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Social Security Tightens Identity Verification, Requires In-Person Visits

New rules effective March 31 aim to combat fraud but raise concerns about accessibility and service delays for millions of Americans.

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Two people enter a Social Security Administration office in suburban Detroit.
An American flag flutters in the wind next to signage for a United States Social Security Administration office in Burbank, California on Oct. 25, 2012.
A Social Security Administration office building is seen Thursday, March 6, 2025, in Nashville, Tennessee.

Overview

  • The Social Security Administration will require in-person identity verification for those unable to verify online, ending phone verification options.
  • The new policy, set to begin March 31, is expected to increase in-person visits to SSA offices by 75,000 to 85,000 weekly.
  • Advocates warn the changes will disproportionately impact elderly, disabled, and rural populations with limited mobility and internet access.
  • The Department of Government Efficiency has closed 47 SSA field offices and reduced staffing, exacerbating concerns about accessibility and delays.
  • The SSA defends the policy as necessary to prevent $100 million in annual direct deposit fraud while expediting processing times for updates to one business day.