that the administration’s focus on diversity initiatives slowed things down. He called out the situation for what it is: long customer service wait times, massive delays in benefit approvals, and poor handling of funds that Americans have worked hard to earn.
It doesn’t help that the SSA is cutting back on its staff. Over 7,000 positions are on the chopping block as the agency tries to modernize and trim costs. But insiders and lawmakers alike are warning that slashing the workforce may only make things worse for the people relying on Social Security every month.
Enter Frank Bisignano, the former Fiserv CEO, who’s now officially the new SSA Commissioner after squeaking through the Senate with a 53–47 vote. His job won’t be easy – he’s walking into an agency buried in problems. From website outages to outdated identity verification systems, the SSA is in desperate need of reform. And yet, some Republicans are already warning Bisignano to avoid making deeper cuts that could break an already fragile service system.
The payment delay is also being felt in phone support. The average wait time to speak to an SSA worker jumped from 61 minutes last year to a brutal 86 minutes. That’s if you even manage to get through at all.
Still, some good news – Social Security checks are coming this May. The first batch will go out on May 14 to folks born between the 1st and 10th of the month, followed by payments on May 21 and May 28. The average monthly payment stands at $1,976.
Meanwhile, identity checks are getting stricter. If you want to make changes to your benefits but can’t do it online, be ready to visit a field office in person. Dudek said the agency has used outdated methods for far too long and claimed new steps will both speed up service and protect claimants better.
And yes, Donald Trump’s executive order is still in effect – paper checks are on their way out. He argued that Treasury checks are 16 times more likely to get lost or stolen than digital payments and said it’s time for the government to finally catch up with the tech age.
If you’re feeling stuck in the mess, you’re not alone. The SSA is going through a shake-up, and it’s unclear how long it’ll take before things actually improve. But for now, keep an eye on your birthdate – your money might finally be on the way.
