Summarize this content to 2000 words in 6 paragraphs Significant changes are on the way for Social Security beneficiaries and applicants as the Social Security Administration (SSA) adopts new identity verification requirements.Why It MattersThe SSA distributes billions of dollars in benefits every month to some 70 million recipients, serving as a vital source of income for Americans nationwide.What To KnowOn April 14, those applying for retirement, survivor or spousal benefits and those who want to change their direct deposit information will no longer be able to verify their identity over the phone.This means that anyone unable to prove their identity online must visit a Social Security field office to complete the process.”Individuals seeking these services who cannot use their personal my Social Security account, which requires online identity proofing, will then need to visit a local Social Security office to prove their identity in person,” the SSA said in a March 18 statement.The change, which was originally scheduled to begin on March 31, was recently postponed to mid-April.
A stock image of a Social Security card with a phone.
A stock image of a Social Security card with a phone.
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The changes do not apply to those collecting or applying for Social Security Disability Insurance, Medicare or Supplemental Security Income (SSI).Acting SSA Commissioner Lee Dudek said that for those benefits, “multiple opportunities exist during the decision process to verify a person’s identity.”The agency has said it will not enforce these requirements in “extreme dire-need situations, such as terminal cases or prisoner pre-release scenarios.”To verify your identity online, you will need to have a My Social Security account. This is a personal account where you can access all your benefits information.How to Set Up Your My Social Security AccountYou can access My Social Security via the SSA website using a Login.gov or an ID.me account. You can create an account or log in straight away if you already have one.You must be at least 18 years old and have a valid email address and Social Security number to sign up. Go to www.ssa.gov/myaccount, select the “Create an Account” button and follow the instructions.If you already have a Login.gov or an ID.me account that you have used for other government services, you do not need to create a new one. You can use your existing account to access Social Security services.What People Are SayingLee Dudek, the acting SSA commissioner, said in a news release issued on March 26: “We have listened to our customers, Congress, advocates, and others, and we are updating our policy to provide better customer service to the country’s most vulnerable populations.”An SSA spokesperson told Newsweek: “The agency will continue to monitor and, if necessary, make adjustments, to ensure it pays the right person the right amount at the right time while at the same time safeguarding the benefits and programs it administers.”Max Richtman, the president and CEO of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, told Newsweek in an emailed statement: “Intentionally constructing obstacles for the people who’ve earned these benefits (and who pay for SSA operations with every paycheck) betrays at the least an indifference—and more likely, an outright hostility—to the elderly, people with disabilities, their families and survivors who rely on Social Security.”What Happens NextThe change is scheduled to take effect on April 14. The SSA said all frontline staff had been brought back into the office five days a week, which would ensure “maximum staffing is available to support the stronger in-person identity proofing requirement.”
