A Major Change is Coming for Social Security Beneficiaries in the United States

You may have heard that all beneficiaries who register for the first time or have to make a change will have to verify their identity in person at official offices in order to continue receiving monthly payments. This new measure, introduced by the Trump administration through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), aims to strengthen the oversight of federal spending and reduce fraud within the Social Security system. However now, the new identity verification policy will only apply to those filing for retirement, survivors or family benefits and will take effect on April 14.  People applying for disability benefits, Supplemental Security Income and Medicare will continue to have the option of filing their claims over the phone.  Also, the agency will not require filers in “extreme dire-need situations,” such as terminal illnesses, to adhere to the new policy and will instead develop an alternate process for them, it said.

The change has already sparked concern, particularly among older adults and individuals in rural areas who may face challenges accessing government offices. And how concerning is that for Expats living abroad?  This new rule applies to both new applicants and current beneficiaries, replacing the previous system that allowed identity verification through the official Social Security website. Those who fail to complete this step could lose access to their benefits, as unverified accounts may be flagged as inactive or fraudulent.