Now, new changes to Social Security eligibility rules will take effect. The modifications are good news because they can make it easier for a very vulnerable group of individuals to gain access to earned benefits they have worked for throughout their careers and that they may desperately need.

The Social Security program will undergo several important changes next year, some of which will impact benefits for retired workers.

The center estimates that the change “will force a total of 5.3 million additional in-person trips per year — a 17% increase over last year’s visits — due to the previous direct deposit restrictions and the new ones on address changes, status inquires, benefit verifications, and tax forms.”

Social Security plays a crucial role in the lives of over 60 million Americans who rely on consistent benefit payments for retirement and disability support.

Since at least 2012, a persistent internet rumor has claimed that U.S. Social Security payments are being renamed as "Federal Benefit Payments." In August 2025, the rumor spread again in various lengthy Facebook posts describing the change as a "Ponzi scheme" being carried out by the federal government.

Social Security is a major source of income for 74M Americans — but how far does the average check go? See average benefits by age and gender, how its calculated and making the most of your money. Updated for August 2025.

The Social Security Administration announced a major update to its technological advancements on Wednesday as part of its larger mission, led by new Commissioner Frank Bisignano, to modernize the agency.

Paper checks will be halted for Social Security by September 30. Here’s who must switch and how to stay eligible.

The Social Security Fairness Act, signed into law by Democratic President Joe Biden and enacted in January, had an impact. It repealed the Windfall Elimination and Government Pension Offset provisions, increasing Social Security benefit levels for former public workers.

It’s easy to assume that a person’s retirement age and the age they start claiming Social Security neatly coincide. However, for many retirees, that’s simply not the case.

For 2025, Social Security recipients who haven’t reached full retirement age (FRA) can earn up to $23,400 — an increase from $22,320 — before seeing any reduction in their benefits. For those reaching FRA in 2025, the limit rises to $62,160, per the SSA’s 2025 COLA Fact Sheet.