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.
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Brenda B.
Indianapolis indiana needs help. My spouse and I have neen trying to fill out disability social security application. We can never reach a person or set an appointment. The system is not working. When you call it takes 20 minutes to push this or that to get toa person. Them we are told it is a 2 hoir wait! After 2 hours it hung. Making an appointment still results in being diaconnected. Very frustrating. Thanks you for getting the fraud out. Can you make them put actual eople on the phone. Peolpe are not AIs. We need people to n help us solve problems. Thanks. Love ❤️. Brenda
Jacqueline M.
Thank you. I agree with each and every comment. Nice to know I’m not alone. Just the stories I can tell about trying to contact social security and then going to the office.They asked me not to return it was the fastest anything got done in 2 days.I received the notice
Delta S.
Ssa taking $566.00 monthly for Medicare. I only receive Medicaid
Mimi
Are you retirement age?
John F.
I have been receiving my monthly Social Security amount by direct deposit into my bank account for several years. As this has all been automatic, I don’t really see any need for additional action on my part. Just keep automatically depositing those checks into my account and I’ll be fine!
George R.
Please don’t send me a check I want automatic payment in my bank account
Chris
It is time we start making this work for the people, reduce costs and improve efficiency. There is zero reason to have individuals go to an SSA office to change bank accounts or update their banking information. It is in each banks interest to have that Social Security deposited securely every month. There is a bank in every community, usually more than one. I would rather pay the bank $1 per social security check per month per customer to fund this, than maintain a staff of SSA individuals who are there to facilitate the exact same thing.
Banks require an ID and signatures to open an account and adding in a SSA certification is nothing more than a check box. The bank would have access to the SSA to process the change just like any other financial transaction and it’s much more secure and accessible than what it is today. There are literally 70,000 bank branches across the United States. That would alleviate having to schedule a visit to the SSA office and just visit your local bank.
That should stop a lot of fraud, improve efficiency and reduce costs and the overall customer experience. This is nothing more than a financial transaction and it is right up the banking industry purview.
Al W.
For those of you, who do not understand President Trump’s plan for SSI. You let the media misinform and excite you about the things that will take place with SSI. You don’t realize how the past administration wanted to chip away your benefits. If you continue to listen to the mainstream media, you will remain misinformed. The present administration is here to clear out the fraud and wasteful spending so that you can keep more of your money.
Simone
You are being lied to. You’re already getting all your money. Trump and Musk don’t want you to have any at all. That’s why they are yelling, “fraud.”
Beau
Hell yes brother!
Sheila G.
100% Absolutely correct. I’ve received SSD since 2020 and am so very grateful to President Trump, Elon Musk and his brilliant team at DOGE. Anyone who wants all this waste, fraud and money laundering to go on as usual, is not only deranged. But also, as I’ve been finding out, a recently terminated Federal government employee or someone who’s unemployed and isn’t withholding Social Security from their wages.
Celina
There is no fraud
Celina
Please stop spreading political disinformation
on this site. This is not social media. We should be able to come to this site for helpful information, not disinformation.
Kathy M.
I live in Connecticut and Hartford the capital is where I go to the social security office which is a building on the list of buildings to be sold by the federal government, so where will social security be now?
My second point I always received my check on the Friday prior to the third Wednesday no check this week bank has no idea why?? I’m not the only one I talked to somebody in Florida with the same issue.
Liz
It may be time to consider a “Million Seniors March on the Oval Office”
Starting with Senior Marches on every capitol building! In all States! And then with busses transporting all of them on a predetermined date, to the White House! Demanding a town hall with the tRUMPty DUMpty and JDJerk and Musky! All 3! No guns! No protective Army, Navy, Air Force or Marines! Just them facing all the people they’ve screwed over by giving money to their billionaire buddies!
Brenda
What is wrong with you. The fraud they are getting rid of strengthens social security. Assuring checks are still.coming.
A bigger problem is not being able to get through on their phones. It is a 2 hour wait on Indianapolis, then they hang up. Ugh
Amy
I would just like to say that my Direct Express, (SSI account) was fraudulently broken into TWICE without anyone knowing my passwords. Money was stolen, reimbursed, but stolen from me. I almost lost my housing the first time because it took over a month to be reimbursed. I live in low income housing and was given a pay or vacate notice. I had to borrow money from friends over the weekend so I didn’t lose my housing.
My whole point is that fraud IS happening to SSI and if they can prevent it, (how would you do it?) then all the better.
Teresa A.
If your info has not changed do you nEed to do anything
CELENA H.
MY ID HAS BEEN STOLEN AND IM AFRAID THEY’RE USING MY PHONE FOR BANK INFO. THEY’RE IN MY BANK ACCOUNT UNDER MY NAME, BUT DIFFERENT ADDRESS (PO BOX) AND PHONE NUMBER. MY BANK CANT CHECK IT. WHAT CAN I DO? I HAVEN’T RECEIVED ANY STIMULUS CHECKS! IM 78, ALONE, NO ONE TO HELP ME.
S.S.
Hello, Celena. Thanks for reading our blog. We take allegations of fraud very seriously. If you suspect identity theft, report it to the Federal Trade Commission or call 1-877-IDTHEFT (1-877-438-4338). To learn more about how to prevent or resolve issues of identity theft, read our publication Identity Theft and Your Social Security Number. We hope this information helps.
Shalom R.
Go online to one of the credit reporting bureaus and put a fraud alert on your accounts, and on your social security number and your address. Tell them that you suspected was stolen that you stated in your problem in your comment. I myself did this when I found out my social security was found on the dark web. Make sure you subscribe to any free programs to bank office like CreditWise to monitor your name social security number email address and other critical information take action when they report something is found that seems suspicious. Good luck all of best.