Key takeaways:

• The Social Security Administration (SSA) will implement an anti-fraud check on claims filed over the phone starting April 14.
• Individuals flagged for suspicious activity must provide in-person identity proofing, while others can verify via telephone.
• The decision comes after public pushback against a strict in-person verification policy, aimed at protecting vulnerable seniors.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) has announced that it will modify its identity verification process starting April 14, 2023. Following concerns from the public and advocacy groups, the SSA confirmed that all claims submitted over the telephone will undergo an anti-fraud check to identify potential risks, according to The Hill. If a claim is flagged, recipients will be required to provide in-person identification to proceed, while unflagged claims can continue verification over the phone.

Initially, the SSA planned to eliminate phone identification entirely, compelling claimants—particularly seniors and disabled individuals—to visit local offices to verify their identities. The move was intended to combat rising concerns about identity theft and fraudulent benefit claims. However, it faced significant backlash from the community, as highlighted by advocates arguing that many elderly individuals might have found such travel prohibitively difficult, especially those living in rural areas far from SSA offices. As noted by CBS News, an estimated 6 million seniors would have had to make lengthy trips to SSA locations.

Acting Social Security Commissioner Lee Dudek stated, “We have listened to our customers, Congress, advocates, and others,” emphasizing the SSA's commitment to improving its customer service in light of recent outcry. The agency's change of course reflects a broader push to maintain accessible services for the nation’s most vulnerable populations while still addressing the threat of fraud. Currently, the SSA handles approximately 4.5 million telephone claims annually, with approximately 70,000 flagged for potential fraud. Advocates like Max Richtman, CEO of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, welcomed the reversal as a victory for beneficiaries, but called for further improvements in SSA's customer service policies.

The SSA's recent policy shift coincides with ongoing changes under the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), aimed at reducing government spending and improving fraud prevention measures. While the SSA has assured the public that phone services will remain available, some concerns persist regarding past staffing cuts and the potential impacts on service quality and accessibility for those in need.

For additional details on this evolving story and the implications for Social Security beneficiaries, please refer to the complete articles from The Hill and CBS News.