CLEVELAND — The Social Security Administration (SSA) is reversing policies that would have required millions of Americans to verify their identities in person at field offices.
Legally speaking, the SSA has the authority to change these types of rules under the Social Security Act.
Nonetheless, the agency is revising its initial rule change after lawmakers and advocacy groups warned that the policy would be difficult for older Americans and people with disabilities to follow.
In March, the agency announced that it would discontinue over-the-phone identity verification entirely, at a time when nearly 50 SSA offices are expected to close across the country.
That list includes one Ohio office, located in Mansfield, which is expected to close in May.
The agency has now decided that the in-person identity verification requirement will not apply to disability insurance, Medicare, or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) applications.
If you are not applying for benefits or changing your direct deposit information, you do not need to verify your identity with the Social Security Administration.
If you do these things, you might be able to verify your identity online using a personal “my Social Security” account.
If you are unable to use your online account for any reason, you will need to visit an SSA office in person:
- people who are applying for retirement, survivors or spouse or child benefits,
- people who are changing direct deposit information, and
- people who get social security checks by mail who need to change their address.
The way things stand now, people who are already receiving Social Security benefits through their current bank and want to keep doing that, do not need to contact Social Security or visit a field office.
