WASHINGTON — The Social Security Administration (SSA) is set to implement stricter identity verification measures aimed at reducing fraudulent claims. This change will necessitate millions of recipients and applicants to physically visit SSA field offices rather than completing processes over the phone.
Starting March 31st, individuals will be unable to verify their identity with the SSA via phone. Those unable to validate their identity through the SSA’s “my Social Security” online service will be required to appear in person at a field office to finalize the verification. This adjustment impacts new Social Security applicants and existing recipients wishing to update their direct deposit details, as mentioned by agency officers on Tuesday.
Advocacy groups for retirees have expressed concerns that these changes are likely to adversely affect older Americans residing in rural areas, particularly those with disabilities, mobility challenges, or those living far from SSA offices with limited internet connectivity.
This adjustment occurs alongside a plan by the agency to close numerous Social Security offices nationwide, leading to the layoff of thousands of workers.
In addition to the identity verification modifications, SSA announced plans to hasten the processing of direct deposit change requests for recipients, promising completion within one business day both in person and online; previously, online changes took up to 30 days.
“The Social Security Administration is losing over $100 million annually due to direct deposit fraud,” stated Leland Dudek, the agency’s acting commissioner, during his initial media call on Tuesday evening. “This initiative allows Social Security to safeguard Americans while enhancing service speed.”
Dudek elaborated that combating fraudulent claims is challenging because the information utilized through knowledge-based authentication is widely accessible publicly.
“This is a pragmatic step,” he added.
The Social Security Administration caters to over 72.5 million people, offering retirement and disability benefits to retirees and children.
Connecticut Representative John Larson, the leading Democrat on the House Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee, remarked that “by compelling seniors and disabled Americans to enroll online or in person at the same field offices planned for closure, instead of over the phone, Trump and Musk are deliberately creating chaos and inefficiencies at SSA with an aim to privatize the system.”
An outline on the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) website notes that leases for 47 Social Security field offices across several states, including Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, Florida, Kentucky, and North Carolina, have either ended or are in the process of closing. However, Dudek downplays the impact of these closures, mentioning that many were small, remote hearing sites with limited public engagement.
Americans have voiced concerns that the closure of SSA offices and substantial layoffs of federal employees—part of an initiative by President Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency to downsize the federal government—will complicate accessing benefits.
Elon Musk has shared debunked claims regarding Social Security, labeling federal benefit programs as rampant with fraud, even calling them a “Ponzi scheme” and implying that his campaign to reduce government spending would mainly target these programs.
Public discontent has led voters to question Republican representatives about the administration’s cuts, especially concerning plans for the old-age benefits program during town hall meetings nationwide.
Moreover, labor unions recently filed a lawsuit requesting an emergency court order to prevent DOGE from gaining access to the sensitive Social Security data of millions of citizens.
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