New SSA Identity Procedures Announced

The Social Security Administration has issued new, strict procedures to protect your identity, which can include more in-office visits 

Column distributed by Hearst Connecticut Media Group.

Links to resources referenced:

• Social Security Matters: Social Security Strengthens Identity Proofing Requirements and Expedites Direct Deposit Changes to One Day
  • https://blog.ssa.gov/social-security-strengthens-identity-proofing-requirements-and-expedites-direct-deposit-changes-to-one-day/
    • Related column excerpt: 
      • “Visit or online: Individuals with a My Social Security online account could claim benefits online -- no problem. However, others were directed to visit a local Social Security office to prove their identity, according to a March 18 SSA blog post. A telephone call was no longer an option.” 
• Social Security Matters: Social Security Updates Recently Announced Identity Proofing Requirements
  • https://blog.ssa.gov/social-security-updates-recently-announced-identity-proofing-requirements/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery
    • Related column excerpt:  
      • “This in-person procedure was to take effect March 31, 2025, following a two-week training period for employees, according to the blog. Concern about the new procedure prompted a change effective April 14 (see SSA blog of March 26, 2025).”
• Social Security: What to Know about Proving Your Identity
  • https://www.ssa.gov/news/identity-proofing.html 
    • Related column excerpt:
      • “The SSA has an updated webpage, ‘What to Know about Proving Your Identity,’ that provides details on ID information you’ll need to make a claim.”
• Bureau of the Fiscal Service: Payment Integrity
  • https://paymentintegrity.treasury.gov/paymentintegrity/avs/
    • Related column excerpt: 
      • “Bank verification: The SSA is also implementing Account Verification Service (AVS), a payment integrity tool utilized by the Department of Treasury’s Bureau of the Fiscal Service. AVS ‘provides instant bank verification services to proactively and timely prevent fraud associated with direct deposit change requests,’ quoting the SSA March 26 blog.”
• Social Security: 800 Number Performance
  • https://www.ssa.gov/ssa-performance/800-number-performance
    • Related column excerpt: 
      • “Calling the SSA: The SSA typically receives about 80 million calls a year to its national 800 number. The SSA’s ‘800 number performance’ webpage provides updated statistics on the average speed of a call to be answered (21.2 minutes as of this writing), as well as callback and wait times.” 
• Social Security Matters: Correcting the Record About Social Security Direct Deposit and Telephone Services
  • https://blog.ssa.gov/correcting-the-record-about-social-security-direct-deposit-and-telephone-services/ 
    • Related column excerpt:
      • “According to the SSA, recent media reports that it is eliminating telephone service are inaccurate.”
• Social Security: Looking for a local office?
  • https://www.ssa.gov/locator/ 
    • Related column excerpt:
      • “An office appointment can be scheduled by calling 800-772-1213 or by visiting the SSA website page ‘Looking for a local office?’”
• SSA Office of the Inspector General: Quarterly Scam Update, Issue 14
  • https://oig.ssa.gov/assets/uploads/quarterly-scam-update-q4-fy-2024.pdf 
    • Related column excerpt:
      • “Scams: While Social Security-related scams have declined since fiscal year 2021, they ‘remain the top government imposter type reported to the [Federal Trade Commission],’ according to the SSA Office of the Inspector General’s Quarterly Scam Update released in March 2025.”
• SSA Office of the Inspector General: Report Fraud
  • https://oig.ssa.gov/report/ 
    • Related column excerpt:
      • “You can report potential Social Security fraud by going to the Office of the Inspector General’s webpage, or by calling the OIG fraud hotline at 800-269-0271.” 

• Social Security: Fraud Prevention and Reporting
  • https://www.ssa.gov/fraud/#:~:text=You%20can%20submit%20a%20report,taken%20on%20any%20reported%20allegation
    • Related column excerpt:
      • “If you want to increase your awareness about the types of Social Security fraud, see the SSA’s ‘Fraud Prevention and Reporting’ webpage.”