The Social Security Administration’s (SSA) online services are facing increased criticism after the MySSA portal crashed for the fifth time in March, leaving millions of Americans unable to access their benefits.
These outages have sparked controversy as the agency undergoes major changes under a federal efficiency initiative launched by President Donald Trump’s second administration.
On March 31, the MySSA portal experienced a “full outage,” also affecting several internal systems.
SSA spokeswoman Nicole Tiggemann acknowledged that “some people may have experienced a problem signing in to their personal ‘My Social Security’ account” and confirmed that the agency was “actively investigating the root cause” of the disruption.
This marked the fifth MySSA failure in March, with previous outages linked to overwhelmed servers.
“The SSA website crashed four times in ten days this month due to overloaded servers,” International Business Times reported, adding that the failures had “prevented countless retirees from accessing their online accounts.”
The SSA has not issued an official press statement regarding the March 31 outage, but recent announcements suggest the agency is focused on modernizing identity verification and improving internal operations.
One such measure requires individuals to verify their identities in person if they are unable to access MySSA.
“Americans deserve to have their Social Security records protected with the utmost integrity and vigilance,” acting Commissioner Lee Dudek stated in a March 18 press release.
“For far too long, the agency has relied on outdated identity verification methods. Social Security can enhance protection while improving service efficiency.”
DOGE-Led Reforms and Internal Shakeups
The surge in outages coincides with the introduction of new automation policies and digital reforms spearheaded by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a Trump initiative led by Elon Musk.
DOGE has been tasked with identifying inefficiencies across federal agencies, leading to significant restructuring at SSA.
As part of this overhaul, SSA has been pushing for more online-only services while implementing major cost-cutting measures.
Workforce reductions have impacted service delivery, with SSA reducing staff by over 12% in recent months.
Reports indicate that field office managers have been forced to take on reception duties due to staffing shortages, and the office responsible for monitoring customer experience has been eliminated.
Concerns Over SSA’s Reliability
While MySSA is central to the agency’s modernization efforts, its repeated failures have raised concerns about its reliability.
“The Social Security Administration website crashed four times in 10 days this month due to server overload, preventing millions of retirees and disabled Americans from accessing their online accounts,” The Washington Post reported.
Despite concerns about reduced in-person services, SSA emphasized its commitment to local field offices.
“SSA is committed to providing service where people need help, and our local field offices are no exception,” Dudek stated in a March 27 press release. “We have not permanently closed any local field offices this year.”
Critics have questioned the necessity of DOGE’s involvement, especially given SSA’s historically low fraud rates.
Between 2015 and 2022, the agency flagged approximately $72 billion in improper payments, less than 1% of total benefits distributed over that period, according to a past inspector general report cited by Fortune.
As part of its broader service overhaul, SSA is expanding Health Information Technology systems to expedite disability claims processing.
“Faster allowances mean getting critical benefits into the hands of those in need,” Dudek stated in a separate March 27 announcement promoting electronic health record sharing.
However, some remain skeptical of the agency’s aggressive reforms.
“What’s happening is the destruction of the agency from the inside out, and it’s accelerating,” independent Maine Senator Angus King told IBTimes, referencing both the outages and the restructuring push.
For now, those unable to access MySSA for tasks such as updating direct deposit information or applying for benefits must verify their identity at a local SSA office.
The agency encourages individuals to schedule appointments in advance to avoid long wait times.
“The Social Security Administration said it’s investigating the cause of recent incidents that have prevented beneficiaries from accessing their online accounts,” Fortune reported.
SSA has not yet provided a timeline for resolving its system instability.
Disclaimer- Our team has thoroughly fact-checked this article to ensure its accuracy and maintain its credibility. We are committed to providing honest and reliable content for our readers.