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/.
Did you find this Information helpful?
Tags: General Information, my Social Security account, online services
See CommentsAbout the Author
Social Security Administration
Social Security Administration
Comments
Leave a Comment
Please review our Comment Policy before leaving a comment. For your safety, please do not post Personally Identifiable Information (such as your Social Security Number, address, phone number, email address, bank account number, or birthdate) on our blog.
A.
And for those who reside overseas or in another country? How do we verify our identity? I have a My ID to pay USA taxes but I have never been able to use it to create a online SSA account. To get my claim I had to go through Manila, Philippines! And phone calls are all International to Manila or Baltimore. So if my direct deposit details have to change, I will spend hours and $$$ I don’t have to fix it over the phone!
V D.
The new Social Security process is incredibly painful—not only for the recipients, but also for caseworkers like myself. I work in homeless services and have dozens of clients receiving Social Security benefits. The verification process, which involves sending a code to a participant’s phone, is a major issue. Many of our clients struggle to keep the same phone number or even a phone at all, especially if they’re using Obama phones, which tend to be glitchy. On top of that, a lot of these individuals face additional barriers, such as mental health challenges, that can make navigating this process even harder. Many don’t have access to a computer or the skills to use one, and they don’t always have the luxury of having a caseworker to assist them. As a caseworker, I’ve also noticed that the system is very sensitive to how information is input. For example, an extra keystroke or space while entering an address can set off the system, and boom—you’re locked out. Then, you’re left with no choice but to call Social Security, wait for about an hour to speak to a representative, and try to fix the issue. It just doesn’t work. I’m urging you to please revisit this process and find a way to make it more accessible—not only for the recipients but also for caseworkers, family members, friends, who are doing their best to help a client and/or loved one get the benefits they’re entitled to.
RoseH
I am LIVID over Leland Dudek’s comment that he will SHUT DOWN SOCIAL SECURITIES SYSTEMS because of Judge Ellen Hollander’s order issued on 3/20/2025. She cited that DOGE is on a fishing expedition to find non-existant Fraud in the SSA systems. She issued a temporary restraining order targeting ONLY Elon Musk’s DOGE employees from accessing, using and destroying the private information of SSA clients and receipients. So what does Leland Dudek do – he throws a HISSY FIT AND SAYS THAT ALL SSA EMPLOYEES ARE DOGE EMPLOYEES. THIS IS A BLATANT, BOLD-FACED LIE!!!!
I am beyond Angry. First, they post this directive saying that they are trying to increase so-called security when what they are REALLY DOING IS INCREASING THE ROADBLOCKS TO SSA SERVICES. This is by introducing a rather cumbersome log-on procedure. Their real motive is to make accessing social security services so Dysfunctional (Unworkable) that people lose faith in the system and blame the system instead of the Trump fascists trying to destroy it!! Then, they want to privatize it which means make it less workable costing more money.
I am sick and tired of your outright LIES, LIES, LIES. YOUR PLACE IN HELL IS WAITING FOR YOU.
L. C.
Can a person file for disability at this time? Just wondering if anyone knows. Thanks.
C.B.
Hi, L.C. Thanks for reading our blog and for your question. If you believe you are disabled, you can apply for benefits. Social Security pays disability benefits to people who are unable to work because of a medical condition that is expected to last at least 12 months or more or end in death. You may find our Part III – Listing of Impairments (Overview) helpful. For more information about disability or to apply, please visit our website at Disability Benefits | SSA. We hope this information helps.
Amanda F.
This is absolute madness. You are only hurting claimants, especially elderly and homeless individuals. Individuals without a credit history or reliable address (i.e., nearly 100% of homeless individuals) can never verify their identities online. Now, you want them to show up in person to an office that doesn’t take walk-ins and half the time can’t answer the phone so that you can make an appointment? Shame on you, Lee Dudek.
Bob R.
Totally agree with Amanda.
Case in point: My Mom is 95 years old; lives independently in France; cooks and cleans on her own; does NOT have a Drivers License or State-issued ID Card; does NOT own a computer or Iphone; her U.S. Passport has expired; gets less than $500 a month from Social Security; has never used Medicare because her French healthcare program offers superior benefits; and lives about 3,000 miles from the closest Social Security office. Now what she supposed to do ?????
Carol A.
I am in a similar situation as your Mum, I’m in BC Canada and have no way of driving 4 hours to a local office in the States.
Beth C.
Totally agree with you Amanda. Alot of us can barely walk let alone go for a appointment and have to sit or if the chairs are filled up stand and waut for their names to be called to get their id verified to get their disabilly or theur retiring pay ever month! That’s goin a be mad hard! 🥺
Melanie W.
Just another way to make it harder for people who have payed into SS all their lives to get what they worked for!
Miguel A.
NJ TRANSIT Information
(973) 275-5555 Operator assistance 8:30AM – 5PM daily, and automated information 24 hours/day.
(800) 772-2287 TTY for the hearing impaired.
If you’re in need of transportation, call for information.
Bob
To be honest with the level of fraud in this world this is long past due. Lots of lame excuses on here about why you cant do it. Try opening a bank account, Way worse. Quit watching CNN And MSN. Not trusted news sources. Dont let that TDS get the best of ya.
m.e.v.
I have an account with SSA through login.gov and I am receiving retirement benefits.
Do I still have to make an appointment to come in and prove identity?
My husband plans to file to get retirement benefits soon but he has an SSA account at login.gov.
Does he still have to make an appointment and come in and prove identity?
Please clarify.
Thank you.
Bob
if you have login.gov you are all set. I believe your husband is too
Al
Do I to go in to an office to prove my identity or can I go online
Lisa
You can use your login.gov account but if you’re already receiving benefits and get them thru direct deposit and don’t need to change your direct deposit, you don’t need to do anything
Robert H.
I have an account, established years ago? but I have not been able to access it online due to difficulty changing my password
This has been a problem for quite some time.
How can I solve this problem
C.B.
Thank you for reading our blog, Robert. We are sorry you are having difficulty accessing your account. You can call our “Help Desk” at 1-800-772-1213. After you hear “How can I help you today?” please say “Help Desk” for help to access my Social Security account. The help desk is available to callers between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. We hope this helps.
Mike
You have to go to login.gov and they will do a verification by video chat you have to show yourself and your picture ID and answer a few questions then your done
Lisa
If you read the article, it says:
Over the next two weeks, SSA will carefully transition to stronger identity proofing procedures for both:
BENEFIT CLAIMS AND DIRECT DEPOSIT CHANGES.
So this is only for new claims and changes to direct deposit. It’s not for people who are already receiving benefits and are set up with direct deposit. That’s how I read it anyway.
Carol A.
Thank you for explaining
Carolyn
I think this is the worst thing you could of done, so those people who are elelerdy that don’t have anyone to take them to the office, and you expect them if they do have a way from someone to sit out there in a line for hrs while there I’ll with there handicapped, we’ll why don’t you take yourself down there while your handicapped and see how it feels, and you know the lines are going to be long cause there shirt on staff, and what about the other people who are also handicapped, you should of really thought more about other people then yourself because of your ego now that your the president. Think and I mean think before you do. We voted for you to help our country not make it worse. Please don’t make these people suffer by doing this.
Gail C.
There is nothing wrong with proof of identity. How do you know they won’t make provisions for those unable to appear in person. Stop jumping to conclusions.
Brigitte H.
It says it can be done online. I also thought about this so I am not being insensitive. My grandmother would not have been able to go to an office when she was still alive plus she would not have been able to use a computer. My mother was clinically blind.
You will still be able to call into the SS or have a reliable caregiver go online to provide all the information to verify that the person is still alive. There has to be some way to purge the system of the millions of fraudulent people that are draining the funds that hard working Americans paid into.
Katie
The purpose of this new procedure is fulfilling our government’s new mission through DOGE—eliminate the services working class and middle class receive so the ultra rich can have more. Social Security is a very efficient system that provides our elderly and disabled with a living—that they paid for—so we can all live in a viable economy.
Fraud is only a teensy teensy problem. That there’s thousands of dead people on Social Security is a lie, and that lie is the real fraud.
Come on people, certain segments of our government have been trying to cut or eliminate Social Security for years. Don’t fall for the dead people propaganda. These new rules are meant to force SS to crash and burn, not defeat an almost nonexistent fraud problem. Instead please flood the Social Security system with more workers so it can run even more efficiently. And flood our cities with paid workers so people who need help to apply can do so. This would also help stop what little fraud there is.Thank-you.
Genee
Thank you Katie, say it louder for those in the back…and the ones in the nose bleed seats!
Ann L.
You got it right, Katie!
My 85 year old father in law is very worried about whether he needs to verify his identity even though he is not making any changes. The DOGE takeover is going to cause heart attacks or strokes for our elderly.
Shirley K.
Where if you want to stop the crooks from stealing your check, you gotta find a way down there and be patient and wait until you’re called. It’s a priority. Because, I know several people who have had their identity/check stolen and when they call to change it, the crooks called and change it back to them. Their address, then take all the money out of the account when your bills are due.
Serena M.
So if you’ve already been approved and you’ve had an interview in person and already have direct deposit you still need to do a face identification thing what the hell and then he can’t call your office to get a letter or statement cuz they need to verify your identification when you’ve already been verified to be verified again cuz that’s like for the Medicaid card and the Medicare card and that’s why they switch those to give them a different number and now they want to do face recognition and in person recognition it’s all about control f***** up s*** Elon musk isn’t even a president
Bob
Get a My social security account….. its that easy. If your posting on here you have access.
Lisa
Read the article
Only if you’re filing a new claim or are changing your direct deposit do you need to verify your identity