Social Security’s New In-Person Rule: Will It Affect You? Find Out Now

If you’re planning to apply for Social Security benefits anytime soon, there’s a new rule in town—and it could mean a trip to your local office.

As of March 31, 2025, the Social Security Administration (SSA) has added an in-person identity verification step for certain services. It’s meant to help stop identity theft, but for a lot of people, it might feel like one more hoop to jump through.

So, let’s break this down in plain English.

What’s the Big Change?

If you’re applying for retirement, survivor, or family benefits and you can’t (or don’t want to) use the SSA’s online system, you now have to verify your identity in person at a Social Security office.

It’s not just for new applications either—even if you’re updating something like your direct deposit info, you might be required to go in person now.

Who’s Off the Hook?

If you’re applying for Social Security Disability (SSDI), Medicare, or SSI, you’re not affected by this change. Those programs already involve a deeper identity check during the application process, so nothing new there.

Why Is This Happening?

Like everything these days—it’s about security.

The SSA says this is a way to crack down on fraud and make sure people are who they say they are. With identity theft on the rise, they’re tightening things up.

And while that makes sense, not everyone’s thrilled. Some people live far from an SSA office or have mobility issues, and now they’ll have to make an extra trip just to get their benefits. Not exactly ideal.

Some Good News: Faster Payments

On the flip side, the SSA has sped up how fast they process direct deposit changes. It used to take up to 30 days for online updates to go through. Now, whether you do it online or in person, it’ll be done in just one business day.

That’s a big improvement if you’ve ever had to wait forever for your money to hit your account.

What Should You Do?

If you think this rule might affect you, here’s your quick checklist:

• Call SSA at 1-800-772-1213 to make an appointment if you need one.

• Bring valid ID—like a driver’s license or passport.

• Check online first—some things still can be done without an in-person visit.

No one loves more paperwork or extra trips to a government office, but this new rule is all about keeping your benefits safe. If you’re someone who prefers doing things in person anyway, not much will change. But if you usually handle things online, double-check whether your task now requires a visit.

Either way, it’s good to be prepared—especially if retirement is right around the corner or you’ve got a direct deposit update coming up.