Correcting the Record About Social Security Direct Deposit and Telephone Services
Reading Time: 1 MinuteLast Updated: March 26, 2025
Recent reports in the media that Social Security plans to eliminate telephone services are inaccurate. SSA is increasing its protection for America’s seniors and other beneficiaries by eliminating the risk of fraud associated with changing bank account information by telephone.
SSA continuously investigates and analyzes potential threats to strengthen and secure our programs and protect people who receive benefits. Approximately 40 percent of Social Security direct deposit fraud is associated with someone calling SSA to change direct deposit bank information. SSA’s current protocol of simply asking identifying questions by telephone is no longer enough to prevent fraud.
If someone needs to change their bank account information on SSA’s record, they will need to either:
- Use two-factor authentication with SSA’s “my Social Security” service; or
- Visit a local Social Security office to prove their identity.
These methods align with most major banks.
All other SSA telephone services remain unchanged.
Did you find this Information helpful?
Tags: General Information
See CommentsAbout the Author
Social Security Administration
Social Security Administration
Comments
Leave a Comment
Please review our Comment Policy before leaving a comment. For your safety, please do not post Personally Identifiable Information (such as your Social Security Number, address, phone number, email address, bank account number, or birthdate) on our blog.
Cheryl M.
Reducing staffing makes no sense. The claims of fraud and inefficiency are mostly false. This whole thing is drummed up by Ellon Musk who wants to take control of SS and run it himself so he can take a cut of the $. With reducing SS offices how on earth will people do this. Rural areas will be hit hardest, who supposedly elected the current tyrant. Mail is being eliminated, this is just a way to cut people of from what they have earned. Thank you Trump voters for ruining all of this.
Sharnjitsingh S.
What time satred payment my mobile number payments update on the fones
Please help me give me payment me not have money
M W.
AAAAAAAAAAAA-MEN. This statement by the SSA is simply damage control bc of fierce pushback by Dems in Congress and more importantly, pushback by We the People.
Audrey N.
It’s About time they streamlined some of these overstaffed agencies.
Jean
You have been lied to about what you believe about the SS.
Brent F.
Why are you laying off 7,000 workers. With Baby Boomers retiring in large numbers you need more workers, not fewer. As people age they may need more time with associates and to account for this you need to be able to spend time with retirees.
Government is an often a service business, not a profit-making one. Stop saying there is all this fraud and abuse. Inspector generals and accountants have looked at this in the last few years.
It appears you’re trying to make agencies fail by not adequately staffing them. Americans know what’s happening and won’t stand for it!
Tom D.
We will and we are! You will thank us 🙂
Robert W.
I am guessing that the majority of Baby Boomers are already retired. Once you are collecting you seldom need to contact Social Security. Why are all these dead people collecting ?
Mark H.
I’ve worked as an accountant all my life and I can assure you that there is waste and inefficiency in the SSA. That is what they’re removing and it costs jobs. We you analyze offices you always find duplication of effort. For example: When you eliminate the need to enter data twice into two different software programs by having the two programs talk to each other;it will eliminate a job. Nobody likes to lay people off but it’s necessary sometimes.
Philip V.
Unfortunately, Social Security fraud is a real thing — and yes, sometimes that involves people claiming benefits on behalf of the dead. It’s a problem that needs addressing, but it’s also not the only avenue thieves use to try to get their hands on your benefits. If you want to keep as much of your money as you can, you’ll need to watch out for opportunists who may try to trick you into handing over your checks (or information). there is fraud and we need others looking into it. why not??
Kennethh K.
The najority of baby boomers have already retired. The youngest of them would be in their 60’s now.
I would say people over 200 years old would qualify as fraud.
P M.
Totally agree. We are not as dumb as Republicans think we are! Everyone, please stay alert and informed. If we can do nothing but call our repsentatives, let’s do so. Something is better than nothing!
And, this is money that we have paid into, with a promise of it being returned to the citizens at retirement age.
Thank you!
Allison
And sadly, Inspector Generals have been fired. This puts seniors – and so many others – in a very vulnerable position. Shame, shame, shame…
Vincent E.
Call your Congress rep. to complain about this. This is happening because of Trump. So we are stuck here in this place for 4 years. Next vote should be for a Democrat.
Dennis P.
This fraud and abuse scam is made up to line the pockets of the Elon and the POTUS and his billionaire oligarchs. Just how you misrepresented the facts about 100 to 300 year old SSA retirees is fraud in itself. You knew that was a glitch in the system because of young people dying early in their lives and not being removed from the SS tolls because of this glitch. Noone was ever paid benefits, but you chose to make people believe this. Shameful.
RealStar N.
Why do you need workers for someone to retire? What exactly are their roles? Why can this not be done in the same way these retirees set up a doctor’s appointment, make their bank deposits and pay their bills?
Len
The real issue is many of these so called employess working from home are simply not working. Also many of the procedures being used by SSA and othwer departments is unnecessary and some are fraudulent. This needs to be correxcted and President
Trump is the dforst President since Ronald Reagan who is actually doing something about it. I’d hold off any judgments until the smoke clears and we see the savings and more efficient goivernemtn working for us and not just to fill their own pockets.
LisaMarie
Agree.
Wayne
A-I is taking over so the corrupt politicians cannot steal tax payers money anymore
John D.
I disagree, the federal government can and should be massively reduced.
Doge is not just auditing federal spending but bringing modern business practice and systems into the archaic structure of these federal agencies. Having modern systems alone would allow more work being done productively with far less employees. You can already see these changes taking effect such as the 2fa change to update your bank information. These are standard practice everywhere else but the government is far behind standard practice since they have been operating in deficit for so long and nobody wants to justify extra cost to improve things.
Imagine a world where the U.S had zero debt and the massive amount of money going toward interest could be used productively to benefit the american people. This country should have the best infrastructure, best technology, best healthcare with how much money we are producing and you wouldn’t even need to raise taxes to do it. We produce enough money, it just needs to be audited and spent efficiently, and that is exactly the future Doge is taking us toward.
Why would anyone who isn’t illegally profiting off the current system inefficiencies be opposed to this?
Jean
Maybe those workers aren’t doing their jobs.
Presnar, R.
I have been a customer of USAA Federal Savings Bank since 1985 and have never been to a branch! I have bought homes, cars; have multiple insurance accounts; maintain several personal banking accounts; and have had financial services accounts with this bank mostly over the phone. I’m sure you could figure out how to minimize fraud without taking away an important access channel – phone access!
Audrey N.
Have been members of USAA since 1968 because of my husband being A/D. I worked Federal Civil Svc for a just over 20 yrs, and retired. I agree with what SS is doing it’s about time some of these people that are ripping off SS are cut off. Unless they could somehow add video calls including having the person also show a valid ID of who they are. But that would be difficult almost impossible task.
Cartry M.
Why is there so much to controversial surrounding social security benefit lately there wasn’t between 2020 -2024 but there are now. If there are people violating requirements why not concentrate on them instead of everyone
Suzanne
Please rethink this. Many of the older people I know do not have a computer and don’t know how to use the internet. The phone is the only way they can communicate.
Dilian R.
Asi es, y cuando lo haces por el telefono no entiende su tecnica electronicamente hablando.
y como yo existimos miles que no saben hacerlo, pero ademas no tienen quien los ayude.
Por eso se requieren muchos funcionarios trabajando para nosotros . Esa es la situacion………..
C.B.
Hi, Dilian. For information in Spanish, please visit our Spanish blog. You can also find information in Spanish at http://www.segurosocial.gov, and Administración del Seguro Social http://www.facebook.com/segurosocial. Thanks!
Terry W.
They can always call an Uber to take them to the local Social Security office. Sure it will cost but it’s better than letting a criminal steal their checks by changing their direct deposit info over the phone. How many times does someone change their direct deposit info? Maybe once every 5 or 10 years?
It’s a small inconvenience but worth it to be safe with your direct deposits.
Dennis
I agree with you Suzanne. I don’t agree with other peoples issues on here but I do understand what you are saying and it is true. I am one of the lucky ones as I have used a computer since the 1990’s and have worked with computers. They should make an exception for people that do not have electronic access to equipment required or have the knowledge to use it. I know someone that is in their 90’s and cannot even afford internet service to begin with.
Toni C.
I totally agree. Phone access is extremely important for many many seniors.
John M.
Are we getting an increase ? that would be so needed so I don’t have to spend my savings on appliances that I need .
Martha C.
You already received an increase for this year. You only get one a year.
Elon M.
Closing SSA offices and asking elderly to drive to them makes no sense. Please show more caring for the elderly!
KC
Agreed.
Terry W.
They are showing caring. They are trying to prevent criminals from scamming and taking away senior’s money by changing their direct deposit info over the phone.
While very convenient, no business should conduct financial or any other sensitive business over the phone, it’s too easy for scammers.
It’s 2025 we have to keep up with the criminals and adjust, sometimes that means things become less convenient but in the end it is worth it.
Patricia T.
I signed up for direct deposit by mail. Why can’t I change banks by mail? You know (or should know) that the elderly are not all computer literate or maybe do not even have internet access. You also know (or should know) that the elderly may or may not drive or may not be able to drive hundreds of miles, especially in high traffic areas or may be too ill to leave their homes at all. Your demand that elderly recipients report changes in direct deposit information via the internet or in person is unreasonable!
Paul
Mail sounds like a reasonable solution. I tried to use the Government website when I filed and had to wait weeks for a password. Rough
Nick
I always follow the rules here
Sharnjitsingh S.
What time satred payment my mobile number payments update on the fones
Please help me give me payment me not have money
Sue
Really? In rural areas, there is little or no internet service. The closest Social security office may be hours away. These changes make interacting with SSA nearly impossible for the elderly and/or disabled
Mark H.
Nonsense
Terry W.
It’s only for changing direct deposit info. How many times do you usually change this info?
Sure it’s less convenient but it needs to be done to protect seniors.
It’s 2025, we have to change to combat the criminals that are always finding a way to scam the system.