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Social Security Overhauls Identity Verification, Requiring In-Person or Online Authentication

The new rules, effective March 31, 2025, will impact over 72 million Americans and aim to prevent fraud while raising accessibility concerns for rural and vulnerable populations.

Photo composite illustration of Donald Trump Elon Musk wielding a chainsaw, and a Social Security card
Stock image/file photo: A Social Security card with a phone keypad in the background.
Two people enter a Social Security Administration office in suburban Detroit.
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Overview

  • The Social Security Administration (SSA) will no longer allow identity verification over the phone, requiring in-person or online authentication for benefit claims and direct deposit changes.
  • The changes, set to take effect on March 31, 2025, will impact more than 72 million Americans who rely on SSA services.
  • The Department of Government Efficiency plans to close 47 SSA field offices, primarily in rural areas, raising concerns about access for underserved communities.
  • The SSA will implement the Treasury Department's Account Verification Service to prevent fraud and expedite direct deposit changes, reducing processing times from 30 days to one business day.
  • Critics highlight challenges for rural and elderly populations, exacerbated by the 2024 shutdown of the Affordable Connectivity Program, which had provided discounted internet access.