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April 10, 2025 |  By: Iowa News Service

AARP Iowa has pushed back on Social Security changes

The Social Security Administration is standing down on implementing a plan that would have dramatically affected how recipients can access critical benefits and receive information they need. AARP Iowa has been pushing back on the plan, reminding Washington lawmakers that thousands of Iowans rely on Social Security and need to be able to access their benefits and receive timely customer service. State Director Michael Wagler says AARP Iowa is working to make sure that older Iowans continue to get the information they need, and that while it is good news the agency has stopped the proposed changes, doing so adds to the uncertainty around restructuring plans that include staff reductions, office closures, and other changes.

"These changes have the potential for wide range of impacts, including those in rural areas and those with mobility issues where getting into an office may be challenging and time consuming.", says Wagler.

The proposed changes were scheduled to take effect in less than a week, but the agency announced that all claims will still be allowed to be processed over the phone, at least for now. The latest data show more than 687-thousand Iowans receive a total of one-point-two billion dollars a year in Social Security benefits.

Beyond the logistical challenges, Wagler says uncertainty and confusion also create opportunities for criminals.

"We are also concerned that the change to phone services and other changes that are happening on a daily basis will actually lead to scammers using the confusion that the agency has created around this rollout to exploit and prey on Iowans. While this announcement came with the idea to combat fraud, we are also concerned it will have the opposite effect.", says Wagler. 

AARP says its members have sent more than a million emails and calls to Congress in recent weeks to push back on the proposed changes and their negative impacts on customer service for the 69 million older Americans who rely on Social Security.