Social Security Strengthens Identity Proofing Requirements and Expedites Direct Deposit Changes to One Day
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: March 18, 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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Tags: General Information, my Social Security account, online services
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Jane M.
Authentication was already required. You DOGE boys just want the system to break so you can privatize Social Security. I hope the lot of you, including your new administrator, are sent packing. We paid into this. It’s our retirement. Leave it alone. We do not want some privateer running it!
Paula D.
Thank you SSA and Lee Dudek, Acting Commissioner of Social Security for promptly addressing these concerns. Well done!!
Respectfully submitted
Marianna
what will staff reduction on a program that’s already pressed for staffing and keeping up the the public need going to accomplish except manufactured scarcity of a service we’re legally entitled to. Being entitled to something doesn’t equal being “spoiled” or whatever other negative connotations seem to be reactively attached to it as a concept. We pay taxes, we should be ENTITLED to the rewards of the labor and tax money we give. Reducing the amount of employees and the supportive departments already in place to keep up with the inspections of fraud does NOTHING but promote this frenzied, rabid dog(e) of an ideaology that people are inherently “cheating”, which is a sh**ty way of viewing the general 72 MILLION PEOPLE using the service they’re legally entitled to. Do you think my son who is a mentally disabled child is a cheating fraud and needs to be investigated? Do you think the MILLIONS of elderly retirees clinging to financial security by a thread are all in on it? Where is the logic, and when are you going to stop drinking the kool-aid they keep pouring for you?
The systems have already been in place for YEARS to track down fraud and it isn’t this wild, rampant beast that Elon “privatize everything” Musk claims
Pat W.
I can see the value in government oversight which has been going on for years. I do not see the value in terminating government employees. Privatization of government services would not be a good idea. A couple of folks will get richer at the expense of “WE THE PEOPLE”. Privatization will not improve services not one bit.
Jenn
It is so hard to contact anyone, so why cut staff?? SSI in Wyoming is just 950.00 a month. This has to change, we should not have to choose between eating, and housing. You make it to where we can’t even try for employment without losing healthcare. Now DEI is over, who will hire the disabled? Paid into system that has done nothing but turned its back.
Mark G.
Why are you allowing a clown like Elon Musk to run roughshod over your department? Do you have any integrity at all?
Denise T.
if you already receive Social Security do you have to update information to @ comply” with online identity verification?
Lota D.
If we use the same information we used last month do we still need to go to a SS office to verify there have been no change ?
Burland L.
I like hearing about the new security upgrade, and is that why the system is down on the weekend, not computer service after 9pm on Friday and service is back in operation on Monday morning.
Roy B.
This is a bit confusing and need clarity. Currently, trying to log into my ssa account online, I’m receiving “We cannot process your request at this time”. I use the newer Login.gov.
Will I have access again after March 31st 2025, or do I need to set an appointment to get verified again in person. Many people living abroad don’t live close to an SSA office and they verify their identity with SSA-7162 every year.
Please let everyone know what is going on as there was no notice sent out telling us that the online portal was going to NOT have access until today.
Mike D.
Please avoid the need for a cell phone for the validation. We have this issue today with many commercial organizations. Need to have callback and/or email validation possible. Also, on some rural areas may need mechanism to get folks to the local office.