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Correcting the Record About Social Security Direct Deposit and Telephone Services

March 12, 2025 • By

Reading Time: 1 Minute

Last Updated: April 18, 2025

Social Security Administration SealRecent reports in the media that Social Security plans to eliminate telephone services are inaccurate. SSA is increasing its protection for America’s seniors and other beneficiaries by eliminating the risk of fraud associated with changing bank account information by telephone.

SSA continuously investigates and analyzes potential threats to strengthen and secure our programs and protect people who receive benefits. Approximately 40 percent of Social Security direct deposit fraud is associated with someone calling SSA to change direct deposit bank information. SSA’s current protocol of simply asking identifying questions by telephone is no longer enough to prevent fraud.

If someone needs to change their bank account information on SSA’s record, they will need to either:

  • Use two-factor authentication with SSA’s “my Social Security” service; or
  • Visit a local Social Security office to prove their identity.

These methods align with most major banks.

All other SSA telephone services remain unchanged.

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Comments

  1. deneme

  2. Whitney

    This is NOT true. The SSA has NOT made it available to SSI recipients to be able to change the direct deposit online. It still says you have to call & it wants you to tell an agent the code you generated.

    For the technology available it is highly unprofessional & embarrassing the SSA doesn’t allow recipients to do more. Instead people have to wait on hold for several hours & even then be hung up on.

    • Kevin L.

      Amen. They think they are the gods and goddesses of the universe. I hate the social security dept.

      • Sue

        SSA allowed wrong routing info put on aug 1 2025 deposit now paying rent late live on this deposit pay ck to pay ck unfair never happened before ssa refuse immediately reimbursement

  3. chase r.

    i think someone stole my direct deposit and moved it from chime to somewhere else please call me asap

  4. Towanda B.

    My daughter has gotten a new social security card numbers because social security administration made a mistake giving someone else her first social card numbers and the past ! So now she have a new numbers they saying it was fraud and they the one made the mistake! She is in her 40! She just found out year ago that someone was using her social security card! Now she having a hard time! getting her driver license and tags renewed! Who can she talk to ! She call the social security administration they said that it nothing they can do! But mean while she doesn’t have a proper social security card to identify her!

    • Charles R.

      It says on the card not for identification purposes. However, we all know that without a card, which is constantly used to confirm identity, life becomes difficult to negotiate. Contact them at the local social security office for personal assistance which will fix the problem. Social security is the only place that can fix this problem. Good luck.

  5. Harry M.

    I am abroad in Europe and the existing bank account for direct deposit approximately 15th of the month has been compromised by thieves. Using ID.me as in US does not work. If nothing is changed this months payment will be stolen—better to discontinue it until I return to US next month and can visit SSA office. Thx in advance.

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