Correcting the Record About Social Security Direct Deposit and Telephone Services
Reading Time: 1 MinuteLast Updated: April 18, 2025
Recent 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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Joanne
Forgot to say, my direct deposit from Social Security benefit was accepted into our new account but not my husbans. We have a joint account. Received the letter from them yesterday stating the new account for me went through.
Rae
I wish that when changing my direct deposit it didn’t take 1 or 2 months for it to go into effect. I wish it could take less time
Tia L.
The social security customer service agent is the one who made the mistake not me so I now have to go into the office to hopefully get me check straightened out. I’m disabled it’s hard to get good O2 already but now I hope that it can be fixed
Joanne
We had fraud on our banking. Our bank closed our account, opened a new account. The old one is still opened to get the direct deposit of our Social Security benefits. The bank gave a letter for husband and myself (separate letter) for me to take to the Social Security office with our new account and information that’s in this letter. My husband 85 yrs of age is immobile due to a stroke and is under the care of Hospice and I take care of him at home. He can speak fine, understand thing’s (pretty much coherent) write, eat. He’s bedridden. Cannot walk being the stroke affected his full left side and 1/2 of his back. I have by law dual power of attorney, notarized, his ID, SocialSecurity card, birth certificate, marriage certificate. The gal at the Social Security office said to me they don’t handle those thing’s there because my husband isn’t present. She said to me to go back to the bank and have them submit the information. The bank does not do that. We do not have a computer any longer. I will be going back to the Social Security office tomorrow, Wednesday to try again. Any suggestions? What do I do if they refuse it again? The bank can’t keep our “old account ” opened indefinitely. Thanks 🙂
Kenneth K.
How do I update my Social Security direct deposit information
Colleen P.
How can I change my direct deposit?
Keysha B.
My new routing number and account number thanks Keysha Bernard
Routing number 125109006 account number 10927450721
laurie g.
Do you have to have a real id to enter a ss office?
Colleen P.
Yes
Lydia S.
I am on Social Security Disability and my benefits are deposited to my Direct Express debit card. Do I need to confirm my identity online?#
Donna P.
I keep trying to call the 800 number, but after the first ring it hangs up. How can I get through to speak to someone?
Michael
Where is the data supporting the claim that 40% of the SSI fraud emanates from changing bank accounts?
And aren’t you ending telephone service for people seeking to change their mailing address as well?
Carmen D.
I had fraud & my account was compromised, my bank (credit union) advised me to contact the social security office to correct my records on direct deposit.
Margaret R.
I changed banks and opened a new account. The new bank handled the process for me: I signed a letter, they sent it to Social Security, and I received my payment the next month.
BERITA
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