PORT ANGELES — Although there have been no reported payment cancellations or delays, some North Olympic Peninsula seniors are raising warning bells that actions taken by the Trump administration will detrimentally impact Social Security benefits that more than 70 million people depend on.
“It’s my only income,” said Honeybee Burns, 77. “If they screw around with it, I’ll be in trouble.”
To raise awareness and as an outlet for those emotions, individuals stood outside the Port Angeles Social Security office for 14 days at the end of March and beginning of April, with signs asking the government to keep its “hands off Social Security.”
Since then, dedicated individuals have continued to meet at the corner of First and Oak streets from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. every Friday.
The end goal, at least for Burns, is to “wake people up.”
President Donald Trump has repeatedly promised he will “not cut one penny” from Social Security. And, so far, most payments administered by the Social Security Administration (SSA) have been delivered like clockwork.
However, there are concerns that changes made to the administration could cause long-term delays — or even cancellations — of payments that many people rely on to survive.
In Washington’s 6th Congressional District, which covers the Olympic Peninsula, the Kitsap Peninsula and most of Tacoma, almost 193,000 people received Social Security payments and more than 15,000 received supplemental security income (SSI) as of December 2023.
One of the largest changes being made to the SSA is the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)’s plan to cut 7,000 of the agency’s 5,700 positions — about 12 percent of the workforce.
In addition to that loss, more than 2,500 SSA workers have accepted a buyout offer promoted by the federal administration, and further hiring has been frozen.
It is unclear whether those cuts extend to the Port Angeles field office; the SSA did not respond to request for comment by publication deadline. However, these losses will increase the workload for workers who already felt burned out and overwhelmed, according to a National Public Radio story.
Janine Blaeloch, 67, said one reason she attended the Friday protests is to support those workers.
“They’ve got to be so demoralized,” she said, noting many people go into government work with a desire to serve the public. “They’re really dedicated people.”
The personnel cuts appear to be affecting people’s ability to get timely help, with wait times going from one hour in 2024 to one hour, 30 minutes this year. And, as concerns around Social Security rise, the average daily call volume has risen from 312,000 in 2024 to almost 395,000 this year.
“Last time I tried to call, I was on hold for two hours,” Burns said. “That’s the issue, is that nobody is answering the phones.”
Other changes also could increase wait times. As of April 14, individuals applying for retirement, survivors or auxiliary benefits need to prove their identity in person — a process that could previously be completed over the phone.
There are concerns that decision could impact the ability of rural Americans to even apply for benefits.
“Requiring rural Americans to go into an office can mean having to take a day off of work and drive for hours merely to fill out paperwork,” Nancy LeaMond, chief advocacy and engagement officer for AARP, said in a press release. “The Social Security Administration needs to be able to figure out a solution for Americans everywhere to get help in a timely and efficient manner.”
Other actions that could affect local residents include an executive order mandating the end of paper checks, including for Social Security benefits. That will be effective Sept. 30.
Changes to the SSA were made in the name of reducing fraud, cutting costs and eliminating unnecessary spending. In all, DOGE cuts to personnel, contracts, grants, property and technology are predicted to save about $800 million this fiscal year, out of the SSA’s estimated $6.5 billion administrative spending.
Some are worried, however, that those cuts might soon extend beyond the administrative side and start affecting benefits that have so far remained untouched.
“I’m fearful that I won’t have social security, [that] I’m just going to have to continue to work full time for the rest of my life,” Blaeloch said.
A partial expiration date already exists for the agency: The SSA is predicting that trust fund reserves will become insolvent in 2035 unless Congress takes action. After that date, retirees will only receive about 83 percent of their full benefits.
Some proposed actions may speed up that timeline — including Trump’s wish to eliminate taxes on Social Security income. Currently, that income is subject to federal income tax when an individual or household’s combined income is greater than certain thresholds. Certain states also levy taxes on that income.
If those taxes are eliminated, the Social Security fund could lose $1.5 trillion in revenue over the next decade, making the trust fund insolvent by 2033 instead.
Any decrease in Social Security payments could throw unsolvable problems at seniors’ retirement plans.
Burns, who was a stay-at-home mom her whole life, said she only gets about $825 a month — and that’s before she pays for insurance.
For Blaeloch, as long as nothing changes, she said she is only eligible for about $20,000 a year. With her husband also retiring on low Social Security payments, Blaeloch said, “We’ll have to drastically downsize our spending. And we’re not big spenders.”
“I’m happy with what I’m entitled to,” said Blaeloch, who’s been paying into the system since she was 15. “I just hope I get it.”
________
Reporter Emma Maple can be reached by email at emma.maple@peninsuladailynews.com.
