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