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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Tags: General Information, my Social Security account, online services
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GREGORY T.
Why don’t they address the high cost of Medicare B? The ridiculously low COLA adjustments we get are terrible. Medicare eats up a high percentage of SS income. COLA adjustments are not accurate. Why don’t they address those issues? The military and the elderly are always getting treated poorly in this country.
k
I agree with you about COLA. We went through several years with no COLA because of the recession. We were told it would be made up but it never was. We just get poorer and poorer because they don’t even use the items that we buy to figure COLA for us seniors. I’m not buying a home, or cars. I buy food and medication. The cost of food quadruples and we get 2%. smh
Kelly K.
Truth!
William C.
Thanks to Demofascists every spy agency in China has our information.
Beth C.
Truth! 💯%!
Ginny M.
Why do Democrats get blamed for everything that goes wrong? There are certainly problems within the Republican Party also. None of us is perfect and I’m tired of hearing the fascist Republicans blame others. I certainly don’t agree with the way the present administration is handling all of our problems. I am an Independent and if there were more bipartisanship within our government we would be a lot better off. Lets all work together !!!
k
It wasn’t Dems. It’s this prez and DOGe and his teeny bopper buddies that infiltrated and took all the info.
Jose A.
This is a Republican doing. putting unqualified and untrusted people andling our SS. COLA, some people raise doesn’t cover for the cost increase on Medicare.
Kashona W.
Kashona Willis is my name I have identity theft in am still waiting on my check to be paid to me I need a appointment to go in the office I can’t get online at all
Sonia S.
Call this number for a phone appointment
1800 772-1223
k
This number doesn’t take you to phone appointment. It takes you to a place to get a free medical alert device.
Lori K.
I already have an existing ID.me signon that I use to access the My Social Security Website. Will this meet the requirements for on-line identity verification or are there other steps that I will need to do after March 31?
Mike D.
Same question.
Diane m.
If I’m already receiving social security benefits and on direct deposit do I need to do anything
k
I already have one also. But when I tried to use it, that wasn’t enough. I also had to agree to their terms of service, which now says, oops if we mishandle your information and you can’t do anything about it.
T.Y.
Hi, Lori. Thanks for reading our blog and for your question. There is no need to contact Social Security to prove identity if you are not applying for cash benefits and if you are not changing direct deposit information. People will continue to receive their benefits and on schedule to the bank account information in Social Security’s records without needing to prove identity. For more information visit our Frequently Asked Questions page. We hope this helps.
Mary M.
Is this new requirement to prove our identity only for new applicants or does it include people who have been collecting for years?
Shannon H.
I read on three different news websites and they all say that it was for new applicants and existing receipients that wanted to make changes to their direct deposits.
William p.
If we are already receiving social security
And have direct deposit set up, do you need to do any thing
Carole S.
Is this new verify identity requirement by march 31 just for new application and changes to direct deposit or also for people who has been getting Social security directly deposited already.
T.Y.
Hi, Carole. Thanks for your question and for reading our blog. People who are applying for Social Security benefits or changing direct deposit information will need to prove their identity. People who already received monthly benefits will continue to receive their direct deposit to the bank account information in Social Security’s records without needing to prove identity. For more information visit our Frequently Asked Questions page. We hope this helps.
T.Y.
Thanks for reading our blog and for your question, William. You do not need to contact Social Security to continue your monthly benefits at your current bank. If you need to change your direct deposit information in the future, you can change that information online with a personal my Social Security account or automatic enrollment service through your bank. For more information visit our Frequently Asked Questions page. We hope this helps.
Suzanne T.
I got hurt from the money someone took my money. I had to pay triple and double to my account. I got some more money on the day I needed it and God and social security saved me from this. Thank you.
Dorothy W.
do i have to verify even though nothing has changed on my information?
Karen G.
Exactly what has DOGE done to protect the security of my account and ID, now that they have total access? And when should those of us already using SSA/myaccount expect the same in person ID requirements?
ron
who said DOGE had total access? They do not
k
That’s not what I found doing research. They have everyone’s information, name, dob, address, ssn, job info, income, etc.
Paulette P.
These changes make it very difficult for retirees. Congress routinely does not provide adequate funding for tech updates. My information is now on the dark web thanks to inadequate protections. Finally making employees work five days a week in the office actually is counterproductive and costs the government more.
B
They appear difficult but are very necessary in order to remove that difficulty and inadequacy you refer to, including your alleged exposure on the dark web. Now, here’s the kicker, the inadequate protections, the counter productivity, and the costly government expense IS ALL due to NOT requiring employees to perform their duties in-office, rather than NOT performing their duties out-of-office; and I guarantee you, people were not performing their jobs while out-of-office, so not sure where you obtained your data on employees underperforming while in-office as opposed to out-of-office, but I’m pretty certain there wasn’t any factual authority behind it. Moreover, the reason why you claim there was no funding where it should be is because the more than adequate funding provided to the agency was deliberately diverted elsewhere illegally and nefariously for personal benefit and not the benefit of retirees, which is why leaders of these agencies and organizations were perfectly happy with keeping workers home and out of the way. What did they care if they performed their jobs adequately or even at all! They were out of the way and no one was paying attention to where the money was or wasn’t going and obviously, it wasn’t going to the SSA. Hence, the cleanup of the agency and the necessary changes, but everything will be better and operating the way it’s supposed to. Not the way the previous two administrations were tearing it apart and selling it off, like every other piece of our country. Whether you’re Democrat or not, that’s okay, but one things for certain, stop listening to rhetoric, panic-stricken people, people who learn via TV, or any of the hostile-toned individuals who know the weak react to and thrive on fear. Just have some common sense and give the many changes a chance. The previous administrations did a lot of damage to our entire infrastructure that people don’t realize. Keep in mind, they allowed a communist enemy to fly a spy balloon over the span of our entire country! Does that sound like an administration who was protecting you or looking out for your safety or best interests? I’m just saying, pay closer attention for yourself with open eyes, not through the eyes of loud talkers and nay-sayers. Those are usually the ones that don’t know anything. Use YOUR common sense and the truth will be told.