Social Security to speed up direct-deposit benefits, agency says
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Amid anti-fraud efforts, the U.S. Social Security Administration announced a new policy intended to speed up payments to recipients looking to have their benefits delivered via direct deposit.
All changes in requests for direct-deposit payments will be processed in one day, the administration has announced. Previously, direct-deposit changes made online were held for 30 days, according to a news release from the agency.
The new practices will be phased in over the next two weeks for both benefit claims and direct deposit changes.
Individuals will be able to use their personal “my Social Security” account, which requires online identity proofing. You can create a “my Social Security” account at www.ssa.gov/myaccount/.
The agency’s two-week transition plan includes training for employees and managers and monitoring of policy compliance, the agency said in a statement. By the end of March, the agency will enforce online digital identity proofing and in-person identity proofing.
Individuals who are unable to verify their identities through their online accounts will need to do so in person at agency offices, according to the news release.
The change was announced as the administration announced new identity-verification requirements being implemented by Social Security to stamp out alleged fraud and waste within the system, which President Donald Trump and officials in his administration have claimed are widespread.
As previously reported on the Advance/SILive.com, the new identification requirements will impact anyone who needs to verify their bank information with the agency, as well as families with children who receive Social Security benefits and cannot verify a child’s information on the SSA website.
The administration is “taking proactive steps to enhance the security of its services by implementing stronger identity verification procedures” for both benefit claims and direct-deposit changes, according to a news release from Social Security.
The “stronger identity proofing procedures” implemented on March 31 are expected to help safeguard Social Security records and also benefit payments, according to the news release.
“Americans deserve to have their Social Security records protected with the utmost integrity and vigilance,” said Lee Dudek, acting commissioner of Social Security. “For far too long, the agency has used antiquated methods for proving identity. Social Security can better protect Americans while expediting service.”
The administration will permit individuals who are unable to use the agency’s online services to start their claim for benefits on the telephone. However, the claim cannot be completed until the individual’s identity is verified in person. The agency recommends calling to request an in-person appointment to complete the verification process in one transaction.
The administration “recently required nearly all agency employees, including frontline employees in all offices throughout the country, to work in the office five days a week. This change ensures maximum staffing is available to support the stronger in-person identity proofing requirement,” according to the news release.
Proof of identity will be needed before starting a transaction. Call 800-772-1213 to schedule an in-person appointment.
Staten Island Social Security offices are located at 1441 South Ave. in Travis, and 1510 Hylan Blvd. in Dongan Hills.
The agency is axing the 10% withholding rate in favor of a 100% withholding rate.
That means if a Social Security recipient gets overpaid by the SSA, 100% of their monthly benefit will be withheld until the overpayment is returned. Essentially, recipients will not get another check in the mail until the money is fully repaid.
Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) is set to close 47 Social Security field offices nationwide, but so fare the two on our borough will remain open.