Social Security will require identity checks in fraud crackdown

Gregory Korte, Bloomberg News on Mar 18, 2025

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WASHINGTON — The Social Security Administration will add new procedures requiring beneficiaries to prove their identity before claiming benefits or changing their direct deposit instructions, as part of an effort to crack down on fraud.

The changes, which will go into effect next month, come as billionaire Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency seeks to root out waste and fraud across federal agencies. President Donald Trump has repeatedly cited debunked statistics that there are millions of Social Security recipients more than 100 years old, suggesting rampant fraud in the pension system.

Beneficiaries can either register for a “My Social Security” account online or visit a Social Security office. Claims traditionally made by telephone — long a significant source of benefits fraud — will have to be completed online or in-person, the agency said.

The moves to restrict assistance over the phone have the potential to hamper seniors living in rural areas or those who do not have easy access to transportation.

The changes to 100% identity verification will have advantages, according to the Social Security Administration. Once enrolled, beneficiaries will be able to have funds deposited in one business day — down from the previous 30 days.

“For far too long, the agency has used antiquated methods for proving identity,” acting Social Security Commissioner Leland Dudek said in a statement. “Social Security can better protect Americans while expediting service.”

The agency is also moving to implement a Treasury Department program called the Account Verification Service, which confirms that bank accounts are legitimate before allowing payment.