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Social Security delays date for new ID policies following complaints

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A Social Security Administration (SSA) office in Washington, DC, March 26, 2025. 

Saul Loeb | Afp | Getty Images

The Social Security Administration is adjusting the timeline and terms of its new identity proofing policies after receiving fierce criticism from advocates and beneficiaries.

The agency on March 18 announced new requirements that would require more people to visit a Social Security office to claim benefits or change their direct deposit information if they are unable to put those changes through online.

With those changes, the Social Security Administration was also putting through stronger identity proofing procedures with the aim of curbing benefit fraud.

The change was slated to go into effect on March 31 — an expedited two-week timeline, which experts said was unprecedented. The agency announced on Wednesday it will move that effectiveness date to April 14.

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“I just have never seen anything like it,” Bill Sweeney, senior vice president of government affairs at the AARP, a nonprofit organization representing Americans ages 50 and up, told CNBC.com last week of the change. The AARP first found out about the policy changes when they were publicly announced on March 18, rather than the typical protocol of being given the opportunity to weigh in ahead of time.

“This isn’t how this agency, or I’m not sure any government agency, rolls out new policies that affect 180 million people who pay into Social Security and rely on this program,” Sweeney said.

The AARP was pushing for the Social Security Administration to reverse the announced changes and work in a more “orderly, transparent and clear change management process,” Sweeney said.

New updates to identity proofing policy

To change their direct deposit information, Social Security beneficiaries should first attempt to do so through their online account. If online changes are not possible, they can visit a local Social Security office or call the agency at 1-800-772-1213 to schedule an in-person appointment.

The Social Security Administration said it recommends individuals call to schedule an in-person appointment for applications for retirement, survivors or spousal or children’s benefits where individuals are unable to apply online.

The AARP, in a statement from chief advocacy and engagement officer Nancy LeaMond, said the updates are a “good first step” to respond to concerns about the new policy.

“Merely delaying the implementation of this change is not enough, though,” LeaMond said. “SSA should take a deliberate approach to its proposed changes to customer service that seeks public input, follows a clear communication plan and allows a reasonable timeframe for compliance.”

Callers to 800 number face long wait times

The swift policy changes come as the Social Security Administration’s new leadership has come under scrutiny for its cooperation with the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency, which the White House has tasked with slashing federal spending by cutting “waste, fraud and abuse” across government agencies.

The Social Security Administration’s acting commissioner, Lee Dudek, assumed the role in February after reportedly publicly disclosing he had been placed on administrative leave for cooperating with DOGE. Last week, Dudek threatened to shut down the agency in response to a federal judge’s temporary restraining order that prevents DOGE affiliates from accessing sensitive Social Security data. He has since reversed his stance.

As the agency’s leadership has been in flux, many observers say they have noticed longer 800 number wait times. Because DOGE has a running list of Social Security offices it plans to close, it will be more difficult to visit an agency office in person, experts say.

“The customer service situation at Social Security has really declined in the past month or so,” AARP’s Sweeney said.

The 800 wait times have “skyrocketed” since November, when they were at a low of about 11 minutes, Sweeney said.

The average time to answer a call is 21.2 minutes, according to Social Security Administration data, while nearly half of calls are not getting answered.

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Yet callers have reported experiencing much longer wait times. In an effort to bolster transparency, Dudek plans to increase the “level of detail shared with the public to provide an honest and transparent view of wait times,” the Social Security Administration said on March 24.

As the agency transitions to the new identity proofing policy, some people who need its services feel like they are in limbo.

Lisa Cutler, communications director at the Alliance for Retired Americans, recently tried to contact the Social Security Administration on behalf of an elderly family to process an address change. She spent about an hour trying to get through on the agency’s 800 number before she gave up.

Cutler now estimates it would take a full afternoon to successfully get through to the agency. To make the process more complicated, the family member would have to be present to answer personal security questions.

Under Social Security’s new identity proofing policies, Cutler may instead have to set up an online account on her 87-year-old relative’s behalf. If the change can’t be processed that way, they would need bring the wheelchair-bound relative to a local Social Security office, which would require medical transportation.

The changes have felt like a “Silicon Valley go fast and break things” approach, Cutler said.

“But the problem is you’re dealing with a system that is meant to serve some of the most vulnerable people in our country,” Cutler said.

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As Trump reciprocal tariffs near, economists say VATs aren’t trade barrier

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A container ship at the Port of Hamburg in Hamburg, Germany.

Maria Feck/Bloomberg via Getty Images

President Donald Trump is planning to unveil reciprocal tariffs on Wednesday to retaliate against trade practices his administration deems unfair or discriminatory. Among the grievances is the “value-added tax,” or VAT, which Trump called “far more punitive” than tariffs in a Feb. 15 post on Truth Social.

Many economists, however, disagree with that characterization.

“It would be complete nonsense” to levy a tariff on U.S. trading partners in response to a value-added tax, said Erica York, an economist and vice president of federal tax policy at the Tax Foundation.

“A value-added tax does not distort trade,” York said. “It’s not a protectionist measure, so it makes no sense to retaliate against a VAT.”

The White House didn’t respond to a request from CNBC for comment.

The precise scope of reciprocal tariffs are unclear. President Trump suggested in recent weeks, for example, that there might be flexibility on reciprocal tariffs, but on Sunday he said that the tariffs would “start with all countries.”

What is a VAT?

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The U.S. is the only nation in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development that uses a retail sales tax (rather than a VAT) as its main consumption tax, according to the OECD, which consists of 38 member countries.

VAT rates vary by country. Most European nations charge roughly 20%, for example, though the rate ranges from an 8.1% low in Switzerland up to 27% in Hungary, according to the Tax Foundation.

The average state and local sales tax rate is 7.5% in the U.S, the Tax Foundation said.

Why VATs aren’t like tariffs, economists say

Value-added taxes are different than tariffs, economists explain.

Nations apply VATs equally, regardless of where a good was produced. Foreign nations apply the same tax on domestic goods and imported U.S. products.

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By comparison, foreign tariffs may put U.S. goods at a relative disadvantage: U.S. goods are hit with an import tax but there wouldn’t be an equivalent duty on domestic goods.

Put simply, VATs don’t discriminate based on product origin, while tariffs do, economists said.

“What’s confusing — and, to be honest, just misplaced — [about the White House stance] is a VAT isn’t discretionary: It applies to domestic output as well as imports,” said Bradley Saunders, a North America economist at Capital Economics. “It’s not protectionist.”

How VATs and U.S. sales taxes are different

The OECD considers retail sales taxes and VATs to be in the same category: “taxes on general consumption.”

While consumers bear the ultimate cost of each, the taxes are collected differently, economists said.

The end consumer pays U.S. sales tax when they purchase a product.  

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By contrast, businesses pay VATs in stages across the supply chain, according to the business’ respective “value add.” Businesses get a tax break for their portion of the VAT, and the end consumer ultimately bears the tax cost, according to the International Chamber of Commerce.

VATs around the world are “border adjustable,” according to Eric Toder, a non-resident fellow at the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center.

That means a nation’s exports are exempt from value-added taxes, while imports (from the U.S., for example) are taxable, he wrote.

The World Trade Organization doesn’t view this as a trade barrier, economists said.

“The academic consensus is that adjusting VATs at the border — by levying VATs on imports but exempting exports — does not distort trade flows as long as imported goods are subject to the same VAT rate as domestic goods,” wrote Benzarti and Tazhitdinova of UC Santa Barbara. “For this reason, VATs, as they are currently implemented, are considered to be trade neutral and the [WTO] allows border adjustment of VATs.”

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This retirement account provides tax-free growth for military families

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Mike Kemp | Tetra Images | Getty Images

Members of the U.S. armed forces qualify for special tax breaks, which can offer unique financial planning opportunities, experts say.

Typically, earnings are higher after military service because there are two sources of income: your new career and your military retirement benefits, said certified financial planner Patrick Beagle, owner and president of WealthCrest Financial Services in Springfield, Va. The firm specializes in military and federal employees. 

During service, it’s smart to make after-tax Roth contributions to a Thrift Savings Plan, or TSP, retirement accounts, he said. Roth deposits are after taxes, but the funds grow tax-free. 

“You’re probably making a mistake” if you skip Roth TSP contributions while serving during your lower-income years, said Beagle, who is also a retired Marine aviator.

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‘Tax-free’ combat zone income

Another planning opportunity happens while serving in a combat zone, said CFP Curtis Sheldon, who is also an enrolled agent at C.L. Sheldon and Company in Alexandria, Va. The firm specializes in working with active and retired military members. 

“For the vast majority of people, when you deploy to a combat zone, you have tax-free income,” and even a single day of service counts for the full month, he said. Your earnings are exempt from taxes during that period, including basic pay, bonuses, student loan repayments and more, according to the IRS. 

Typically, you should aim to receive more income during that period to maximize your tax-exempt income, experts say.

For example, you can defer your reenlistment bonus until you’re in a combat zone, and the earnings will be tax-free, Beagle said.

Weigh Roth conversions

While deployed in a combat zone, it’s also a “really, really good year” for higher-ranking individuals to do Roth conversions while temporarily in a lower tax bracket, Sheldon said. These service members may otherwise be higher earners and may have a larger pre-tax retirement account to covert.

Roth individual retirement account conversions transfer pretax or nondeductible IRA money to a Roth IRA, which begins future tax-free growth. The trade-off is investors owe upfront taxes on the converted balance.

Leverage the Savings Deposit Program 

Another benefit is the Department of Defense’s Savings Deposit Program, or SDP, which offers 10% annual interest on savings of up to $10,000 while service members are deployed in a combat zone.

To compare, the average interest rate for traditional banks was 0.41%, as of Mar. 17, according to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Meanwhile, the top 1% average rate savings account rate was 4.26%, as of Mar. 31, according to Deposit Accounts.

You can close the account after leaving a combat zone and use the money as a “slush fund” for living expenses to defer more Roth contributions into your TSP, Beagle said.

“There are all these different wickets,” he said. “You can pick and choose among all the [military] benefits” to maximize future investment returns.

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Trump’s backlash isn’t ‘game over’ for ESG investing

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A mobile billboard rolls past the U.S. Capitol on May 10, 2023.

Jemal Countess | Getty Images Entertainment | Getty Images

Investors have pulled money from so-called ESG funds in recent years, amid political backlash, high interest rates and other headwinds.

But analysts say the outlook and long-term investment thesis for the fund category, which stands for “environmental, social and governance,” are favorable.

President Donald Trump’s agenda “isn’t ‘game over’ for ESG investing,” Diana Iovanel, a senior markets economist at Capital Economics, wrote in a research note on Tuesday.

Demand for ESG investments “is here to stay” even in the face of political pressure, Iovanel wrote.

ESG outflows amid ‘anti-ESG backlash’

How is an ESG fund really built?

“I don’t think we really expected something different, because of the anti-ESG backlash in the U.S. and the political environment there,” said Hortense Bioy, head of sustainable investing research at Morningstar.

Critics call ESG a form of “woke capitalism” that sacrifices returns for the sake of liberal goals.

Advocates argue that ESG investing positions investors for higher long-term returns because companies that adopt such practices are poised to be more resilient, and therefore more successful, than peers.

Outflows follow years of steady growth

Two years of consecutive outflows — in 2023 and 2024 — followed years of steady ESG growth.

Investors have funneled a total $130 billion into U.S. ESG funds over the past decade, according to Morningstar. For example, investors pumped more than $50 billion into ESG funds in 2020 and almost $70 billion in 2021, a record high, according to Morningstar.

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Despite outflows, overall ESG fund assets grew slightly in 2024, to $344 billion, due to market appreciation, Morningstar found.

Investor demand also appears relatively high, especially among younger investors, analysts said.

About 84% of individual investors in the U.S. are interested in sustainable investing, according to a 2024 Morgan Stanley survey. Roughly two thirds, 65%, of respondents said their interest had increased in the prior two years.

Politics poses headwinds for ESG

But the political backlash against initiatives underlying ESG funds has intensified “very quickly” since President Trump was elected, Bioy said.

Within the first few days of his inauguration, Trump pulled the U.S. out of the Paris agreement, blocked subsidies for electric vehicles, pushed for more fossil-fuel production and started a “huge pushback” against diversity, equity and inclusion policies, Iovanel of Capital Economics wrote.

The Republican-led Securities and Exchange Commission on Thursday said it would stop defending a climate-change disclosure rule in court. The regulation required a baseline transparency around climate risks and greenhouse gas emissions from certain U.S. publicly listed companies.

There’s also uncertainty about the fate of the Inflation Reduction Act, a historic climate change mitigation law signed by President Joe Biden.

Even before President Trump’s second term, at least 18 Republican-led states had adopted “anti-ESG legislation,” prompting some large asset managers to “pare back” their ESG efforts, Iovanel wrote.

The number of ESG funds contracted for the first time ever in 2024 — to 587 from 646 in 2023, a 9% decline, according to Morningstar. That means asset managers made fewer options available for investors.

“It’s very tricky for any asset manager now to be selling ESG products,” Bioy said. “They don’t want to draw attention.”

Non-political headwinds

ESG funds have suffered from non-political headwinds, too, analysts said.

In fact, high interest rates have likely been more of a hindrance than politics, analysts said. High borrowing costs negatively impact sectors like clean energy more than others because they’re more capital-intensive, analysts said.

Performance has also lagged in recent years. For example, less than half — 42% — of sustainable funds ranked in the top half of their respective investment categories, according to a Morningstar analysis of investment returns.

It’s very tricky for any asset manager now to be selling ESG products. They don’t want to draw attention.

Hortense Bioy

head of sustainable investing research at Morningstar

Underperformance in recent years is partly due to high interest rates, analysts said.

Additionally, oil and gas prices boomed after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. The top 10 stocks in the S&P 500 that year were from the energy sector, for example. ESG portfolios that minimize fossil-fuel exposure looked like relative laggards as a result, analysts said.

However, performance was “very good” prior to 2022, Bioy said.

For example, the typical U.S. ESG stock fund beat returns of its peers by about 4 percentage points in 2020, according to a Morgan Stanley analysis. ESG bond funds outperformed by about 1 point that year, it found.

“Any investment and any ESG investment are no different — they go through lows and highs,” Bioy said.

ESG is investing, ‘not philanthropy’

But it’s the long term, not the short term, where ESG investing is poised for clear outperformance, analysts say.

McKinsey research found that companies with C-suite leaders “who chase growth without considering how their strategies could impact people, the planet, and their firm’s long-term sustainability” are less likely to “lead their companies to full growth potential,” the consultancy said in a 2023 analysis of the 10,000 largest global companies from 2016 to 2022.

The goal of ESG investing is to reduce a portfolio’s long-term risk, said Jennifer Coombs, the head of content and development at the U.S. Sustainable Investment Forum, known as US SIF.

Money managers who oversee ESG portfolios also don’t aim to sacrifice investment returns for the sake of pursuing an environmental or social agenda, Coombs said. Instead, they generally believe that investing according to ESG principles ultimately boosts risk-adjusted returns for long-term investors, she said.

“This is investing,” Coombs said. “It’s not philanthropy.”

“Sustainability takes a long time,” she said. “It’s long term. And that’s the whole idea.”

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