Millions of Americans depend on Social Security to survive. But right now, the system is failing the very people it’s supposed to protect.

Massive staffing cuts—many linked to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)—have left local Social Security offices across the country overwhelmed and under-resourced.

Call centers are stretched thin. Field workers are burned out. And vulnerable claimants, including people with disabilities, are being turned away, left on hold for hours, or sent confusing letters demanding tens of thousands of dollars in so-called “overpayments.”

These are not small errors. They’re life-altering crises.

Take Rebekah Walker, a single mom with a heart condition and one lung. After 16 years of receiving her monthly disability payment, she was suddenly told she owed over $48,000—and her benefits were cut off. No clear explanation. No timely help. Just a looming eviction and a pile of stress before a major surgery.

She’s not alone. Reports show that many Social Security beneficiaries are receiving overpayment notices that are riddled with mistakes and nearly impossible to dispute under the current broken system.

We, the undersigned, demand urgent action from:

Social Security Commissioner Frank Bisignano
Congressional leaders on the House and Senate Committees on Social Security
The White House Domestic Policy Council
 

Specifically, we call for:

• Immediate restoration of field office staffing to pre-DOGE levels
• A moratorium on overpayment debt collection until fair, accessible appeals are available
• Investment in both digital and in-person service models, so no one is left behind
   

Social Security is a lifeline—not a luxury. And right now, it’s tangled in red tape, underfunded priorities, and political interference. The people who built this country and paid into this system deserve better.

Fix Social Security now. Restore staff. Stop the chaos. Protect the most vulnerable.