LYNN — Seniors and community advocates rallied outside the Lynn Social Security office at noon Tuesday to protest staffing cuts and policy changes they say are making it harder for residents to access the benefits they have earned.
With more than 1.2 million Massachusetts residents depending on Social Security, organizers warned that reduced services are already causing long wait times, delayed appointments, and financial hardship for vulnerable individuals.
The rally, held outside the office at 140 Union St., was organized by the Massachusetts Senior Action Council as part of a coordinated day of action across the state, with parallel events taking place in Boston and Springfield.
“I will be 80 years old in July,” said Rosa Bentley, president of the council’s Lynn chapter. “Never in my life did I think I would have to stand up and convince those in charge that cutting Social Security is a terrible idea. But here I am.”
Bentley said Social Security has lifted millions out of poverty over nearly 90 years, including seniors, people with disabilities, and children who have lost a parent. “It is the benefit we have earned,” she said. “It is a contract between generations.”
She pointed to recent changes that she and other advocates say are already harming recipients: fewer walk-in options, reduced staffing, and limited in-person appointments that now must be scheduled weeks or months in advance.
“Just the rumor of cuts puts people into panic,” Bentley said. “And when people cannot reach anyone on the phone or get a timely appointment, those are cuts. They delay access and they hurt people.”
The group roared with chants of “Hands off our Social Security” and “This is what democracy looks like.”
Pam Edwards, the organization’s North Shore director of organizing, echoed that message, describing the current state of the Social Security Administration as one of crises caused by neglect.
“There is no widespread fraud in the Social Security system,” Edwards said. “The only fraud I see is from those who say they will not cut Social Security while doing exactly that.”
She shared the case of a Boston woman who receives $1,500 per month in Social Security and was overpaid due to a clerical error.
Previously, the agency would withhold up to 10 percent of a monthly check until the overpayment was repaid. But under new rules, the agency took her entire check in one month.
“She was left with no money for rent, no money for food, and no idea when her benefits would be reinstated,” Edwards said. “That is a cut.”
She added that many seniors do not have the tools or access to navigate online systems, and are being told they must appear in person to resolve issues — just as in-person services become more limited.
“When you close offices, reduce staff, and make the rules harder, that is a cut,” she said. “When a person cannot get through on the phone or has to travel hours to a working office with no transportation, that is a cut.”
Mayor Jared C. Nicholson attended the rally and voiced support for the group’s message.
“People have worked their whole lives for these benefits,” Nicholson told the crowd. “To slash services and turn our backs on the people who depend on them most is unacceptable.”
Duncan Maitland, a Lynn resident who once used the same office to apply for Social Security, said future generations will suffer if the office is closed or allowed to deteriorate.
“Social Security is not a gift — it is something you earn,” he said. “If you cannot apply for it, you cannot receive it. And if this office disappears, where do people go?”
Edwards closed the rally by reminding the crowd that their action was part of a broader, statewide effort.
“We are not just here today in Lynn,” she said. “We are standing with people in Boston, Springfield, and beyond to say no to these cuts and no to the silent dismantling of a program we depend on.”
