Mark Cuban Has a Social Security Warning Every Senior Needs to Hear

One of the biggest and most surprising financial mistakes is assuming they'll be able to live on Social Security alone. But unfortunately, many people reach retirement age with little to no money saved for their senior years. So inevitably, Social Security becomes a critical income stream.

But Social Security is facing some challenges that could have a negative impact on current and future retirees alike. Not only is the program at risk of broad benefit cuts, but recent staffing shortages at the Social Security Administration (SSA) could make it harder for seniors to access the money they're entitled to.

Entrepreneur and Shark Tank personality Mark Cuban recently sounded a big warning on Social Security, and it's worth paying attention to whether you're currently getting benefits or plan to file for them in the future.

Why Mark Cuban is sounding the alarm on Social Security

Between January and November of 2025, the SSA reduced its headcount by 6,645 employees, a decrease of more than 11% from the end of the previous federal fiscal year.

Mark Cuban has not been afraid to criticize the SSA for that drastic reduction in staff. As he posted on BlueSky, "The administration is removing phone support for Social Security recipients. Making it more difficult for seniors to get their checks. It's a back door way to cut SS benefits. Horrific."

That wasn't the only time Cuban called out the SSA for cutting services.

He also posted on X, "Got to give Doge credit for being the first to cut entitlements. End telephone support for Social Security, cut dozens of SS offices and make Grandma and Grandpa finally get online to confirm their payments. What an amazing back door way to cut payments!"

Reduced Social Security staffing is already taking a toll

The Center for American Progress (CAP) reports that services at the SSA are being whittled down due to the drastic reduction in headcount that occurred last year. In 33 states, the SSA had at least 10% less staff in fiscal 2025 than in 2024. And some individual field offices have lost 25% of their staff or more.

Worse yet, a number of rural SSA field offices had to close entirely due to a lack of staff. But that may be what the SSA wants.

The agency is actually hoping to cut field office visits by 50% for fiscal year 2026 compared to the previous year, resulting in a drop of more than 15 million visits, the CAP reports. But those visits are critical for seniors who can't access benefits information online.

A less obvious benefit cut

Social Security's staffing reduction isn't a direct benefit cut. But Cuban and other critics argue that it's an indirect cut.

Reduced access to customer service at the SSA means retirees may have to wait longer to

resolve payment errors or navigate complex claims. And a reduction in field office appointment availability could make it much harder for seniors who aren't tech-savvy to file for benefits in the first place. This, says Cuban, is a real problem.

How to access the benefits and information you need

If you're gearing up to file for Social Security benefits, you should know that limited access to customer service could make that more difficult. But you don't have to panic. There are steps you can take to make the process of claiming benefits much smoother.

First, set up a my Social Security account at SSA.gov so you can file for benefits online. This will also allow you to review your earnings record.

Remember, your monthly Social Security benefits are calculated based on your personal wage history. If the SSA has incorrect information for you on file, it could result in smaller benefits than what you're actually entitled to. So it's important to review your earnings statements for accuracy, which you can do once you create that account.

If you can't file for Social Security benefits online or aren't comfortable doing so, locate your nearest remaining SSA field office and schedule an appointment ahead of time. Given that appointments may be limited, the sooner you do that, the less of a delay in getting benefits you might experience.

Finally, once you sign up for benefits, aim to have them go to your bank account each month through direct deposit. That could help you avoid delays in getting your money once your Social Security claim is approved.

Bottom line

If you don't have much savings for retirement, Social Security could become a critical source of income for you. But thanks to reduced access to customer service, filing for Social Security and resolving issues related to payments could get trickier.

Though some lawmakers are putting pressure on the SSA to restore staffing levels and improve customer service, it's important to be proactive about accessing your benefits and earnings history details. The more steps you take to file efficiently, verify your earnings record, and maximize your senior benefits, the less likely you are to encounter hiccups as the agency continues to grapple with an overwhelmingly reduced headcount.