Effective March 31, 2025, the Social Security Administration (SSA) will require identity verification either online or in person. Individuals will be able to verify their identity in ther mySocialSecurity account. Individuals who are unable to do that will need to verify their identity in person at a Social Security office.
People who cannot start their claims online will be able to start their claims by telephone, but the claim will not be completed until the person does in person identity verification.
Social Security will also complete changes to direct deposit in one day. (Social Security Matters, March 18, 2025.)
UPDATE:
The effective date of the identity verification requirement is now April 14, 2025. Medicare, Social Security Disability and Supplemental Security Income will be exempt from the in-person identity verification requirement. Individuals applying for those programs who cannot use a personal mySocialSecurity account will be able to complete their applications by telephone without needing to come to an office in person.
Individuals applying for retirement, survivors or auxiliary benefits who cannot use mySocialSecurity to verify their identity will need to come to an office in person. Social Security will not enforce this requirement in extreme dire-need situation such as terminal illness or prisoner pre-release.
Individuals who do not or cannot use mySocialSecurity to change their direct deposit information will need to come to a Social Security office in person to process that change. (Social Security Press Release, March 26, 2025.)