Social Security Strengthens Identity Proofing Requirements and Expedites Direct Deposit Changes to One Day
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: June 24, 2025
The Social Security Administration (SSA) is taking proactive steps to enhance the security of its services by implementing stronger identity verification procedures. The updated measures will further safeguard Social Security records and benefits against fraudulent activity. Over the next two weeks, SSA will carefully transition to stronger identity proofing procedures for both benefit claims and direct deposit changes. Individuals seeking these services who cannot use their personal my Social Security account, which requires online identity proofing, will then need to visit a local Social Security office to prove their identity in person. At the same time, the agency will expedite processing all direct deposit change requests – both in person and online – to one business day. Prior to this change, online direct deposit changes were held for 30 days.
“Americans deserve to have their Social Security records protected with the utmost integrity and vigilance,” said Lee Dudek, Acting Commissioner of Social Security. “For far too long, the agency has used antiquated methods for proving identity. Social Security can better protect Americans while expediting service.”
The agency’s two-week transition plan includes training frontline employees and management about the new policy and careful monitoring of policy compliance. At the conclusion of the transition period, on March 31, 2025, SSA will enforce online digital identity proofing and in-person identity proofing. SSA will permit individuals who do not or cannot use the agency’s online my Social Security services to start their claim for benefits on the telephone. However, the claim cannot be completed until the individual’s identity is verified in person. The agency therefore recommends calling to request an in-person appointment to begin and complete the claim in one interaction. Individuals with and without an appointment will need to prove identity before starting a transaction. Individuals who do not or cannot use the agency’s online my Social Security services to change their direct deposit information, can visit a local office to process the change or can call 1-800-772-1213 to schedule an in-person appointment.
SSA recently required nearly all agency employees, including frontline employees in all offices throughout the country, to work in the office five days a week. This change ensures maximum staffing is available to support the stronger in-person identity proofing requirement.
SSA plans to implement the Department of Treasury’s Bureau of the Fiscal Service’s payment integrity service called Account Verification Service (AVS). AVS provides instant bank verification services to proactively and timely prevent fraud associated with direct deposit change requests.
The agency will continue to monitor and, if necessary, make adjustments, to ensure it pays the right person the right amount at the right time while at the same time safeguarding the benefits and programs it administers.
People who do not already have a “my Social Security” account can create one at www.ssa.gov/myaccount/.
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Andre H.
This says: “the agency will expedite processing all direct deposit change requests – both in person and online – to one business day.” I changed my information online on August 4, 2025. On August 29, 2025 (September 3, 2025 payment) my old bank deposited the funds. This is false advertising if they are not going to hold up to their one business day as advertised.
Trillium
Why is it that staff at S.S. and Medicare are not held accountable for misleading seniors about basic processes with signing up for benefits? When you write down their names and the calls are recorded then why doesn’t administration start clearing out the bad seeds at this agency? Why is the Plan D enrollment not provide effective date field like they do for Plan B? Why aren’t the Administrative staff like Michelle Stevens giving out wrong phone numbers for canceling Plan D enrollment out to irate seniors who get the run around? Not even the administrative staff know what they are doing. I thought Trump’s new director was going to clean up this lazy top heavy D.C. bunch. I have found the local office 100% more helpful who need more help and that is where the jobs should be allocated not to more bureaucrats in D.C. Much like how Patel has redirected jobs locally. The way this agency operates it should have been bankrupted years ago for how poorly they operate. Even if you enroll online I am expected to wait a minimum of 30 days and I am bracing for longer times. I spent literally days and hours online with S.S., Medicare and Humana to cancel Plan D that had the wrong effective date. Humana is sleazy with requiring me to buy another plan in order to cancel the first one that was set up incorrectly. Medicare needs to be able to cancel since they are the broker if there is an error in setup. Relying on sleazy insurance companies to not abuse the situation make agency look corrupt. The collusion with S.S., Medicare and insurance companies is not in the best interests of tax payers. Why does Medicare pay more for the most popular drug, Eliquis, than private employer insurance companies with manufacturer coupon of 10.00 only a month? Why are the taxpayers made to pay more via Medicare? So many questions, no helpful answers or help or relief for taxpayers or seniors.
helen m.
I verified in person at my local SS office.
I assumed a day or two since they scanned my id in person but i neglected to ask how long before my id would be verified and uploaded to the id me site. it’s been 6 days and i cannot log on yet. my window to apply for medicare is closing and i need to apply. I cannot find the timeframe anywhere and cannot apply if i cannot log in to the id me site. feeling frustrated.
Shan
The plan to apply this change will be useful to strengthen the identification system – clothing manufacturer
Felicia D.
Why is it when we did get raises on our SSI checks that the lowest paid people on It got the smallest raises and the higher paid one got the bigger pay raise I got 40 but my step dad got almost 300 and he gets almost 3000 in SSI I only get 535 that don’t make any since
Lori K.
Because it’s a percentage not a fixed amount.
kalebties@gmail.com
See that’s fucking ridiculous! I just called and found this out because I tried updating my account from cash app to current and they’re telling me because it’s an online bank and not an actual bank I have to go 30 minutes to my local one and change it because they cannot verify me over the fucking phone with my social security number and the goddamn pin they required! Fucking idiots! Now I got to spend $30 get someone to drive me there and I won’t be able to do it before the fucking 15th fuck you assholes!
Karthik
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