SSA Announces Service Upgrades and New Identity Verification Measures – What It Means for You

The Social Security Administration recently announced a series of service upgrades and enhanced measures for identity verification aimed at improving customer experience and strengthening fraud prevention. 

These changes come in response to stakeholder feedback and a recent Government Accountability Office audit, which went over areas for improvement in service delivery and security. 

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As concerns of fraud and abuse within the Social Security system continue, the SSA is making changes to improve its identity verification process. The GAO wrote, "Synthetic identity fraud—combining made-up and real information to fake an identity—is a growing concern for financial institutions, like banks, especially as their systems go digital."

Here's a breakdown of the SSA's most recent changes and how they could affect you. 

Reduced Costs and Enhanced eCBSV Service

The SSA is rolling out a comprehensive plan to improve its Electronic Consent Based Social Security Number Verification, or eCBSV, service. The eCBSV helps financial institutions and other entities to verify Social Security numbers with the SSA's records. 

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The SSA has shared its plans to reduce costs while improving the eCBSV service. 

Reduced Costs: 

• The eCBSV service will be improved with a phased approach to reduce operating costs by up to 40% going forward. 
• Entities participating in this program will see their costs lower by about 25%. 

Service Enhancements: 

• The SSA will improve the accuracy of "no-match" results, which are issued when a submitted Social Security number does not match SSA records.
• Future updates may include integrating Consent Based SSN Verification with eCBSV, which could simplify the verification process and expand its reach to more users.

“We are committed to enhancing the eCBSV service to better serve our stakeholders and effectively combat identity fraud," said Leland Dudek, acting commissioner of Social Security. "By reducing costs and improving our processes, we aim to provide a more accessible and efficient tool for financial institutions and other entities.”

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Stronger Identity Verification Measures

To further protect against identity fraud, the SSA is introducing stricter identity proofing requirements and expediting direct deposit changes. 

Updated Identity Proofing:

• Over the next two weeks, the SSA will transition to more rigorous identity verification for benefit claims and direct deposit changes.
• Individuals who cannot verify their identity through the SSA's online "my Social Security" account will need to visit a local SSA office for in-person verification.
• Once the transition is complete, on March 31, identity proofing will be enforced for all benefit claims and direct deposit changes.

Direct Deposit Changes in One Day:

• The SSA will reduce the processing time for direct deposit changes from 30 days to one business day for both online and in-person requests.
• This faster turnaround is designed to provide beneficiaries with quicker access to their funds while minimizing the risk of fraudulent changes.
• The SSA will implement the Department of Treasury's Account Verification Service to provide instant bank verification and better prevent fraud. 

What This Means for You

The SSA has said that these changes will make services more secure, accessible, and efficient. If you're planning to file for benefits or update your direct deposit information, you may need to provide stronger identity verification. Those who prefer in-person services should schedule an appointment with their local SSA office to avoid delays.

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