Since DOGE took power in January, complaints about access to the SSA have been "skyrocketing," according to AARP, the nonprofit that serves older Americans. That's because there's been "a startling and sudden decline in customer service," AARP said. Staffing levels at 50-year low: In the aftermath of recent SSA office closures, the SSA has stopped publicly reporting its processing times for benefits, along with the 1-800 number's current call wait time, according to The Washington Post. Alex Lawson, executive director of the Social Security Works advocacy group, told the Post that those data removals "hide how much they've destroyed the system's customer service." Jonathan Stein, former general counsel at CLS, said that SSA workers who were transferred to fill in the gaps are still learning the job at a time when staffing levels had already been at their lowest level in 50 years, he said.