Overview

• The Social Security Administration (SSA) has postponed the implementation of stricter identity verification measures from March 31 to April 14, 2025, following public and political backlash.
• The new policy will require most beneficiaries to verify their identity online or in-person, ending phone-based verification for the majority of cases.
• Exemptions have been introduced for Medicare, Disability, and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) applicants, with additional allowances for extreme dire-need scenarios such as terminal illnesses.
• Advocates and lawmakers have raised concerns about the policy’s impact on seniors, rural residents, and people with disabilities, citing barriers to accessing in-person services at field offices.
• The SSA is defending the changes as necessary to combat fraud, despite minimal reported fraud rates, while ongoing staffing cuts and office consolidations continue to strain service delivery.