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Online verification • In-person verification • Phone verification
It seems a straightforward proposition: When you apply for Social Security benefitsthe Social Security Administration (SSA) wants to be sure you are who you say you are and notsayan identity thief using stolen personal data to claim benefits in your name.
Howeverthe SSA’s approach to this practice provoked an outcry in March 2025 when the agency abruptly announced it would no longer confirm a customer’s identity by phone. People calling to file a benefit claim or change their direct deposit banking information registered with Social Security would have to verify their identity online or in person at a local SSA office.
The agency said the move would curb fraud by making it harder for criminals to call into Social Security with illicitly obtained personal information and hijack people’s payments. AARP pushed backjoining other advocates for older Americans in asserting that limiting phone service would worsen the agency’s customer service crisis; cause confusion; and create new hardships for people who have disabilities or mobility issueslack reliable internet access or live far from a local office.
Join Our Fight to Protect Social Security
You’ve worked hard and paid into Social Security with every paycheck. But recentlywe've heard from thousands of Americans who want to know more about the future of Social Security. Here’s what you can do:
- Tell Congress to strengthen Social Security customer service.
- Find out how AARP is fighting to keep Social Security strong.
- Get expert advice on Social Security benefits and answers to common questions.
In the face of public oppositionthe SSA shelved the plan a few weeks later. People claiming any type of benefit can still apply by phone at 800-772-1213the SSA’s national customer service lineand confirm their identity. But the options for doing so have changed in recent months.
Of courseyou can still apply online using a My Social Security account or at a local Social Security office. Here’s how SSA identity proofing works in all three situations.
Verifying your identity online
The quickest and easiest way to prove your identity with the SSA is through the My Social Security portal. The SSA uses two credentialing servicesLogin.gov and ID.methat can confirm who you are when you set up your account.
Creating an account typically takes 10 to 15 minutes. Have your smartphone and a valid photo IDsuch as a passportdriver’s license or state-issued ID cardat hand.
