As Social Security payments continue to be distributed, including the first round of retirement payments this week, recipients should be aware of upcoming changes. These changes will impact how people access their accounts online and may affect how they interact with the Social Security Administration (SSA).
Recently, the U.S. Supreme Court made a ruling that could affect the privacy of individuals’ Social Security information, adding new security measures to protect beneficiaries. Here is an overview of the changes and what beneficiaries need to know.
Supreme Court Ruling on Social Security Administration’s Privacy
In a recent Supreme Court ruling, the Court lifted a ban on DOGE (a group involved with accessing government data) from reviewing confidential Social Security Administration records. This decision allows DOGE to access SSA databases.
The Court ruled that this decision was in line with the Trump administration’s powers over the executive branch. However, the ruling was not without disagreement, as three liberal justices disagreed with allowing unrestricted access to such private information.
The legal challenge came from a federal employee union, which expressed concern that DOGE’s access to SSA records could expose personal data and violate privacy laws. Justices Elena Kagan, Sonia Sotomayor, and Ketanji Brown Jackson voiced their dissent, raising concerns about the lack of compliance with privacy safeguards.
New SSA Security Measures and Fraud Alerts
In response to growing concerns about identity theft and fraud, the Social Security Administration has implemented new security measures for online account creation. Beneficiaries with active fraud alerts on their credit reports will now face restrictions when trying to set up an online Social Security account.
A fraud alert is typically triggered when a person’s identity has been stolen or is at risk, and it requires additional verification steps to ensure the individual’s identity before making any changes to their account.
Individuals with active fraud alerts will not be able to create accounts on the “my Social Security” portal. Instead, they have two options to create their accounts safely:
- Visit a Local Social Security Office: Beneficiaries can make an appointment at a local SSA office to securely verify their identity in person, without removing the fraud alert from their credit report.
- Use Authorized Identity Providers: The SSA also allows people to create accounts using services like ID.me, which verify identity online while keeping fraud alerts active throughout the process. This ensures a secure method for beneficiaries to access their information without exposing them to digital risks.
Social Security Payment Schedule for June 2025
Social Security recipients will receive their benefits in June 2025 according to their birth date, following this schedule:
- June 11, 2025 (second Wednesday): Beneficiaries born between the 1st and 10th of the month will receive their payments.
- June 18, 2025 (third Wednesday): Those born between the 11th and 20th will receive their payments.
- June 25, 2025 (fourth Wednesday): Beneficiaries born between the 21st and 31st of the month will receive their payments.
The maximum monthly benefit for someone who delays retirement until age 70 in 2025 will be $5,108. The average payment, however, stands at about $1,999.97 as of April 2025.