As Social Security benefits continue to be distributed, with the first of three rounds of retirement payments being sent this week, recipients should prepare for significant changes in the coming weeks and months.
As the federal government implements new security restrictions to protect users, new changes and restrictions are emerging for beneficiaries planning to transition to the virtual world by creating their Social Security account online.
A Supreme Court ruling has forever changed how Americans relate to their information held by the Social Security Administration (SSA).
The flaw that allows DOGE to access SSA databases
The Supreme Court’s conservative majority lifted a preliminary injunction on Friday that prevented DOGE from accessing confidential information from the Social Security Administration (SSA). The court order now allows the group to review agency records.
The ruling upholds the Trump administration’s sweeping assertion of powers over the executive branch. The decision overturns a previous court order that temporarily blocked access. Three liberal justices dissented from the measure.
“The factors in this case justify granting the requested stay,” the court stated in a document released to the press. “We conclude that, under the current circumstances, the SSA may proceed with allowing members of the SSA DOGE Team to access agency records.”
The federal employees union, which filed the legal challenge, accused DOGE of attempting to expose Americans’ personal information. According to the complaint, the access would violate federal legal protections by involving unauthorized personnel. The organization maintains that sensitive data would be vulnerable.
Justices Elena Kagan, Sonia Sotomayor, and Ketanji Brown Jackson issued dissenting opinions. Justice Jackson expressed her dissent in a separate brief accompanying the decision. The dissent underscores legal divisions over government privacy.
“Today, the Court grants a stay that allows the government to give DOGE unrestricted access to its data, despite demonstrating no need or interest in complying with existing privacy safeguards, and all before knowing whether federal law permits such access,” Jackson wrote.
New SSA account security policy blocks beneficiaries
The Social Security Administration has issued an operational warning for users with active fraud alerts on their credit reports. According to the statement, these individuals cannot create personal accounts on the my Social Security portal. The measure aims to prevent identity theft and benefits-related fraud.
Fraud alerts indicate that a person has been a victim of or is at risk of identity theft. They require additional verification for account openings or significant changes. The SSA implemented this restriction as an additional layer of cybersecurity.
Those with active fraud alerts who need to create accounts have two options. First, visit a local Social Security office with an appointment. This in-person process allows for secure verification without removing the credit alert. Authorized personnel will validate your identity directly.
Second: Use authorized identity providers. The SSA allows you to create accounts through ID.me, a certified verification service. This electronic method keeps the fraud alert active throughout the process. Both channels prevent exposure to digital risks.
Social Security Administration payment schedule for June 2025
Social Security payments are distributed in June 2025, for recipients who retired after May 1997, as follows:
Wednesday, June 11, 2025 (second Wednesday of the month): On this date, benefits are deposited for retirees and other beneficiaries whose birthdays are between the 1st and 10th of any month.
Wednesday, June 18, 2025 (third Wednesday of the month): Beneficiaries with birth dates between the 11th and the 20th will receive their deposits on this day.
Wednesday, June 25, 2025 (fourth Wednesday of the month): Finally, on June 25, the amounts were paid to those whose birthdays were between the 21st and 31st.
The maximum amount a beneficiary who delays retirement until age 70 can receive in 2025 is $5,108 per month. The average monthly payment is particularly low: according to the SSA, it stood at $1,999.97 in April 2025.