Social Security Administration Extends Identity Proofing Requirements

The Social Security Administration has updated its recently announced identity proofing requirements, in an effort to clarify which of its services will require in-person or online registration. The SSA has said the new requirements are intended to prevent fraudulent claims.

Under the updated policy, now slated to take effect April 14, 2025, individuals applying for Social Security Disability Insurance, Medicare or Supplementary Security Income who cannot use their personal “my Social Security” account online can complete their claim entirely over the telephone, without the need to come into an office.

Last week, the SSA said, starting March 31, it would require all individuals signing up for Social Security benefits to visit a field office or use the internet and not allow them to do so over the phone. The policy’s effective date is now extended two weeks and makes an exception for those applying for SSDI, Medicare or SSI.

“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 a statement.

Individuals who cannot use their personal online my Social Security account to apply for benefits will only need to provide proof of their identity at a Social Security office if applying for Retirement, Survivors or Auxiliary (spouse or child) benefits. The SSA said it 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,” the announcement said. “SSA is currently developing a process that will require documentation and management approval to bypass the policy in such dire need cases.”

In addition, individuals who do not, or cannot, use the online service to change their direct deposit information for any benefit will need to visit a field office to process the change or can call 1-800-772-1213 to schedule an in-person appointment.

The SSA also plans to implement the Department of Treasury’s Bureau of Fiscal Service’s payment integrity service called Account Verification Service, which provides instant bank verification services to prevent fraud associated with direct deposit change requests, according to the announcement.

The SSA recently required nearly all agency employees to work in the office five days a week, which the agency claims will ensure maximum staffing is available to support the identity-proofing requirement. However, President Donald Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency Service Temporary Organization published a list of 47 SSA offices that are slated to close either this year or in the near future.

The agency also announced in February that it aims to lay off at least 7,000 people as part of the president’s effort to downsize the federal government.