Second delay for major rollout: SSA postponed the April 13th launch of its National Appointment Scheduling Calendar and National Workload Management system "until further notice" (previously delayed from March 7th) — the systems would let the public self-schedule appointments and distribute claims processing nationwide based on employee "skillset, knowledge, and availability."

California applicants could speak to Maine reps: The systems are meant to "smooth over" the loss of 7,000 employees last year by distributing work across the country — but employees worry about handling unfamiliar state-specific rules like Alaska's oil revenue payments, varying SSI supplement amounts, and different income limits that could introduce errors.

SSA promises later 2026 rollout: The agency says it will still implement the systems later this year and "customers will not notice any changes aside from expanded appointment availability" — Commissioner Bisignano assured employees "we're going to always have field offices" and will serve customers in-person, by phone, or online.

Scammers impersonating SSA with fake statements: The Office of Inspector General reports a surge in fraudulent emails claiming to provide access to your Social Security statement — scammers are now using actual SSA employee names and attaching real employee photos to make communications appear legitimate.

Four warning signs of a scam: Watch for communications that (1) pretend to be from SSA, (2) claim there's a problem or you've won a prize requiring immediate action, (3) pressure you to act quickly before consulting family, and (4) demand payment via gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency.

When in doubt, hang up and call back: If you receive unsolicited communications from "government agencies" using fear tactics to get money or information quickly, end contact immediately — look up the agency's legitimate phone number yourself and call them back to verify if the communication was real.

Limits rose but may not be enough: If you haven't reached full retirement age, you can now earn up to $24,480 in 2026 (up from $23,400 in 2025) before benefits are withheld — or $65,160 if you'll reach FRA sometime during the year (up from $62,160), but once you exceed these limits, Social Security withholds $1 for every $2 over the lower limit or $1 for every $3 over the higher limit.

No limits at full retirement age: Once you reach your full retirement age (likely 67), there are no earnings limits at all — you can work as much or as little as you'd like and your full Social Security checks keep arriving uninterrupted.

You get credited for withheld benefits later: When Social Security withholds entire checks to account for excess earnings, you're not losing that money permanently — at full retirement age, SSA readjusts your benefit to account for the months you missed, so your checks go up slightly for the rest of your life.