The Social Security Administration (SSA) is implementing new identity checks starting today, April 14, 2025. These measures aim to enhance security and prevent fraud within the system. Under the new rules, individuals claiming Retirement, Survivors, Auxiliary, Social Security Disability Insurance, Medicare, and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits will be subject to the updated verification process.
The SSA will analyze patterns within personal accounts to detect suspicious activity. If any anomalies are found, beneficiaries will be required to complete an in-person identity check before accessing their benefits. Leland Dudek, Acting Commissioner of Social Security, stated, “We are modernizing how we serve the public.
Enhancing both security and accessibility is our priority. These updates improve our ability to detect and prevent fraud while providing more flexible options for people to access their benefits.”
The SSA manages approximately 4.5 million calls per month, with around 70,000 flagged as suspicious.
New identity verification begins today
The new measures are expected to improve the detection and prevention of fraudulent activities, ensuring a more secure system for the roughly 70 million people who claim Social Security funds each month. The SSA is investing $16.5 million to modernize services and handle higher demand effectively. This initiative follows pressure from the Department of Government Efficiency to update services with advanced anti-fraud capabilities.
While the new identity checks aim to protect claimants, concerns have been raised about the potential hurdles they may create for millions of seniors. A report from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) found that the shift to online or in-person services could result in a “45-mile trip for some 6 million seniors.”
Kathleen Romig, the CBPP’s director of Social Security and disability policy, highlighted the challenges, stating, “It’s already a lengthy process to get an appointment for in-person services. There’s no way to schedule an appointment online, so you have to call the agency’s 800 number.
Currently, the wait for a callback from Social Security is two and a half hours, and that’s if you get through to an agent at all.
Romig also pointed out that not everyone can easily travel to a field office, particularly seniors or people with disabilities who may not drive or have difficulty leaving their homes. As the new measures take effect, beneficiaries and SSA staff are seeking clarity amidst the policy changes. The SSA aims to strike a balance between enhanced security and accessibility, but the impact on millions of Americans remains to be seen.
Image Credits: Photo by Kenny Eliason on Unsplash
