In-Person Requirement Will Not Apply to Disability Insurance, Medicare, and SSI Applications

The Social Security Administration (SSA) is taking proactive steps to enhance the security of its services by implementing stronger identity verification procedures. The updated measures will further safeguard Social Security records and benefits for millions of Americans against fraudulent activity. In-person identity proofing for people unable to use their personal my Social Security account for certain services will be effective April 14, 2025.

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The Social Security Administration (SSA) has expressed its full support for President Trump's memorandum, "Preventing Illegal Aliens from Receiving Social Security Act Benefits." This memorandum reinforces SSA's commitment to safeguarding taxpayer dollars and ensuring the integrity of the programs it administers.

"The Social Security Administration is dedicated to protecting the vital benefits that American workers have earned on behalf of themselves and their families," said Acting Commissioner Leland Dudek. "We are committed to working diligently to implement the President's memorandum and to ensure that benefits are paid only to those who should receive them."

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Did you know that people almost always open text messages? In a new Data Spotlight about the big jump in reported fraud losses involving text scams, the FTC notes a study finding open rates can be as high as 98%. Those are really good odds for a scammer. And when scammers get you to respond to their messages, they’re cashing in. Here’s how you can increase your chances of keeping your money safe.

Some text scams start as fake fraud alerts. You get a message from someone claiming to be from the fraud department with Amazon or your bank, offering to help with a suspicious charge. But that’s the hook they use to get you to respond by messaging back or calling a number. Instead of help, they’ll spin elaborate lies and drain your bank account.

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New data from the Federal Trade Commission show that in 2024, consumers reported losing $470 million to scams that started with text messages. This amount is five times higher than what was reported in 2020, even though the number of reports declined.

The most commonly reported type of text scam was fake package delivery, where scammers send alerts about a supposed issue with an incoming delivery. Bogus job opportunities were also common, including “task scams,” which involve promises of online work requiring people to complete a series of online tasks and end up with requests for people to invest their own money.

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Democrat Rep. Steve Horsford actually said delivering “the biggest tax cut in history” would “screw America.”

What would “screw America” is failing to act. A new report from the Council of Economic Advisers shows that extending the Trump Tax Cuts will deliver needed relief to Americans after years of unending Bidenflation:

Real wages will go up by as much as $3,300/year.

Take-home pay for median-income households will increase by as much as $5,000/year.

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Washington, D.C. — U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins has announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will release previously obligated funding under the Rural Energy For America Program (REAP), Empowering Rural America (New ERA) and Powering Affordable Clean Energy (PACE) programs. This announcement underscores the Trump Administration’s commitment to rural communities — including the farmers, ranchers, and small businesses at their core — and their essential role in building a stronger, more energy secure America.

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