Over 75 million Americans may struggle to access benefits as SSA cuts field visits

Protesters outside Capitol Hill when the layoffs were announced early in the year. FILE PIC/GETTY IMAGES

The Social Security Administration (SSA) will be forced to scale back field visits in the first half of next year. Field offices have long been community-based branches that serve as the public face of the SSA, which provide in-person help for people applying for retirement and disability benefits, getting Social Security cards and other important services.

In an operating plan shared with media houses by the SSA, it outlines a proposed target of 50 per cent fewer field office visitors in fiscal year 2026 compared to fiscal year 2025, or no more than 15 million field office visits by members of the public. Agency field offices saw more than 31.6 million field office visits from SSA recipients from October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025, according to the agency document.

A Social Security spokesperson who spoke on the condition of anonymity to preview the administration's plans for the agency said field offices will remain a front-line service to the roughly 75 million Americans who receive monthly payments. However, the spokesperson noted, more Americans are choosing to manage their benefits online or over the phone.

At least 7000 SSA workers have been laid off this year. In October, Democracy Forward, a legal group challenging the Trump administration's policies, filed a lawsuit to compel SSA to release public records about service disruptions.

Barton Mackey, a Social Security spokesperson, said "field offices are, and will always remain, our front-line, providing in-person services to the approximately 75 million Americans who receive monthly payments and more than 330 million Americans with Social Security numbers, which the Commissioner has reiterated countless times since his confirmation."

"The Social Security Administration under President Trump's leadership is serving more Americans than ever before at quicker speeds, and meeting customers where they want to be served," Mackey said. "Through technology improvements and modernisation, more Americans are choosing to easily and quickly manage their benefits online or over the phone."

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