Social Security Administration to require in-person identity checks for new and existing recipients

[douglas9]

WASHINGTON (AP) — In an effort to limit fraudulent claims, the Social Security Administration will impose tighter identity-proofing measures — which will require millions of recipients and applicants to visit agency field offices rather than interact with the agency over the phone.

Beginning March 31st, people will no longer be able to verify their identity to the SSA over the phone and those who cannot properly verify their identity over the agency’s “my Social Security” online service, will be required to visit an agency field office in person to complete the verification process, agency leadership told reporters Tuesday.

The change will apply to new Social Security applicants and existing recipients who want to change their direct deposit information.

Retiree advocates warn that the change will negatively impact older Americans in rural areas, including those with disabilities, mobility limitations, those who live far from SSA offices and have limited internet access.

The plan also comes as the agency plans to shutter dozens of Social Security offices throughout the country and has already laid out plans to lay off thousands of workers.

https://apnews.com/article/social-security-fraud-waste-doge-elon-musk-212e3089951f731fd3f83443e104b315

[Historic NY]

1. Meanwhile they are closing offices

which now will necessitate traveling distances to find one open. Then finding it is understaffed or to busy.

Nice Trick they have

[turbinetree]

4. That's what happens when you kleptocrats running a government called maga

[Lokee11]

2. FUCK THAT

To get rid of fraud that did not and does not exist!!!

GTFOH - FUCK MUSK - FUCK TRUMP - FUCK ALL REPUBLICANS!!!!!!

[North Coast Lawyer]

8. Chasing Phantoms

If 150 year old (i.e. dead) people were receiving payment it would be pretty easy to track and prosecute. Social Security has the addresses where checks are sent. Social Security has the account numbers direct deposits are sent to. A rookie cop could follow the trail. A baby district attorney right out of law school could successfully prosecute.

If this was an actual thing Musk would be crowing about actual arrests.

[PortTack]

3. None of this is good, but if you read the article, you can do things online

[Gimpyknee]

5. You're ignoring all the elderly who are not tech savy

[Attilatheblond]

13. And the people who have vision problems

[PortTack]

24. No..I'm not! I was simply repeating what is in the article

[happy feet]

10. First, social security already investigates fraud

so this is a solution to denying rightful persons their social security by requiring them to travel (elderly or disabled) IF there is even a local social security office.

This is high on my mind as I just applied for soc sec online November 2024. My husband applied same date online. I received approval February 15th, my husband's application online was still stuck in stage 2 as of a few days ago (stage 3 being approval.

BTW--I am very tech savvy---worked in IT for 45 years and learned to program using machine language and punched cards when I started in the industry.

I say this because even I had to call soc sec (long wait times up to 2 hours---got through the 3rd time in 30 mins) to understand the holdup in processing my husband's application submitted same date/time. Turns out they had transferred his application to a farther soc sec office for processing (due to overload) and that person had yet to confirm his earnings - so the agent did so and put a note for the 2nd person to go ahead and approve expeditiously. This was impossible to accomplish online. Put my husband on the phone and the phone verification IMO is perfectly fine to prevent fraud...they ask a series of questions only the person would know. If husband needed to go to office in person, instead of the office 15 mins away he would have had to travel 45 mins to a farther office...just to find out the issue was on soc sec end---not his.

A solution looking for a problem that will discourage and prevent the elderly and disabled from being able to apply or get their issues handled over the phone.

[Sucha NastyWoman]

19. Not my 95 year old mother

Lots of older folks aren’t going to be able to navigate it.

However as long as benefits show up on time and in the right amount, I’ll be pretty grateful.

[peachpit24]

6. How

How does that save the government money? Musk is evil.

[North Coast Lawyer]

7. Guess they better just hurry up and die

My 91 year old mother lives in a nursing home in Canada 80km across an international border from the nearest Social Security office in Washington State. She had a few issues with her Social Security when my dad died a few years ago and she had to move into assisted living. The people we (my brother and I helped her) dealt with on the phone were very helpful and got her deposits restarted. MAGA is targeting hardworking diligent civil servants. MAGA is targeting the most vulnerable seniors. MAGA are nothing but a bunch of mean spirited bullies.

Interestingly, all the ladies at my mom's nursing home absolutely hate Trump.

[Duncan Grant]

9. It's the process civil war pensioners had to endure.

So, our great tech bro messiahs are using 19th century solutions for a 21st century (established) social program. What the f*ck is really going on here?

By the way, the application process for black civil war veterans was terrible. Many of those men didn’t bother to apply.

[Hekate]

11. You asked the operative question: What is really going on here?

The optics will be terrible for them. I actually thought SSA would be much later. But no.

Aside from the insane cruelty — I think trumpmusk are going to reframe SSA as welfare, which people have been taught to think is shameful. Look at all those deadbeats on welfare. Tsk tsk. They just couldn’t wait, could they?

Whatever the case, THIS is going to provoke the mother of all protests. I hope to see red hats there. I hope to see bonfires of red hats and trump swag.

[Attilatheblond]

14. WWI veterans had problems getting THEIR promised funds too. Many lived in tent cities. Depression was making it worse.

American businessmen with fascist leanings were working on those poor men, hoping to trigger them all to engage in insurrection as the businessmen work to defeat FDR's election and then his presidency.

I sound like a broken record, but Americans REALLY need to read: The Plot to Seize the White House: The Shocking True Story of the Conspiracy to Overthrow FDR by Jules Archer. A quick read about Smedly Butler, his career and how the 'Titans of Business' tried to sucker him into leading a veterans' revolt. They knew the veterans respected Butler and thought the retired general was dumb enough to be their patsy POTUS post insurrection. Butler was on to them & let them tell him more to 'convince' him to participate in insurrection.

There is nothing really new about what US Moguls are doing now. Methods have been modified & honed, but the method is old and more people need to read more history so they are aware.

edited for typo in headline

[Duncan Grant]

15. And it's money we pay into the system. It's our money.

Thanks for your comment, you make the point better than I do!

[Attilatheblond]

20. You make the point just fine. Problem is too many people don't know history, government, or logic.

[TheCowsCameHome]

12. NO. FUCKING. WAY.

Ya unnerstand?

[Moostache]

16. My 82-year old father has dementia and is wheelchair bound...

Appearing in person with him to transfer his benefits to the correct bank account LAST YEAR was a debacle that took 3 visits to the SSA local office, sat in lines twice and was told that we had the wrong documents and needed to come back. That was BEFORE this Trump/Musk-led fuckfest of ratfuckery on going today...

This country has lost its soul.

[BigmanPigman]

22. The country hasn't lost its soul,

Its lost its mind. Who the hell would vote for this crap AGAIN?!?!?

[AStern]

17. This is "KILL THE POOR" bullshit and anyone that defends this is one sick motherfucker

nt

[Evolve Dammit]

18. They are trying to kill it. No question

[louis-t]

21. You would think, if they really DO want to limit fraud

they would open MORE offices and hire MORE people. But we all know they're not really concerned with fraud, waste and abuse. Especially not their own.

[BigmanPigman]

23. I guess the ACA/Obamacare will be toast by November, too.

They want to make us suffer then kill us, seriously. They are sadists.