Retireds and disability beneficiaries are concerned about cuts to the U.S. social security system under the Trump administration, delays in payments, processing and services.

Angel Morgan, a 44-year-old disability benefit beneficiary in Nashville, Tennessee, said she felt she was “running” at her local social security office, navigating the line in the local social security office, and trying to make an appointment online to talk about her benefits and how to participate in the work program, which provides disabled beneficiaries for people with disabilities.

"I'm struggling in a social environment, and these things make things worse. Trump doesn't care about the struggles we go through until we're all going bankrupt, either die or want to die," Morgan said.

In 2025, an average of nearly 69 million Americans receive social security benefits every month. Most of them are older or disabled.

The agency has been an important target for the so-called “Ministry of Government Efficiency” (Governor General) and its former leader Elon Musk, who called Social Security “the biggest Ponzi scheme ever.”

The attack on social security is nothing new – Republicans have long privatized social security and raised their retirement age to 69 – but the latest Salvo has had a profound impact on the agency and those who rely on it.

The Office of the Inspector General, the Social Security Agency (SSA) regulator warned in late 2024 that a shortage of background recording and improper payments was caused by a lack of staff that could be used to address the backlog of to be said.

“Like most people, I focus on the future of social security. For limited employees, no matter how many people are, the SSA cannot operate.” A long-term retired SSA employee and consultant, demanding that it remain anonymous.

According to the SSA, about 3,500 employees have made voluntary separation or purchase agreements as the agency is seeking to cut employees by at least 7,000, which will be the lowest staff at the agency in decades. The agency also plans to deprive all employees of the country of civil servant protections.

"The plan will greatly affect the ability of SSA to promptly handle disability decisions, hearings and calling on claimants across the country who have been waiting too long," the General Committee of the Federal Government Employees Social Security Agency said in a statement on the conversion program.

Employee cuts emerge in the fight for Doge's gain access to data and greater authority.

In March, a court blocked Doge from obtaining data from the Social Security Bureau, which contained personal data from millions of Americans. The Trump administration is currently urging the U.S. Supreme Court to weigh and grant thresholds.

The nominee for Trump's SSA Commissioner Frank Bisignano was reportedly involved in the agency's Doge operation and was the self-proclaimed "Doge Person." Bisignano was confirmed this month by the Senate. Doge's actions at the agency include canceling leases for dozens of social security offices in the United States.

In an interview with The Guardian, Social Security beneficiaries reported that they had suffered delays and increased concern that they would be denied their benefits or not charged payments they depend on to survive.

“So far, my disability payment has come on time, but I sit on pins and needles every month, waiting to see if it will.” A 65-year-old disabled person in Virginia said he asked to remain anonymous. "You just don't have a social security to survive. That's why this is an instant life-changing for many of us."

Morgan also said that with the rising cost of living, her income is not enough to almost survive.

"Being told we may lose money, if we complain, it means we are fraudsters, stinging. We rely on these checks to pay rent, buy food, medicine and gas," Morgan added. "We have no way to sell meme coins and gold shoes donations."

A 69-year-old retiree said in California that they are still waiting for a payback and reached an agreement in January 2025.

"The cost of living is increasing rapidly, and it is becoming increasingly difficult to make a living," they said. "I need this benefit."

"This is the first time in my life, my wife and I feel stressed and worried about whether I will pay and whether I will be on time," said an Indiana 70-year-old retiree.

Judi, an 85-year-old retiree in Washington, explained that for the past 20 years, she has never worried about whether her Social Security check will not appear until recently.

"I've been worried every month since the beginning of this regime. Will my checks be there? Will there be some excuses for not having a check? Will they cut the amount? Who are these people who can access my private information? The Social Security Agency always keeps the information private."

Lorrie Bennett, 63, a disability benefit recipient in Louisville, Kentucky, said her payment date has recently changed without notice and was alerted to fraud to monitor her account to monitor her concerns about data caused by Doge.

"I didn't know until the payment didn't appear. When I contacted SS Government, they didn't see anything showing the changes in the system," Bennett said.

A 66-year-old retiree in Los Angeles said they will wait until they are 70 to claim benefits, but applied on February 1 this year, worried about the Trump administration's cuts. "I checked every few weeks to see when approval was obtained, and on May 1, I saw that it was still not approved after three months," they said.

They called the SSA telephone service line for help and were told that the person who processed their application had left the agency. “If I didn’t call, my application would still be in a difficult situation,” they said.

Arthur Gross of Woodside, New York, said he had received two years of social security retirement benefits but delayed payments due to uncertainty and refused automatic payments.

"Now, because of the general situation of Trump and Musk, especially the General Social Security Agency, I have to worry until my payment comes out," Gross said.

The Social Security Bureau did not respond to multiple requests for comment.