From April 14, 2025, the Social Security Administration (SSA) will begin enforcing a new policy that could affect millions of older Americans, especially those living in rural or remote areas. Under this rule, many people will now have to visit a Social Security office in person to verify their identity for certain services — something that was earlier possible over the phone.
This change has already raised concerns among senior citizen groups, lawmakers, and policy experts.
What Does the New SSA Policy Say?
Starting April 14, in-person identity verification will be mandatory for most people who:
- Are applying for new Social Security benefits
- Want to change direct deposit bank information
Previously, this could be done over the phone, but now only specific groups are exempt, including:
- Applicants for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
- Medicare applicants
- People applying for Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
If you’re a retiree, survivor, or a spouse applying for benefits, and you don’t use the My Social Security online portal, then you must visit a local SSA field office.
Why Are Experts Concerned?
A recent report by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) highlights several problems with this new rule.
Key concerns include:
- Over 6 million seniors in the U.S. don’t drive
- Nearly 8 million have health issues or disabilities that make travel hard
- In 35 states, 10% of beneficiaries would have to travel 45 miles or more to visit their nearest SSA office
- In some states, round-trips can be 100–180 miles or more
Hardest-hit states:
- Wyoming: 65% of seniors live more than 45 miles away from an SSA office
- Alaska: 45.9% face similar long distances
- North Dakota: 13,000 seniors face round-trips of over 180 miles
On the other hand, states like California and New York — which have more SSA locations and better public transport — will see less impact. There, only about 3% of seniors will face long travel times.
Why Does This Matter?
Many older adults, especially those who:
- Don’t drive
- Live alone
- Have medical issues
- Don’t have someone to assist them
…may now find it difficult or even impossible to complete their benefit applications or update details like bank account information.
The CBPP warns:
“More than 4 in 10 retirees apply for Social Security benefits by phone, as do most spouses and family members after the death of a worker.”
Forcing these people to visit SSA offices in person might result in delayed applications, missed payments, and added stress.
Is There Any Way Around This?
If you’re applying for SSDI, Medicare, or SSI, you can still verify your identity over the phone.
Also, if you’re comfortable using the My Social Security online portal, you can manage many tasks digitally without going to the office. But many older Americans don’t use the internet, and that’s where this policy causes the most concern.