Omaha City Wire

The Social Security Administration (SSA) is enhancing its security measures to protect Social Security records and benefits from fraudulent activities by updating its identity verification processes. As of April 14, 2025, individuals who cannot use their personal mySocial Security account will soon be required to undergo in-person identity verification at Social Security offices. This new requirement will not, however, apply to applications for Disability Insurance, Medicare, and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

Acting Commissioner of Social Security, Lee Dudek, clarified, “In addition to extending the policy’s effective date by two weeks to ensure our employees have the training they need to help customers, Medicare, Disability, and SSI applications will be exempt from in-person identity proofing because multiple opportunities exist during the decision process to verify a person’s identity.”

For those unable to manage their applications online, the possibility now exists to complete claims over the phone, specifically for Social Security Disability Insurance, Medicare, or SSI. Yet for applications for Retirement, Survivors, or Auxiliary benefits, individuals will have to opt for online digital identity proofing or visit a Social Security office in person. Certain cases, such as terminal illness or prisoner pre-release scenarios, will be exempt from stringent proofing requirements, though documentation and management approval will be necessary to bypass these measures.

Individuals looking to adjust or set up direct deposit information will also need to proceed with in-office visits or make an appointment via the SSA's contact line at 1-800-772-1213.

The SSA's operational shift is underscored by a mandate that requires nearly all agency staff to work from the office five days a week. This move ensures the workforce is optimally prepared to handle the in-person verification surge.

Continuing its vigilance against fraud while focusing on the integrity of its programs, the SSA plans to implement the Treasury Department's Bureau of Fiscal Service's Account Verification Service. This system aims to thwart direct deposit fraud through immediate bank verification services.

For those without a mySocial Security account, creation is available online at the SSA's official website. The SSA assures continual updates and necessary policy adjustments to maintain accurate and timely benefit distribution while safeguarding the programs it administers.

Further information on identity proofing requirements and exceptions can be found at the SSA's website section, "What to Know about Proving Your Identity."