Millions of Social Security beneficiaries in the United States were left shocked and confused after receiving false messages saying their payments had been suspended. The cause? A mix of technical failures, outdated systems, and federal budget cuts.
Although most payments were successfully made, the error caused panic among vulnerable groups, including seniors and people with disabilities, many of whom rely on these payments for daily living.
What Caused the False Suspension Notices?
The Social Security Administration (SSA) has admitted that the MySSA online portal—used to access and manage benefits—experienced frequent outages due to aging systems and software failures.
To make matters worse, a new anti-fraud software update from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) was pushed without large-scale testing. According to documents obtained by The Washington Post, the update was not properly tested, resulting in widespread disruptions.
One of the biggest mistakes was an automated message sent to 7.4 million Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients, wrongly stating that they “are not currently receiving payments.” Though the payments were actually sent, the false message caused mass panic.
Budget Cuts and Staff Shortages Made It Worse
Internal sources told the media that budget cuts pushed by Donald Trump and Elon Musk, under a plan to reduce government spending, led to staff reductions in critical tech teams. Many of these teams worked on COBOL-based systems, which are very old but still in use.
With skilled workers retiring or leaving, the remaining staff struggles to fix bugs and technical problems quickly. One anonymous worker said, “Without experts, errors take longer to resolve.”
Could Future Payments Be at Risk?
Experts warn that unless these systems are properly updated with experienced teams, the risk of future payment disruptions remains high.
Although President Donald Trump has said he won’t cut benefits, critics argue that the DOGE’s rushed tech changes could be a hidden way to reduce access or cause delays. Wired reported that COBOL may be replaced within months, even though it runs key payment systems. This fast shift, without enough testing, could lead to more serious problems.
A Baltimore-based SSA worker warned, “If the systems collapse, people could be left without benefits for months.”
What Is the SSA Doing About It?
The SSA confirmed they are investigating the issue, which caused service interruptions lasting around 20 minutes. However, they have not provided a clear plan on how they will prevent similar issues in the future.
Meanwhile, DOGE continues to push for full system upgrades, even as concerns grow about the lack of experienced IT staff to manage such complex tasks safely.
Social Security Payment Schedule: April 2025
Here’s a quick breakdown of how Social Security payments are scheduled:
- Born 1st–10th of the month → Paid on the 2nd Wednesday (April 9)
- Born 11th–20th → Paid on the 3rd Wednesday (April 16)
- Born 21st–31st → Paid on the 4th Wednesday (April 23)
- SSI recipients or pre-May 1997 retirees → Paid on the 3rd of each month
Some months also include two payments, especially for SSI recipients when the first of the next month falls on a weekend or holiday.