The agency began mailing notices about the new 100% withholding rate at the end of March. People who received overpayments before March 27 will remain under the old 10% rule; after March 27, a person’s entire Social Security check could be withheld until the deficit is paid.

The U.S. Social Security Administration is considering dramatically curtailing the phone services that 73 million retired and disabled Americans rely on to apply for and access their earned government benefits,