...
By Aliss Higham
Reporter
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) has announced a new fraud check on claims filed over the phone.
Why It Matters
The SSA, which administers benefits to some 70 million Americans every month, has faced considerable criticism in recent weeks over its now rolled-back decision to bar millions of claimants from completing identity checks over the phone.
Read More on News
The SSA previously announced that all new benefit claims and direct deposit changes would need to be completed in-person, rather than over the phone, for those who are unable to verify their identity using the SSA's online portal. This was then changed to exclude those receiving Social Security Disability Insurance, Medicare, or Supplemental Security Income.
What To Know
The SSA has confirmed that all beneficiaries will now retain the ability to complete identity checks over the phone.
"Beginning April 14, 2025, SSA will allow individuals to complete all claim types via telephone, supported by new anti-fraud capabilities designed to protect beneficiaries and streamline the customer experience," the SSA said in a press release on April 12.
...
The SSA said that with "enhanced technology," it can now detect suspicious activity in telephone claims by analyzing patterns and anomalies in an individual's account. When irregularities are found, the person may be required to complete in-person identity verification to move forward with their claim.
It comes as the Department of Government Efficiency, mandated by President Donald Trump, works across various federal departments to eliminate perceived waste and fraud associated with public spending.
Between January 2013 and May 2018, fraudsters manipulated Social Security direct deposit information to divert $33.5 million in benefits from 20,878 recipients, according to audits by the SSA's Office of the Inspector General.
"SSA has worked around the clock to develop and deploy these improvements, driven by the return of employees to full-time, in-office operations," the SSA said.
Beneficiaries already receiving benefits who do not need to change their direct deposit information are not required to undergo identity proofing.
What People Are Saying
Leland Dudek, acting commissioner of Social Security, said in the press release: "We are modernizing how we serve the public—enhancing both security and accessibility. These updates improve our ability to detect and prevent fraud while providing more flexible options for people to access their benefits."
The National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare said in a press release on April 10: "The Trump administration did not change the policy out of the goodness of their hearts. They responded to public pressure.
"While they are at it, SSA and their DOGE overlords should reverse other harmful policies they have enacted under the phony cover of hunting for 'waste and fraud,' including radically reducing the agency's workforce that serves the public, making plans to close field offices, and reinstituting default withholding of up to 100 percent of people's benefit checks in the case of accidental overpayments (usually caused by SSA itself)."
What's Next
The changes are scheduled to begin on Monday, April 14.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines