Social Security Updates Recently Announced Identity Proofing Requirements
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: March 26, 2025
The Social Security Administration (SSA) is taking proactive steps to enhance the security of its services by implementing stronger identity verification procedures. The updated measures will further safeguard Social Security records and benefits for millions of Americans against fraudulent activity. In-person identity proofing for people unable to use their personal my Social Security account for certain services will be effective April 14, 2025.
“We have listened to our customers, Congress, advocates, and others, and we are updating our policy to provide better customer service to the country’s most vulnerable populations,” said Lee Dudek, Acting Commissioner of Social Security. “In addition to extending the policy’s effective date by two weeks to ensure our employees have the training they need to help customers, Medicare, Disability, and SSI applications will be exempt from in-person identity proofing because multiple opportunities exist during the decision process to verify a person’s identity.”
Under the updated policy beginning April 14, 2025, individuals applying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), Medicare, or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) who cannot use a personal my Social Security account can complete their claim entirely over the telephone without the need to come into an office.
Individuals who cannot use their personal my Social Security account to apply for benefits will only need to prove their identity at a Social Security office if applying for Retirement, Survivors, or Auxiliary (Spouse or Child) benefits. SSA will enforce online digital identity proofing or in-person identity proofing for these cases. The agency will not enforce these requirements in extreme dire-need situations, such as terminal cases or prisoner pre-release scenarios. SSA is currently developing a process that will require documentation and management approval to bypass the policy in such dire need cases.
Individuals who do not or cannot use the agency’s online my Social Security services to change their direct deposit information for any benefit will need to visit a Social Security office to process the change or can call 1-800-772-1213 to schedule an in-person appointment. The agency also recommends that individuals unable to apply online call to schedule an in-person appointment to begin and complete a claim for Retirement, Survivors, or Auxiliary (Spouse or Child) benefits in one interaction.
SSA recently required nearly all agency employees, including frontline employees in all offices throughout the country, to work in the office five days a week. This change ensures maximum staffing is available to support the stronger in-person identity proofing requirement.
The agency will continue to monitor and, if necessary, make adjustments to ensure it pays the right person the right amount at the right time while safeguarding the benefits and programs it administers. SSA plans to implement the Department of Treasury’s Bureau of Fiscal Service’s payment integrity service called Account Verification Service (AVS). AVS provides instant bank verification services to proactively and timely prevent fraud associated with direct deposit change requests. SSA will continue to fight fraud while balancing its program integrity responsibilities with delivering on its customer service mission to the American people.
People who do not already have a my Social Security account can create one.
Stay up to date about SSA’s identity proofing requirements and exceptions at What to Know about Proving Your Identity | SSA.
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Phay P.
I recommend that the Agency should conduct face to face annual review for all SSI recipients and have them provide passport. Many of recipients travel abroad and stay longer than the law required. I’m not pregedeous to anyone period . However, we’re living under the rule of laws society and we must adhering the laws. There’s no one above the laws including president of United States (but he did).
Cheryl A.
I just want to tell all people out there you can access your social security through the my social security. And not have to make an appt for an in person interview. I have full access to all I want to do. With triple security. Before you get mad. Investigate your options.
Lisa
Please do something about derogatory remarks that are being posted. Reference to GOTH posting. Disrespectful comments should not be allowed to be posted.
Thank you
Danny C.
What are you supposed to do about old people in nursing homes with cases where they cannot get to a social security office it’s going to put a burden on so many people my mother is 84 years old has Alzheimer’s dementia and his bedridden am I supposed to roll a stretcher down there but her on it
Dan A.
I haven’t been able to get on my mysocialsecurity website for quite a while. When emailing them they send me a link that takes me around in circles. I’ve called in the past, only to get a message that they’re too busy to take my call. I’ll try calling Again today to see if I can get any information. I might even just make an appointment at the local office to clear this situation up.
Patty
I think it is awful how people work 40 – 50 years, pay in to social security and get treated this way
People who worked in factories don’t get raises like people who worked in government places .Tell me why that is. Really people who worked in factories worked harder then the government, we did not sit behind a desk we were on our feet working ,8,10 12 hours a day.
Maggie
Are people already receiving retirement benefits need to call in ahead of receiving their monthly benefit? I am confused with all this changes!
Eric J.
Are we going to be notified by mail to report to the SSA for this situation
C.B.
Hi, Eric. Thanks for using our blog. There is no need to contact Social Security to prove your identity if you’re not applying for cash benefits and if you’re not changing your direct deposit information. You will continue to receive your benefits on schedule to the bank account information in Social Security’s records without needing to prove your identity. We hope this clears up any confusion.
Duane S.
I living in Quebec and am collecting my social security benefits. If I want to change my direct deposit information I get the prompt to “Contact Us”. The office that I’m referred to from Montreal is the Burlington Vermont Office. Does this mean that I have to go to Burlington in person to change my direct deposit information?
C.B.
Hi, Duane. Thanks for reading our blog and for your question. People living abroad can now access their personal my Social Security account by registering and signing in with ID.me. If you don’t have an ID.me account, please select “Sign in with ID.me” to start the process. If you cannot gain access to your information online, please visit our Office of Earnings & International Operations webpage. With an ID.me account, you can change your direct deposit. We hope this helps.
Alexis
Great! In addition, I believe there should be something similar to a annual (perhaps on birthday) verification of life. This would ensure a deceased person’s benefits have been terminated. I might suggest a verification of a doctor’s visit within the past year, medical bills, prescriptions. These documents would have to have the actual person’s name. If it was done annually, the most benefits they could erroneously receive would be 1 year. (From submission to submission). Meaning, if you can’t submit some sort of verification within the last year, or can’t visit an office in person, you should no longer receive benefits. Just an idea. Of course an annual reminder to do so would be needed.