(5MinNewsBreak.com) – Social Security is cracking down on fraud by changing how Americans claim their benefits: they will now have to verify their identity in person.
Starting March 31, 2025, 72.5 million Americans will no longer be able to make changes or claim benefits via quick phone calls.
This new policy comes as the Trump administration works to eliminate $100 million in annual fraud losses.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) announced stricter identity verification procedures that will require in-person visits to field offices.
The change eliminates phone verification options that had previously allowed beneficiaries to handle account changes remotely.
Under the new system, applicants and recipients must either use the “My Social Security” online account or physically visit an SSA field office.
At the same time, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) led by Elon Musk plans to close 47 Social Security field offices and lay off thousands of workers.
The tech mogul stated, “What we’re adding here is caring and competence.”
President Trump had promised to protect Social Security while targeting waste.
“I’m not going to touch Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid. Now, we’re going to get fraud out of there,” the president stated.
The SSA argues these changes will help deliver on that promise. Acting commissioner Lee Dudek revealed the agency is “losing over $100 million a year in direct deposit fraud.”
“Americans deserve to have their Social Security records protected with the utmost integrity and vigilance,” Dudek stated.
In a positive development for beneficiaries, the SSA will speed up the processing of direct deposit requests to one business day instead of the previous 30-day hold for online requests.
The agency will also implement an Account Verification Service for instant bank verification to help prevent fraud.
Critics are sounding alarms about the impact on seniors and disabled Americans, particularly those in rural areas with mobility issues or limited internet access.
The Affordable Connectivity Program, which provided discounted internet services, ended in June 2024 due to a lack of funding.
US Representative John Larson (D-CT) attacked the changes, claiming:
“By requiring seniors and disabled Americans to enroll online or in person at the same field offices they are trying to close, rather than over the phone, Trump and Musk are trying to create chaos and inefficiencies at SSA so they can privatize the system.”
Adding to beneficiaries’ changes, the SSA will revert to withholding 100% of benefits for overpayments, reinstating an Obama-era policy.
This comes as Social Security benefits are set to increase by 2.5% in 2025.
The SSA recommends scheduling an in-person appointment to complete claims in one visit.
Conversely, labor unions have filed a lawsuit seeking to prevent DOGE from accessing sensitive Social Security data, adding another layer of complexity to an already challenging transition.
BOOM
Starting March 31st, all new and existing recipients of Social Security benefits will now have to verify their identity in person rather than over the phone.
Wonder if those over 200 years old and receiving checks will be able to make it to their local SSA office? pic.twitter.com/ClKuCB66Up
— Conservative Brief (@ConservBrief) March 19, 2025
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