Social Security Strengthens Identity Proofing Requirements and Expedites Direct Deposit Changes to One Day
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: March 26, 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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Alden P.
The IDme access to my social security is too intrusive and too complicated. It asks for intrusive information. Downloading of personal documents and images. Most seniors have no idea how to do this. A simpler two step verification would be better. I did all of these steps months ago and now it wants to do it all again. This is simply an entity(third party) who wants all of your personal information so they can use it at will. The government has already shown their cavalier attitude toward handling sensitive information. Please go to a simpler form of identification. We the people already know the government or their employees will not take responsibility if the information you are gathering is hacked or lost. Do what is right!
Mrs.Alice F.
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Dian
If you have an account with My Social Security, when will the documents required for proof be listed? I want to know in advance to be prepared on time.
J L.
I believe these new changes need to be re-evaluated, as many elderly individuals not only struggle with initiating a call but also find it nearly impossible to visit an office. The number of elderly single people is significant. Think about it. Not a pretty picture.
Denise
My husband worked for his employer for 40yrs . Last year he had triple bypass surgery and hip surgery surgery 6!months before his heart attack . We have waited 2yrs for his social security disability to be approved. Once it was approved social security mails my husband a check for his backpay. Mail a check I’m that amount was careless on your part social security , someone STOLE his check from the mail. Now we have to wait for the treasury department to do their investigation and prove my husbands innocence? This is so unfair to my husband and myself . We found out my husband has cancer in top of all us . This is so stressful for him and for me too .
Debra S.
If you sold a business one year and make over $400,000 that year you have to pay approximately $400 extra for your medical. This seems wrong to me, but I guess it had to pay for some thing like a Obamacare. We are not rich and at the end of a life in business we needed that money, but we get punished for making it
And the R the IRMMA that takes care of making sure they get every last time from you is really messed up.
If you need to talk to Social Security about any of this, they don’t answer the phone you go into two hours waiting and then they tell you to call back later so you try to go to the office and the office says we’re only taking appointments. I’d like to see all that cleared up
john s.
Ridiculous, and intentionally trying to submarine SSA and set it up for failure. Already SSA is at an all time low for number of employees, musk and doge now controlling acting commish and trying to rid the agency of another 7000 employees. now this new policy, which will cause a flood of additional visitors that the agency will be unable to handle. dedicated employees are struggling and suffering and now the public (especially vulnerable public) will suffer.
Francisco C.
The info.is to complicated. My question, Is why the change?
Elizabeth M.
How do I prove my identity online?
Chris W.
Here I am fully disabled do to a wreck and health issues and yet I have to pay my monthly premium and had to find a cheaper insurance and y wife does work but yet they don’t care about our house payment car payment and kids we have to take care of and yet the crappy ass state making individuals pay for their insurance hell I was paying 185.00 a month but had to find a cheaper insurance… And it’s still the principal that that’s money that’s been taken away from feeding and clothing and taking care of our children paying all the bills it’s getting absolutely ridiculous
Terry
Comment I left three minutes ago, is … gone.