Millions of Social Security beneficiaries in the United States will have to meet a new requirement beginning April 14, 2025, in order to continue receiving their monthly payments.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) has issued a significant policy update aimed at improving security and preventing fraud within the system.
The Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is leading a broader initiative that includes this new measure.
According to a March 26 report, the Social Security Administration will begin enforcing stricter identity verification procedures for individuals who are unable to access their personal My Social Security accounts. This change is intended to improve program integrity while protecting taxpayer dollars.
In-person identity checks now required
The new policy requires beneficiaries who are registering for the first time or requesting changes to their accounts to verify their identity in person. Failure to do so may result in accounts being marked as inactive or potentially fraudulent, leading to the suspension of benefits.
This move comes after internal investigations revealed that millions of dollars in benefits may have been incorrectly issued to deceased people. The SSA believes that tightening identity verification protocols will help to prevent these errors and ensure that Social Security benefits are only distributed to eligible recipients.
Key exemptions and the SSA reasoning
Acting Social Security Commissioner Lee Dudek explained that certain applications, such as Medicare, Disability Insurance, and Supplemental Security Income (SSI), will be exempt from the in-person identification requirement. Dudek pointed out that these programs already have multiple verification checkpoints built into the decision-making process.
The SSA has also delayed the policy’s implementation by two weeks to allow for staff training, ensuring that employees are fully prepared to help the public. Dudek emphasized that the update is part of a larger effort to improve services for the most vulnerable populations, with input from Congress, advocacy groups, and beneficiaries themselves.
This updated requirement marks a watershed moment in the administration of Social Security services, reinforcing public trust in the system and increasing safeguards against federal fund misuse. Beneficiaries are strongly encouraged to stay informed and take the necessary precautions to avoid interruptions in payments.
