WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) is pressing the Social Security Administration about a surge in constituent concerns about delays in receiving their Social Security benefits.
“Due to the haphazard actions of Elon Musk and his so-called ‘Department of Government Efficiency,’ seniors in New Hampshire are struggling with significant delays in receiving the Social Security benefits that they worked for their entire lives,” wrote Senator Hassan in her letter to Social Security Commissioner Frank Bisignano. “I urge you to immediately reverse Elon Musk’s slow-down in Social Security benefit payments, open an investigation into Social Security payment delays, and provide transparent answers to Congress regarding how many seniors are waiting longer than they did last year for their Social Security checks.
“My office has seen a significant increase in outreach from Granite Staters who are facing issues receiving the Social Security benefits that they have earned,” continued Senator Hassan. “Constituents have reported delays in receiving their checks or receiving a lower benefit amount than usual. Others have reported being unable to access their accounts and unable to reach anyone on the phone to get assistance… The surge in issues faced by seniors comes as the Administration has made very clear that this Administration is deliberately trying, as part of its agenda, to make it more difficult for seniors to access their earned benefits.”
Senator Hassan urged Commissioner Bisignano to explain the delays and pressed him to provide information on how many seniors have experienced delays, as well as information on what actions Elon Musk and DOGE have taken that affected systems related to the timely payment of benefits.
Senator Hassan has been speaking out against President Trump’s attacks on Social Security, including the Administration’s moves to close Littleton’s Social Security office and to fire employees across the country who help provide in-person and telephone customer service to seniors. Earlier this month, Senator Hassan participated in a town hall with Granite State seniors to hear about their concerns, particularly their concerns about Social Security. In March, she met with North Country seniors to hear their concerns and explore what can be done to avert closure of the Littleton Social Security field office. Earlier this year, Senators Hassan and Shaheen sent a letter calling on the leaders of the General Services Administration and Social Security Administration to stop any efforts to close the Littleton Social Security field office as well as stop broader attacks on Social Security.
Click here to see the full letter or see below:
Dear Commissioner Bisignano:
Due to the haphazard actions of Elon Musk and his so-called “Department of Government Efficiency,” seniors in New Hampshire are struggling with significant delays in receiving the Social Security benefits that they worked for their entire lives. I urge you to immediately reverse Elon Musk’s slow-down in Social Security benefit payments, open an investigation into Social Security payment delays, and provide transparent answers to Congress regarding how many seniors are waiting longer than they did last year for their Social Security checks.
My office has seen a significant increase in outreach from Granite Staters who are facing issues receiving the Social Security benefits that they have earned. Constituents have reported delays in receiving their checks or receiving a lower benefit amount than usual. Others have reported being unable to access their accounts and unable to reach anyone on the phone to get assistance. Most concerning is that multiple seniors have contacted my office after the Social Security Administration unilaterally suspended their benefits with little explanation and limited recourse to get assistance online or by phone. This is absolutely unacceptable.
The surge in issues faced by seniors comes as the Administration has made very clear that this Administration is deliberately trying, as part of its agenda, to make it more difficult for seniors to access their earned benefits. Elon Musk called Social Security a “Ponzi scheme” and called for cutting one-third of Social Security and Medicare. Howard Lutnick, the Commerce Department Secretary, subsequently claimed that seniors waiting for Social Security checks “wouldn't call and complain.” According to Secretary Lutnick, only fraudsters would complain about a delayed or missing Social Security payment: “a fraudster always makes the loudest noise, screaming, yelling and complaining.”
Given the harm that Elon Musk’s actions have imposed on seniors in New Hampshire, I urge you to take immediate steps to reverse any changes at the Social Security Administration that have delayed Social Security payments to seniors and to open an investigation into the consequences of DOGE’s actions on payments to beneficiaries. Further, I ask you to answer the questions below by June 5th.
Thank you for your attention to this pressing matter.
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