Back-and-forth decisions on Social Security policies have created confusion, which may leave some Virginians more vulnerable to scams.

Last month, the Social Security Administration announced in-person or online appointments would be required to sign up for benefits, instead of customer support by phone. The decision has now been reversed.

Jim Dau, state director of AARP Virginia, said the changes give con artists room to come up with new scams. He noted they often start with a phone call, text or email about something "urgent." If you receive such communication saying it is from the Social Security Administration, Dau warns, it is a scam.

"This is the perfect kind of recipe for financial predators to step in and escalate Social Security scams to defraud beneficiaries of their money," Dau stressed. "Social Security scams are effective in this kind of environment -- where people are getting information from here, and bits of information from here -- where we are going to see more and more Social Security scams."

Trump's billionaire adviser Elon Musk has said Social Security has "massive" amounts of fraud, but a review by the Social Security Administration's Inspector General has found the agency has made improper payments less than 1% of the time.

More than 1.6 million Virginians receive Social Security benefits. Dau emphasized the monthly income is a lifeline to people across the Commonwealth. He added the administration's initial changes which would have required people to sign up for benefits in person would have negatively affected seniors.

"The prospect of having to go to an in-person meeting at your local Social Security office, hopefully get there on time at a point where the line isn't too long and you have a reasonable chance of actually seeing somebody that day," Dau outlined. "And of course, hopefully your Social Security office is open that day - or at all anymore."

The administration has announced lease terminations of nearly 4% of Social Security field offices. An analysis by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities finds nine percent of Virginia seniors already live more than 45 miles from the nearest office.

June is Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month and new research examined the connection between dementia and awareness about money management skills.

Some 17,000 South Dakotans aged 65 and older have Alzheimer's disease, and another 17% of residents age 45 and older have what's known as subjective cognitive decline.

Ian McDonough, associate professor of psychology at Binghamton University in New York and the study's co-author, said people with dementia are unaware if they are making errors in handling their bank accounts and other financial tasks. For those without cognitive decline, awareness improved over time.

"When you're aware of those declines, you can adapt," McDonough pointed out. "You can ask for help, you can use calculators. If you're not aware, you might be going on your daily business, doing some mental arithmetic and then that's when those errors might be introduced."

McDonough noted it increases their vulnerability to fraud at a time when Americans, including older adults, are losing more money to scammers. He stressed preventive efforts by caregivers are important so people with dementia can avoid being taken advantage of and still have some autonomy over their finances.

If this type of conversation is needed between a person with dementia and a loved one, McDonough advised it is best to take a measured approach in adding safeguards instead of completely taking control of the person's finances right away. He added a person's relationship with the money they have earned is part of their identity, and making any moves requires preserving their sense of dignity.

"They're not gone (and) we shouldn't treat them like they don't live in society anymore," McDonough explained.

He noted diving in too fast could also be trouble for the relative taking charge if they are unfamiliar with things like investment portfolios. Added precautions could include signing up for extra alerts from a bank or imposing certain withdrawal limits. Next up for researchers is learning how e-banking complicates matters, with tasks like remembering complex login passwords.


get more stories like this via email

At least 10,000 people retire every day in the United States, with nearly half of them relying on Social Security as their sole source of income.

As lawmakers debate cuts to social service programs, AARP Nebraska has launched a campaign to draw attention to its importance.

AARP Nebraska's "90 days to 90 years" marks the Social Security administration's anniversary in August.

AARP Nebraska state director Todd Stubbendieck said in its 90 years, Social Security has never missed a payment to recipients - and a lot of Nebraskans are relying on that money.

"Forty-three percent of Nebraskans rely on Social Security for at least 50% of their family income, and 17% rely on Social Security for 90% of their income," said Stubbendieck. "So, this program, has direct impacts both on our state and at the individual level."

AARP Nebraska is encouraging Social Security recipients to add their names to an online Pledge for Action to support Social Security, which turns 90 years old on August 15.

Federal lawmakers are debating cuts to federal programs in the Trump administration's budget reconciliation bill that could include changes in Social Security benefits.

Stubbendieck said reductions to the service would be historic.

"I think one of the best things about Social Security is that it has always been a bipartisan issue," said Stubbendieck. "For 65 years, AARP has worked with every president and every Congress on Social Security, so we're confident it will continue to be a bipartisan, popular initiative."

Nearly 371,000 Nebraskans, or nearly one in five people, receive a total of more than $7.7 billion in Social Security benefits every year.

Next Monday marks the beginning of "PROTECT" week, when AARP helps seniors learn the signs of financial fraud.

Experts say Maryland seniors can protect themselves and their finances through education. According to data from the Federal Trade Commission, Americans lost nearly $5 billion due to fraud in 2024, increasing 25% from the previous year. A poll from the University of Michigan found 75% of adults from ages 50 to 80 experienced a scam attempt, and 30% experienced fraud.

Karen Morgan, a member of the AARP Maryland executive council, said a government agency would never call someone out of the blue if there's a problem.

"If the caller is asking or demanding that you do something immediately, that's a huge red flag," she said. "If they're telling you that there's something urgent that you're about to be arrested, that's a huge red flag. You can't get arrested over the phone."

Victims age 60 and older experienced an average loss of more than $80,000, according to AARP.

Jane Dean was a victim of senior financial fraud. She received a call from someone posing as a government agent for the Social Security Administration. Eventually, she paid the scammers more than $25,000.

She said one of the biggest lessons from her own fraud case is taking a pause when you receive an alarming call. She explained that thinking the situation through could save someone from losing thousands of dollars.

"They just need to stop. Stop and just dial it back when you find yourself in a heightened emotional state in response to either a text, phone or email," she said. "That's the most important thing. Put the brakes on."

AARP is streaming a number of free workshops, town halls and interviews on elder financial abuse from Monday through June 20.