Social Security

Newsweek -  Millions of Social Security recipients are facing longer waits to secure claim appointments as the agency struggles to recover from historic staffing cuts. The delays affect how quickly retirees, disabled Americans and low-income beneficiaries can access critical income and identity services.

With appointment-scheduling rates falling sharply and field-office access tightening, beneficiaries may see even more disruptions as the agency shifts toward centralized scheduling and online transactions.

Internal agency data show that only 64.6 percent of initial claims were scheduled within 30 days as of July 6, down from 78.1 percent a year earlier. In some regions, the rate recently fell below 45 percent, underscoring how widespread the delays have become.