U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand speaks at a rally about Social Safety on March 30, 2025.
Picture by Dean Moses
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand from New York led a cost on Sunday that known as on President Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE) to neglect about reducing Social Safety for tens of millions of seniors all through the nation.
Gillibrand, together with elected officers from NYC, rallied exterior a Harlem Social Safety Administration (SSA) workplace on March 30 urging Trump and Musk to halt adjustments inside the federal program that gives monetary help for People after they retire or if they’ve a incapacity that renders them unable to work.
The rally targeted on the administration’s plans to chop 7,000 workers members and its ongoing actions to streamline the Social Safety utility course of. The senator defined that cuts and adjustments corresponding to these will “decimate the Social Security system,” resulting in the denial of advantages for a lot of program recipients funded via their tax {dollars}.
Elected officers, together with U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, at a rally in Harlem about Social Safety on March 30, 2025.Picture by Dean Moses
“Social Security is a promise, not a political bargaining chip. The Trump Administration’s reckless efforts to undermine this vital program will have devastating consequences for millions of New Yorkers,” Gillibrand stated. “I urge the Trump Administration to safeguard this necessary lifeline and ensure Americans have access to services they rightfully deserve.”
Restricted cellphone help, extra visits in individual
The senator additionally stated that the newly created, Musk-led DOGE plans to restrict cellphone help for seniors, which might then pressure them to file sure claims on-line. She added that many individuals have been left on maintain for hours after they name the administration.
Many seniors would even have to go to an SSA workplace in individual to finish their claims or purposes. On March 18, the administration applied stronger identity-proofing necessities, forcing many seniors and different candidates to go to a subject workplace in individual.
As of March 31, SSA will even begin to implement on-line digital identification and in-person identification proofing.
“But with fewer staff to process claims, skyrocketing wait times and systems in disarray, the Social Security Administration could effectively deny thousands of eligible beneficiaries the money that they’ve earned,” the senator stated just lately from Albany.
In the meantime, the SSA administration denies most of the claims made in opposition to it. Though Gillibrand’s workplace stated DOGE plans to shutter 47 SSA places of work throughout the nation, together with two in New York, the administration claimed in a press release posted on its web site that the report is fake.
“SSA is committed to providing service where people need help and our local field offices are no exception,” stated Lee Dudek, appearing Commissioner of Social Safety. “We have not permanently closed any local field offices this year.”
Nevertheless, the assertion went on to say that “underutilized office spaces” would shut, together with a listening to workplace in White Plains. Since most hearings are held just about, the assertion learn, SSA now not wants what it known as underutilized rooms.
New York Metropolis Council Deputy Speaker Diana Ayala.Picture by Dean Moses
Not ‘on our watch’
In one other transfer to revamp the system, SSA just lately required almost all company staff, together with frontline staff in all places of work all through the nation, to work within the workplace 5 days per week. Administration officers stated in a press release the hassle is to assist guarantee “maximum staffing is available to support the stronger in-person identity proofing requirement.”
Manhattan Meeting Member Eddie Gibbs stated on the Harlem rally that the coverage adjustments are a “moral betrayal” and “steal dignity” from People.
“We won’t tolerate a system that sacrifices our elders and those with disabilities to pad bottom lines,” he stated. “This isn’t about numbers, it’s about human lives, about families facing impossible choices. We’re drawing a line. This is our promise: We will defend every penny, every benefit, every person who relies on Social Security, with every ounce of our strength. They will not dismantle this lifeline on our watch.”
