Social Security to mandate face-to-face ID verifications

WASHINGTON – In a bid to curb fraudulent activities, the Social Security Administration (SSA) will soon implement more stringent identity verification procedures, which will necessitate visits to SSA field offices for many recipients and applicants.

Effective from March 31st, the SSA will discontinue phone-based identity verification methods. Individuals who fail to authenticate their identity through the “my Social Security” online service must now visit a field office in person to complete this process. This adjustment affects both newcomers to Social Security and current beneficiaries seeking to modify their direct deposit information.

Advocacy groups for retirees express concerns that these new measures may adversely affect older Americans, particularly those in rural regions, who have disabilities, face mobility challenges, or reside far from SSA offices with minimal internet availability.

Additionally, the SSA’s future actions include the closure of numerous office locations nationwide and a reduction in the workforce, with plans already underway for layoffs.

As part of the updates, the agency announced efforts to streamline the processing timelines for direct deposit change requests, whether conducted in person or online, reducing the timeframe to one business day. Historically, online requests took up to 30 days for completion.

“The Social Security Administration is losing more than $100 million annually to direct deposit fraud,” remarked Leland Dudek, the acting commissioner, during a media call. “We can enhance protection for Americans while improving service efficiency.” Explaining the challenge, Dudek noted that the personal data used for identity checks is often available publicly, making fraud prevention more challenging. “This is a common sense measure,” he stated.

Currently, more than 72.5 million individuals, including retirees and children, receive retirement and disability benefits through the Social Security Administration.

Rep. John Larson from Connecticut, serving as the top Democrat of the House Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee, criticized the move. He argued that by requiring in-person or online registration, rather than phone enrollment, the current administration intends to cause disorder and inefficiency to justify privatization moves.

Reportedly, leases for 47 SSA offices in several states, including Arkansas, Texas, and others, have ended or are set to expire. Yet, Dudek described the closure impact as minimal, asserting that many offices were underutilized remote hearing sites.

The decision to close offices and dismiss federal staff aligns with President Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s broader agenda to trim down federal operations. Some fear this may complicate access to benefits. Musk has often criticized the Social Security system, labeling it fraught with fraud and likening it to a “Ponzi scheme.” He hints at targeting the program amid efforts to cut governmental expenditure.

Public concern regarding the administration’s budget cuts, involving key benefits programs, has prompted numerous town hall discussions across the nation. Additionally, labor unions recently took legal action, petitioning for an emergency intervention to prevent the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing sensitive data related to millions of Americans’ social security information.