In the secluded and mountainous region of Welch, West Virginia, Veronica Taylor faces a daunting challenge. At 73 years old, she admits to being inept with computers and the internet. Without the ability to drive, her homebound lifestyle makes a simple trip to the grocery store a lengthy, hour-long endeavor by car.
Upcoming changes require Social Security beneficiaries to access services online or visit a field office, rather than relying on phone support. For someone like Taylor, this shift could complicate her ability to manage her benefits without external assistance. Gathering with fellow retirees over a meal at the McDowell County Senior Center, Taylor reflected on the upcoming changes, expressing disbelief at how she would manage her affairs under the new requirements. “If that’s the only way I had to do it, how would I do it?” she pondered.
These changes, which are set to take effect on March 31, aim to improve efficiency and deter fraud within the system, as highlighted by President Donald Trump and his administration. The intention is to ensure people verify their identity online or in-person when enrolling for benefits or making changes such as altering deposit details. However, advocates argue that these requirements could disproportionately affect vulnerable populations, complicating access for those in poverty-stricken areas like McDowell County, where internet access is sparse.
Field offices, a dwindling resource due to governmental cost-cutting measures, are becoming increasingly scarce. This reduction means elderly citizens in rural regions like West Virginia may face significant hurdles in accessing these vital services. Donald Reed, leader of a local nonprofit managing two senior centers, voiced concerns about the implications of these policy shifts for the community.
He emphasized the public’s general support for reducing government waste but suggested they might not fully grasp the impact of current government actions. In McDowell County, where one-third of residents live in poverty, about 30% rely on Social Security benefits, and 20% are without broadband. Basic necessities like food and clothes are already challenging to secure.
Organizations such as The Commission on Aging, which Reed directs, rely on federal funding to provide transportation to grocery stores and medical appointments, along with free lunches at the senior center. While it’s feasible they could offer rides to Social Security offices, the existing transportation grants are insufficient. Last fiscal year, Reed was forced to use savings to cover transport costs during the last quarter due to insufficient funding.
Recently, Reed was disheartened to learn that a nearly $1 million grant, crucial for rebuilding a senior center housed in a dilapidated 1980s trailer, was lost owing to federal budget cuts. “Once the money’s gone, you know, the money’s gone,” he remarked.
At the senior center, lunch frequently involves bingo or card games. However, a journalist’s visit shifted the discussion to politics. While many expressed support for Trump, confusion persisted over recent executive orders, especially in the absence of a local newspaper providing clarity on their impacts.
Brenda Hughes, at 72, admitted difficulty in understanding these changes, expressing frustration at the inefficiency of the call center, favoring in-person visits instead. Mary Weaver, also 72, criticized Trump’s relationship with Elon Musk, skeptical of the effect on their community.
However, not all were concerned. Barbara Lester, 64, praised Trump and Musk, suggesting the reduction in fraud could support increased benefits for seniors. Yet for Taylor, the reliance on external transportation remains a point of difficulty, with most of her family residing faraway. The distance to the nearest Social Security office compounds her challenges.
Resilient in her independence, Taylor resolves not to repeatedly ask others for assistance. “If I ask people more than two times to take me somewhere, it’s like begging. And I don’t beg nobody to do nothing for me,” she asserted. Despite the forthcoming changes, she remains steadfast in her determination to live self-sufficiently in her remote community.