The Social Security Administration will be implementing a new policy on April 14 for people enrolling or making changes to their retirement accounts. It will require them to either go online or visit a Social Security office instead of making a phone call and talk to a representative.

It seems simple enough. Certain generations are used to navigating online. However, senior citizens in their late 80s or late 90s, not so much. It can be even more complicated for people with certain disabilities.

Right here in southwest Minnesota, there are three Social Security offices — Marshall, New Ulm and Fairmont. For older folks who live 20 miles or more from these locations — another big hurdle. In some cases, they no longer drive. People with disabilities face the same kind of challenges.

According to an April 6 Star Tribune article, AARP Minnesota has been getting dozens of calls from people who are concerned and confused about the changes.

Every year about this time, with the help from the Social Security Administration, the Independent produces an insert in the daily publication containing information and tips in dealing with Social Security issues. In light of the all the changes and reduction in employees at the Social Security Administration, we thought it would be a good opportunity to get some clarity over Social Security services available in Marshall.

Obtaining that clarity wasn’t easy.

Representatives of the SSA did not give the Independent any specific information on how the reorganization, or changes to services, would affect the SSA field office in Marshall. Eric Martinez, the deputy regional communications director at the SSA’s Chicago regional office, referred questions about staffing concerns and identity proofing requirements to press releases on those topics.

Staff at the Marshall SSA field office also said they did not have information they could share beyond what the SSA had already released.

In a March press release, the SSA said the agency has not permanently closed or announced the closure of any local field office.

“SSA is committed to providing service where people need help and our local field offices are no exception,” Acting SSA commissioner Lee Dudek said. “We have not permanently closed any local field offices this year.”

The Marshall SSA field office, which is located on Jewett Street, is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

While streamlining services to cut costs and target fraud and waste is an honorable goal, the speed in which these changes being made is concerning.

The Social Security Administration serves our most vulnerable population. It also serves U.S. citizens who have been paying into the system all their lives with the assurance at the time of retirement their benefits will be available and on a timely manner.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick was just plain wrong when he told a podcast audience last month only “fraudsters” would complain about missing a Social Security check. But honest people like his mother-in-law would simply live with the fact that the government didn’t mail their monthly payment.

“She’d think something got messed up, and she’ll get it next month,” he said.

In the real world, many people live paycheck to paycheck. Missing one paycheck could mean going hungry or going without their prescription drugs.

Hard-working Americans who toiled away at jobs over a lifetime deserve better.