Andre Baker Jr

DSS Upgraded Phone System 

The Department of Social Services (DSS) has successfully launched a new streamlined and user-friendly experience for callers with an upgraded phone system. 

The Benefits Center phone number has not changed.  Customers still contact DSS at 1-855-6-CONNECT (1-855-626-6632). ​ 

The new system includes: 

• A simplified phone menu designed to help customers reach the right service
• A self-service experience for checking case status and benefit information 

Customers who enter their Client ID when calling will benefit from a customized service and be routed to the correct call queue. Additionally, for those who prefer to self-serve, the system now allows them to: 

• Check if DSS has received their documents and when they were reviewed
• View their case status and, if active, access benefit details 

Customers now have access to call-back options, allowing them to: 

• Save their place in line, or
• Schedule a call at a time that works best for them  

DESPP Financial Scams Warning

The Connecticut Intelligence Center, a law enforcement partnership within the Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, is warning about a dramatic increase in financial scams targeting the elderly in Connecticut and the nation.

The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) received 859,532 complaints in 2024, with losses reported at $16.6 billion, a 388% increase from 2023. In 2024, “false pretense” scams cost an estimated $31.9 million to Connecticut victims, most of whom were 65 or older, according to the 2024 Crime in Connecticut Report.

What to Watch Out For

• High pressure, urgent timeline (“you must send money now”).
• Request to pay with gift cards, wire transfer, prepaid cards, personal checks, or cryptocurrency.
• Caller says you must not contact family or police.
• Caller ID spoofing (it may show a local number or government agency, but it's fake).
• Unwilling to meet in person or hesitation to identify themselves with official credentials.

What to Do if You Believe You Are a Victim

• Contact the local police to report the incident.
• Do not transfer money and do not give any payment information.
• Do not give any personal information or confirm/repeat social security numbers, birthdates, bank information, or account numbers.
• Verify by calling the family member with a known number, not one provided by the caller.
• If you have already made a payment, contact your bank or the payment service immediately

Where to Go for Help

• National Elder Fraud Hot Line- 1-833-372-8311
• Elder Fraud- Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
• Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
• File a Suspicious Activity Report with CTIC or download the “CT SAFE” application on your phone.