Social Security recipients are on edge following staffing cuts at the federal Social Security Administration that new Jersey and say have led to long call wait times, website crashes and unanswered questions.

About 1.6 million people in the state receive the benefits.

The majority are retirees, some of whom tell senior political correspondent Brenda Flanagan all the changes are causing confusion.

A steady stream of customers filed into the Social Security Administration's Iselin office complex.

They brought paperwork and questions after seeing news about changes planned by the Trump administration.

Yolanda's confused.

You're in here trying to get information?

Yeah.

Yeah.

How do you feel about that?

Elliott Manning.

Orient who?

We don't know what is going to happen with us.

They're afraid.

They think that their benefits are going to be taken away.

So that means we've had more walk in traffic.

We've had more phone calls in to the field office.

Angela Geronimo's a Social Security claim specialist who heads the local government workers union here.

She says folks feel threatened by changes, especially after seeing Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency on X claiming, quote, major cleanups and deleting millions of Social Security numbers, reportedly of deceased recipients.

Green card holders who receive benefits fear deportation.

People will no longer be able to verify their identity over the phone under pending rule changes.

The AARP is raising red flags, getting rid of phone service, and requiring two people to come in and in person.

It's going to create a lot of problems.

And we don't know, if the, those offices are going to be able to handle that foot traffic.

This is going to be a problem.

We don't have enough bodies.

This work cannot be taken over by AI completely.

Musk has insisted Dodge will improve services as a result of the work approach.

Legitimate recipients of Social Security will receive more money, not less money.

The Trump administration did delay changes at the Social Security Administration until mid April.

But workers here say they're deeply concerned about how staff cuts will impact services.

Dodge announced the agency faces a 12% staff reduction.

Some 7000 people, about 2600, have already taken buyouts.

All the calls probably are not getting answered because we're getting more and more and more.

Our staff has not improved.

We've had, a whole bunch of confusion, misinformation, which is causing chaos in all our field offices.

Website reportedly crashed four times over the past couple of weeks.

Democrats sharply questioned the Somerset County millionaire nominated to head Social Security.

Are you willing to commit right now that you will put enough people back to work so they can do the job of delivering the benefits that Americans earned?

Will yes or no?

I'll commit to have the right staffing to get the job done, to get the job done.

Meaning delivering the benefits.

People are entitled to.

Yes.

The AARP reports some 1.6 million people in new Jersey.

1 in 5 residents get Social Security benefits, averaging $20,000 a year.

For about 40% of them, it's their only income.

Most are retired.

They've packed local town hall hearings.

We're going to continue to fight and advocate for people and encourage them to reach out to their member of Congress with their concerns, that, you know, this this program is vitally important to their lives.

And on Election Day, older voters rely turnout.

I'm Brenda Flanagan, NJ Spotlight News.