The Social Security Administration is tightening identity-proofing measures in an attempt to combat fraudulent claims by requiring recipients and applicants to visit agency field offices for in-person identity checks, starting March 31st.
The big picture: Recipients will no longer be able to verify their identity over the phone. Those unable to verify their identity online through the SSA’s “my Social Security” service must visit a field office for identity verification, particularly for direct deposit changes.
- The plan coincides with the closure of several Social Security offices nationwide and potential layoffs of thousands of workers, raising concerns about accessibility to services.
- Along with the identity verification requirement, the SSA aims to expedite processing of direct deposit change requests to one business day, significantly faster than the previous 30-day period for online changes.
