Seniors across the United States are expressing outrage and frustration as reports emerge that President Donald Trump and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by billionaire Elon Musk, are disrupting Social Security benefits. Stories of seniors like Leonard “Ned” Johnson, an 82-year-old from Washington state, highlight the growing concerns.
Johnson’s wife received a notice from their bank stating that the Social Security Administration (SSA) had requested a refund of benefits paid out after Johnson was mistakenly declared dead. Despite being alive, $5,201 was withdrawn from their account. After hours of phone calls and a visit to a local SSA office, Johnson was able to prove he was alive and had the funds returned, but he still hasn’t received his February or March payments.
Similar issues have been reported elsewhere. James McCaffrey, a 66-year-old retiree in Oklahoma City, had his benefits suspended without explanation and was told he owed $740 or risked losing Medicare. After persistent efforts, he resolved the issue but never received an explanation from SSA. McCaffrey, born on a U.S. military base in Germany, suspects his troubles may stem from Musk’s recent claims about undocumented immigrants receiving benefits and his characterization of Social Security as a “Ponzi scheme.”
These incidents have sparked fears that Trump and Musk are undermining Social Security, potentially as part of a broader plan to privatize the program. U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) outlined a potential GOP strategy: spreading misinformation about Social Security, creating administrative chaos, and then handing control of the program to private entities under the guise of fixing it. Advocacy groups like Social Security Works have echoed these concerns, warning that Trump and Musk are deliberately destabilizing the system to justify privatization.
The disruptions come as DOGE, tasked with cutting government waste, has targeted SSA offices for closure and staff reductions. Critics argue that these actions are creating unnecessary hardships for seniors who rely on Social Security for their livelihoods. Many fear that without immediate action, more seniors could face delays, lost benefits, and financial instability, further eroding trust in a program that millions depend on.
