Social Security Strengthens Identity Verification for 2 Services

The Social Security Administration (SSA) is boosting identity verification measures for two of its services in a bid to combat fraud and protect beneficiary records.

Individuals with an online My Social Security account can access those two services via their online account.

People without online accounts will be able to initiate their claim for benefits via phone. However, their identity has to be verified in person, which requires them to visit the local Social Security office with documentation.

People without a My Social Security account seeking to change direct deposit information also will have to visit a local office to update details.

Furthermore, all requests for updating direct deposit information are to be processed within one business day, regardless of whether these requests were made online or in person.

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Updated measures are intended to “further safeguard Social Security records and benefits against fraudulent activity,” the agency said.

The SSA recently required all employees to work from the office five days a week to ensure that enough employees are present to carry out in-person identity confirmation.

SSA intends to implement the Account Verification Service (AVS) from the U.S. Treasury’s Bureau of Fiscal Service. AVS allows for instant bank verification and helps to prevent fraud associated with requests to update direct deposit details.

“Americans deserve to have their Social Security records protected with the utmost integrity and vigilance,” said Lee Dudek, acting commissioner of the SSA.

“For far too long, the agency has used antiquated methods for proving identity. Social Security can better protect Americans while expediting service.”

AARP, an advocacy group for seniors, criticized the SSA’s new efforts.

“Requiring rural Americans to go into an office can mean having to take a day off of work and drive for hours merely to fill out paperwork. The Social Security Administration needs to be able to figure out a solution for Americans everywhere to get help in a timely and efficient manner,” she said.

LeaMond called the two-week time frame to make the new practices permanent “an impractical fast-track” process. She asked the agency to seek input from older Americans and called for the SSA to reverse its decision.

Roughly 40 percent of Social Security deposit fraud takes place under these circumstances, the agency said, adding that “SSA’s current protocol of simply asking identifying questions by telephone is no longer enough to prevent fraud.”

President Donald Trump raised the issue earlier this month during his address to a joint session of Congress, saying there were “shocking levels of incompetence and probable fraud” in the Social Security program.

“A lot of money is paid out to people because it just keeps getting paid and paid, and nobody does [anything]. And it really hurts Social Security and hurts our country,” he said. “We’re going to find out where that money is going, and it’s not going to be pretty.”

Millions of people aged above 120 years and even above 130 and 140 were listed on government databases, the president said.

The Social Security Administration later acknowledged that beneficiary records included numerous people who were aged 100 years and above. While many of these individuals “may not be receiving benefits, it is important for the agency to maintain accurate and complete records,” the agency said.

“Approximately 3.2 million number holders, all listed age 120+, have now been marked as deceased.

“More work still to be done,” the post said.