My office is hearing from many Arkansans who have concerns related to the Social Security Administration (SSA). Rumors or outdated material are being conflated with confirmed changes impacting the agency, so it is important to address these issues and share the latest, accurate information relating to its customer service initiatives.

Unfortunately, it can be hard to reach the agency right now. SSA officials say they are overwhelmed with calls, and those who have tried the national hotline tell us they’ve waited on hold for several hours. To avoid this frustration, it is best to skip the hotline and reach out to your closest Field Office. You can find direct contact information here by entering your zip code: https://secure.ssa.gov/ICON/main.jsp

The agency recently announced a new identity verification procedure, and this has caused an uptick in calls. The important thing to know is there is no reason for most Social Security recipients to contact the agency about this right now. The updated rules relate to people applying for benefits or trying to make a change to their direct deposit information. For Arkansans who already receive benefits and are not making changes, there is no reason to take action or worry — you are not required to verify your identity outside of those circumstances.

It is important to be aware of a change on the horizon that will impact several thousand Social Security recipients in Arkansas: the federal government will no longer issue paper checks for benefits. While not a new initiative – agencies have been working toward this goal for many years – the effort has a new deadline of September 30, 2025.

Currently, more than 99 percent of Social Security recipients receive direct deposit each month. That is an impressive figure, with more than 68 million people knowing their benefits will arrive on-time in their bank account, prepaid card or other digital payment service. However, that leaves more than 480,000 Americans who still get a check in the mail, including an estimated 5,800 who are living in Arkansas.

This is an important problem to tackle for both the federal government and the recipients. Fortunately, there are many ways to make this work in 2025, but it is important for those impacted to take steps to make this change. It is also critical that caretakers, fiduciaries and guardians for the elderly and people with disabilities pay attention, watch for more guidance and ensure there is no lapse in assistance for their loved ones.

The easiest way to make a change in how payments are received is through the Social Security Administration website: https://www.ssa.gov/deposit/howtosign.htm

As always, if you have trouble with these processes, feel free to reach out to my office.