Press Release
Social Security Updates Recently Announced Identity Proofing Requirements
In-Person Requirement Will Not Apply to Disability Insurance, Medicare, and SSI Applications
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 at www.ssa.gov/myaccount/.
Stay up to date about SSA’s identity proofing requirements and exceptions at What to Know about Proving Your Identity | SSA.
12 comments:
Hop onto the Dudek clown car show.
Make up problems, look smart solving them.
Wow, fantastic solutions, perhaps it'd be more efficient to find actual problems for them to address before going balls to the wall with additional hurtles for people to go through. Especially when Dudek and the D-Bags are indiscriminately getting rid of career civil servants who know what they are doing and not only took an oath to the Constitution but actually adhere to it.
The Nuremberg trials will look like cocktail hour compared to the 💩 storm that's going to fall on these criminals once their joyriding of the Federal government terminates.
Dudek, Sleazy E and his Peter Pan Posse broke it and they are alleging they fixed it. Don't believe them!!!!!
Of course this plan would never work. The agency processes countless claims for people who are bed bound, in nursing homes or reside locked mental facilities. Now they can’t claim their aged based benefits unless they can sign in to an online account? Asinine
Leland Dudek does more back pedaling than an NFL cornerback.
Hey, Commissioner Transparency. How about you put out the numbers, exactly for much money was lost through fraud on initial retirement claims taken by phone. I think that might be pretty important. Especially when you compare it to online claims fraud. Put those numbers out too, while you're at it.
This actually makes the situation even more confounding. A solid majority of retirement claims are filed online. So the target for this onerous new process is – – – widows? Is there really a fraud risk analysis that indicates a high risk of identity fraud in the survivors program? Fraudsters seriously take the time to set up appointments to file, and then assemble proof of relationship and proof of age so that they can fraudulently file for widows benefits? I don’t think so.
This foists a needless new filing requirement for grieving spouses. It’s unconscionable. Where is AARP?
Retirees, widows, and dependents filing initial claims aren't a source of fraud within SSA. The biggest fraud is the Quisling Dudek, who has parlayed his subservience to Elon Musk into a job he is woefully unqualified for. My 2025 Bingo card certainly did not include the Acting Commissioner saying he was going to shut down the Agency, then actually issuing a press release backtracking on that. This is gross incompetence at levels normally reserved for the president. Dudek takes the shoot now, aim later approach to decision making by leading the agency through press releases and failing to provide actual policy to the employees responsible for implementing his dizzying changes. He is targeting non-existent fraud to give gravitas to the lies of Trump and co-president Musk.
The real fraud is Dudek, Musk, and the DOGE team. They have invented a problem to attempt to save face following the debunked claims of 150 year olds receiving benefits. So those required to prove ID are widows and retirees? That is certainly the program area with the absolute least amount of fraud.
At least cornerbacks look competent when they do it.
🤣. Sooo true!
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