The Social Security Administration (SSA) is undergoing significant changes under the new leadership of Commissioner Frank Bisignano, a former financial services executive. His confirmation marks a shift in leadership and policy direction at the federal agency during the early days of the Trump administration, with many changes being implemented through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). This development could impact the approximately 73 million beneficiaries who rely on monthly Social Security payments, affecting how they receive services and benefits. One of the most significant changes is the implementation of the Social Security Fairness Act, which took effect in January. This new law provides increased Social Security benefits for nearly 3 million individuals who also receive pensions from work that did not include Social Security payroll tax contributions. Beneficiaries affected by this law, including teachers, firefighters, police officers, and federal employees under the Civil Service Retirement System, will see higher monthly benefits and lump sum retroactive payments beginning January 2024. These adjustments, which began in February, range from minimal increases to over $1,000 more per month, depending on individual circumstances. Previously, these groups were subjected to benefit reductions or eliminations due to the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset, which the new law has effectively nullified. The SSA has already distributed over $14.8 billion in retroactive payments to more than 2.2 million individuals within the first 100 days of the Trump administration. Although the agency has expedited the processing of these benefit changes, some cases requiring manual processing could take a year or longer to resolve. Another critical area of change involves the repayment of overpaid benefits. Occasionally, beneficiaries are overpaid due to administrative errors, and they are required to repay these amounts to the SSA. Historically, this has been a source of financial strain for beneficiaries, as they might owe substantial sums once the errors are identified. Under the Biden administration, the SSA had reduced the default withholding rate for overpayment recovery to 10% of a beneficiary's monthly benefit or $10, whichever was greater. However, the Trump administration has reverted to a more aggressive approach, reinstating the 100% default withholding rate, with an aim to recover approximately $7 billion in overpayments over the next decade. Recently, the SSA announced a change to a 50% default withholding rate for new overpayment notices issued after April 25. This applies to retirement, survivors, and disability insurance benefits, while the withholding rate for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits remains at 10%. Despite this adjustment, some experts express concerns that a 50% withholding rate may still impose undue financial hardship on beneficiaries. In addition to overpayment issues, Social Security benefits may be withheld for other reasons, such as defaulted federal student loans. The government has resumed collection efforts on these loans, using the Treasury Department Offset Program to garnish benefits, tax refunds, and salaries. The SSA can also withhold benefits for child support, alimony, or restitution payments. Furthermore, the IRS might deduct from Social Security payments to recover outstanding federal tax debts. Beneficiaries encountering long wait times when contacting the SSA's 800-number for assistance is another ongoing challenge. To address this, the agency is modernizing its telecommunications platform to improve call management and provide more self-service options. This upgrade, expected to be completed by the end of the summer, aims to enhance answer rates and reduce wait times. However, advocacy groups emphasize the need for the SSA to prioritize the needs of its beneficiaries, many of whom rely on face-to-face interactions and phone conversations for their transactions. The Trump administration's efforts to combat "waste, fraud, and abuse" at federal agencies have also influenced the SSA's operations. Initially, the agency required more services to be conducted in person to reduce fraud risks. However, this policy has since been relaxed, allowing claims for retirement, survivor, spousal, and children's benefits to be handled over the phone. Direct deposit changes, however, continue to require online or in-person handling, which can pose challenges for those lacking internet access or facing difficulties with multi-factor authentication. In response to these challenges, the SSA plans to introduce a new secure digital identification system this summer. This feature will allow individuals to access their Social Security numbers online through the agency's My Social Security website, providing an alternative to traditional paper cards. This initiative aims to alleviate the inconveniences associated with lost or stolen cards and streamline access to personal information. As Commissioner Bisignano assumes leadership, the SSA faces