Whilst claiming to take measures against identity fraud, the Social Security Administration has followed Musk’s plan to create obstacles with face-to-face benefit claims for non-holders of Social Security accounts. Even while Musk retracted his idea to secure services for the Department of Government Efficiency, the administration is still implementing stronger identity verification, with the transition expected to take two weeks.
There will be no different identity proofing procedures for claimants that have a personal my Social Security account, however, those without, must visit their local office to prove their identity. The transition will expedite all direct deposit change requests from 30 days to 1 business day.
The administration acknowledged the past challenges they had faced in protecting Social Security records belonging to millions of Americans. Signing a partnership with ID.me wallet was billed as their digital identity strategy with a $5 million contract in 2020 for online authentication services. The partnership faltered when SSA announced users onboarded before September 2021 would need to migrate to Login.gov.
Around the new announcement, Lee Dudek, Acting Commissioner of Social Security said: “Americans deserve to have their Social Security records protected with the utmost integrity and vigilance”.
“For far too long, the agency has used antiquated methods for proving identity. Social Security can better protect Americans while expediting service.”
Despite a shift, Trump is closing SSA offices through the Department of Government Efficiency, essentially only allowing benefits claims to be made by account users.
SSA officials have said verifying identity over the phone is no longer a trusted method. The agency’s two-week transition plan includes training frontline employees and management about the new policy and careful monitoring of policy compliance. At the conclusion of the transition period, on March 31, 2025, SSA will enforce online digital identity proofing and in-person identity proofing.
SSA plans to implement the Department of Treasury’s Bureau of the Fiscal Service’s payment integrity service called Account Verification Service (AVS). AVS provides instant bank verification services to proactively and timely prevent fraud associated with direct deposit change requests.
