If one is about to collect Social Security benefits for the first time or needs to make changes to your direct deposit, the Trump administration has made some changes to be aware of.
Let’s start with those already receiving benefits who need to make a change. The union leader representing SSA workers said there will be a different process for many.
“For direct deposit where you once could do it either in person, on the phone, or through my SSA, now it is only through my SSA or in-person,” said Angela Digeronimo, executive vice president of AFGE Council 220 and president of Local 2369. “That phone option, which was the most popular option, is now gone.”
For anyone signing up for the first time, it still can be done on the phone — but it may take a while.
“If we’re taking it on the phone, if we’re taking that interview and processing that claim on the phone, it’s going to now have a 3-day hold, scan for potential fraud,” he said. “And if it comes up as potential fraud, we are alerted as claims specialists that there is a potential problem, and we would notify the member of the public who is applying for benefits, that they need to come in with ID.”
According to the SSA website, there is now enhanced technology to identify suspicious activity in telephone claims by analyzing patterns and anomalies in a person’s account.
Acting Commissioner of Social Security Leland Dudek said in a statement: “It’s part of a modernization of how they serve the public—enhancing both security and accessibility, with a commitment to customer service, program integrity and responsible stewardship of taxpayer resources…”
Three Democratic senators wrote to Dudek this weekend, expressing concern that any further staff cuts could disrupt benefits, citing recent website crashes and erroneous messages sent to beneficiaries that they were not receiving payments. The Trump administration is standing behind its new procedures, and contends that staff will be rearranged to the front lines of service.
Here in New Jersey, staff have been boosted to just to help answer questions about the new process. “[Beneficiaries] have a lot of questions, and they are very confused. Do I need to come in because I’m filing for benefits and I want it to go direct deposit, so do I need to show ID? Should I come in before my appointment or should I wait for my appointment?”
According to the SSA website, less than 1% of claims are improper payments, most of them over-payments. Given that statistic, Digeronimo said he doesn’t expect the new system to uncover rampant fraud.
