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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Wayne
I don’t understand why you did this, given how poorly the system works. After making a big deal of telling us that we don’t need an in-person visit if we have an online account and have a login.gov credential, we are now being told that it’s not enough. It asked for a photo of my driver license and of me before it rejected the photos and said that I need an in-person visit.
It did the same with my wife’s credentials, only in her case, she identified herself in person at the SSA office less than six months ago. Why?
YOU ALSO FAIL TO TELL PEOPLE THAT ID.ME still works, for those who can no longer use login.gov due to this change.
Amanda M.
Does this mean I want get my April money direct deposit until I get reverified?I should have already received my money 2 days ago.
C.B.
Thanks for using our blog, Amanda. There is no need to contact Social Security to prove your identity if you’re already receiving benefits. If you did not receive your electronic payment on the scheduled pay date, please contact your bank or financial institution first. If you still need to report a late, missing, or stolen Social Security payment, contact us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. We hope this helps.
Connie
Does everyone need to get ID verification? (If you go to the ssa.gov page It answers the questions of those that are thinking they need to get verified)
No. There is no need to contact Social Security to prove identity if not applying for benefits and if not changing direct deposit information for current benefits. 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.
If applying for benefits or changing direct deposit information for existing benefits, the secure and most convenient way to prove identity is with Social Security’s online services using a personal my Social Security account.
If unable to use Social Security’s online services, a person
applying for Medicare or Social Security Disability Insurance or Supplemental Security Income does not need to visit a Social Security office to prove their identity. They can prove their identity by telephone.
applying for Retirement, Survivors, or Auxiliary (Spouse or Child) benefits must visit a Social Security office to prove their identity.
changing direct deposit information for any type of benefit must prove their identity in a Social Security office.
receiving payment by paper check must visit a Social Security office before changing their mailing address.
Thais L.
The SSA is not allowing access to myAccount. A message is posted that SSA suspended myAccount. Why is this happening? I should be allowed into my portal. What is going to happen now?
C.B.
Thank you for reading our blog, Thais. 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.
Loretta S.
I already have a login.gov account with the VA where I had to verify my ID. The “take a photo” function used by the SSA does not work on my phone, so now I have to go to the post office to present my id to be verified again. This is a waste of my time and the post office’s time. Why did you do this in the middle of tax season with little warning? Clearly no one thoroughly tested the phone app (as in multiple brands of phones with varying signal strengths from various providers)?
Lori K.
Will ID.me be a valid verified signin for mySocialSecurity to change bank account information? I have been using that for years and it is how I currently signin.
Marty
It looks as though you’re going to have to go to your local SS office, in person, to make changes to your direct deposit. They will need to verify your drivers license. I’d bring two forms of identification. Otherwise it is status quo.
Jan C.
What are accepted forms of government issued identification?
Brandi D.
Our local SSA office is scheduled to close in May. The next closest office is 250 miles west over mountain passes. We are a community of over 100000 and need to have a SSA office in our community. Please help us
Casandra T.
Why do I have to reverify my identity just to access my SSA account, I don’t need to change anything, just access it, but it says I have to reverify, been using same device and account for almost 3 years now.
Lee
I currently have a mySocialSecurity account. Per your instructions I need to transition to login.gov and verify my identity again. I already have a login.gov account with a verified identity through the VA. I spent 3 days trying to upload photos for the VA. Finally got the photos uploaded but Login.gov would not accept my phone number as verified. I decided I would do the in-person and stop all this hassle. Found out no in-person verification without a verified phone number. Since when did a phone number supersede a birth certificate for verification? The last option was VA mailed me a verification letter with a security code to enter online. Thankfully that worked and that problem solved.
Unfortunately, SSA wants to put me through more hoops by making me verify my identity again. I have been trying for 4 days and countless hours trying to get login.gov to upload and accept my photos. Their software/program is faulty and not working correctly even with their instructions. Again, I cannot go in-person without a verified phone number. SSA does not offer a verification letter like the VA. I have all the documents but can’t submit them online or in-person. Are you kidding me? Why can’t I link my verified login.gov account to SSA? Why no option to verify our identity in-person at SSA or anywhere else even without a verified phone number? I asked Login.gov how I can correct an unverified phone number. They replied with a canned message that they match it with public records without any specifics on how I can correct it. I informed them about the software photo problem. They replied with the same set of canned instructions. I am all for safety and security but Login.gov and SSA are NOT ready for prime time. I am being pushed back and forth between login.gov and SSA and getting nowhere. I really hope these issues can be resolved before mySocialSecurity account is deactivated. If anyone has a solution I’d appreciate it.
Ron
Yes I’m having the same problem with verification I got a new phone and number and I can’t verify it with ssa. It’s been a real pain in the a@@.
Norbert R.
Were you able to resolve this issue as I am same problem ?
Janice T.
My bank has merged with another one, and will eventually require us to change the bank routing number and our account number for ACH transactions, deposits, etc., to the other bank. My Social Security check has been going to the existing account for several years, and for now, the new bank is saying no action is needed and that transactions will continue to post as they do today. How difficult will it be to make this change with you when they change the routing and account numbers? I hear it’s impossible to get in touch with you for now, and no certainty in how difficult it will be to prove my identity if try to handle it exclusively online when the time comes.