New Social Security anti-fraud rule will force more people to visit agency offices

The Social Security Administration will require people filing benefit applications who cannot prove their identities online to visit a field office to complete the claim in person in an effort to combat fraud, the agency announced Tuesday.

The Social Security Administration will require people filing benefit applications who cannot prove their identities online to visit a field office to complete the claim in person in an effort to combat fraud, the agency announced Tuesday. This, along with another new rule barring beneficiaries from changing their bank account information over the telephone, could send millions more people to the agency’s offices, forcing folks to wait longer for payments and straining Social Security’s operations at a time when the agency is downsizing its staff. The moves come as representatives from Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency are focusing on alleged fraud within the agency. The new identity verification process takes effect on March 31, while the bank account rule starts on March 29. People will continue to be able to apply for benefits and change their bank account information through their “my Social Security” online account, which requires they use an identity proofing service, such as ID.me. “Americans deserve to have their Social Security records protected with the utmost integrity and vigilance,” Lee Dudek, acting commissioner of Social Security, said in a statement. “For far too long, the agency has used antiquated methods for proving identity.” More than 73 million people, including retirees, people with disabilities and others, receive monthly Social Security benefits.