Social Security recipients already have plenty to worry about. Benefit cuts are on the horizon as the program’s trust fund runs low, and headlines about its long-term solvency have become almost routine. For many older Americans, these benefits aren’t just a monthly convenience — they’re the primary source of income keeping retirement afloat.

But according to entrepreneur and Shark Tank personality Mark Cuban, there’s a quieter problem developing at the same time. It doesn’t show up in your benefit statement, and it won’t reduce the dollar amount of your check. Yet it could still make it significantly harder to access the senior benefits you’re counting on — and depending on where you live, the impact may already be worse than you think.

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Why Cuban is sounding an alarm for Social Security recipients

Social Security is facing actual benefit cuts due to an impending financial
shortfall. The program is expected to owe more money in benefits than it
collects in revenue in the coming years.

But Mark Cuban is warning Americans about another type of Social Security cut.
Over the past year and some change, the SSA has significantly reduced its headcount,
leading to the closure of some field offices and a harder time getting a hold of
customer service professionals.

In a Bluesky post, Cuban was quick to bash the SSA for removing phone support
for Social Security beneficiaries. He also called the SSA’s reduction in
staffing a “back door way” to cut benefits.

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Social Security staffing cuts could have huge consequences

The Center for American Progress reports that from January 2025 to November
2025, the SSA’s staff shrunk by 6,645 employees. Not only does reduced staff
make it harder to get appointments, but in some cases, it’s led to the closure
of field offices in rural areas.

Meanwhile, in a January 2026 survey by the Strategic Organizing Center, 70% of
SSA employees admitted that services are now slower for Americans, while 65%
said service quality has gotten worse. And more than 90% of SSA employees
reported increased stress on the job.

Social Security staffing cuts are hurting some states the most

Although staffing cuts at the SSA are hurting Americans across the country, some
states are bearing the brunt more so than others. A good 42 states and
Washington, D.C. saw SSA staff losses of more than 10% between January 2025 and
April 2026, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, citing data
from the Office of Personnel Management.

The states that lost the greatest percentage of staff include:

New Mexico, which lost 23% of staff

Washington, D.C. and Hawaii, which lost 21% of staff

Wyoming, which lost 18% of staff

Colorado, Illinois, Missouri, Montana, and Wisconsin, which lost 17% of
staff

Older Americans in states with the greatest losses in staff, percentage-wise,
risk repercussions that run the gamut from longer hold times on the phone to
longer wait times for appointments/fewer appointment slots. They also risk
having to travel farther for in-person appointments due to local SSA field
office closures.

The SSA says it is on a mission to modernize services. In early 2025, it said,
“Digital modernization is a ‘whole agency’ effort to upgrade or replace current
processes, policies, and technologies to improve the customer and employee
experience.”

SSA commissioner Frank Bisignano also claims that the SSA has reduced wait times
by phone by 75% under his leadership while serving 50% more people, ABC News
reported.

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Make sure you’re able to get your benefits

Social Security staffing cuts are not the same thing as actual benefit cuts. But
both could function similarly. So it’s important to take steps to make sure
you’re able to get your benefits.

If you’re gearing up to claim Social Security, make sure to set up a my Social Security
Account. You can use it to file for benefits online, which could expedite
the process.

It’s also important to check your earnings record once you create that account.
If you notice mistakes, you’ll want to flag them to the SSA as soon as possible
given that you may encounter a backlog in getting the issue resolved. An
incorrect earnings record could lead to smaller retirement benefits.

If your benefit claim is approved, make sure to enroll in direct deposit so your
money hits your bank account sooner. And identify your nearest SSA field office
in case you need questions answered in person.

Bottom line

Your Social Security benefits will most likely play a big role in your retirement plan. But given
the program’s recent staffing cuts, you may find that it’s harder to file for
benefits, get your questions answered, or resolve issues pertaining to your
monthly checks.

That’s why it’s important to be vigilant about your benefits. File
strategically, keep tabs on your wage history, and know where to get help when
you need it.

With any luck, there will be pressure on the SSA to restore staff. But until
that happens, you may need to be more proactive.

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