SSA Plans to Reduce Field Office Visits by 50%

An internal Social Security Administration (SSA) planning document from November 2025, reported by various media sources, sets a target of no more than 15 million in-person field office visits in fiscal year 2026. This would amount to a reduction of roughly 50 percent from the more than 31.6 million visits recorded in fiscal year 2025. SSA field offices have long functioned as the public face of the agency, providing in-person help for people applying for retirement and disability benefits, obtaining Social Security cards, and accessing other critical services. The agency appears to be trying to shift beneficiaries toward online self-service options. However, some question whether this strategy leaves behind seniors and others for whom technology is less accessible.