Good news for Social Security beneficiaries: You may still be able to complete your claims over the phone

Recipients of support from the Social Security Administration (SSA) may not have to travel to a field office to confirm their identity after a controversial proposed rule change was reversed this week.

It had been stated that new in-person identity checks would be required for millions of new and existing recipients of SSA support. This came as the SSA announced the closure of 47 field offices across 18 states, further complicating the process for claimants.

The move had been intended to combat waste in the Social Security system but it received immediate pushback from those who said that it was placing unnecessary barriers in front of vulnerable recipients. Lawmakers, beneficiaries and advocacy groups all spoke out against the change and the Trump administration has now rowed back on the directive.

Now, most recipients of Social Security Disability Insurance, Medicare, or Supplemental Security Income will be able to complete their claim over the phone. However anyone in receipt of other support programs overseen by the SSA may still have to visit a field office to verify their identities. The initial start date of March 31 for the new system has been pushed back and now begins on April 14.

The reversal was announced on Wednesday by Lee Dudek, acting commissioner of Social Security at the SSA. In a statement, Dudek confirmed: “We have listened to our customers, Congress, advocates, and others, and we are updating our policy to provide better customer service to the country’s most vulnerable populations."

“In addition to extending the policy’s effective date by two weeks to ensure our employees have the training they need to help customers, Medicare, Disability, and SSI applications will be exempt from in-person identity proofing because multiple opportunities exist during the decision process to verify a person’s identity.”

Social Security benefits provide a key form of support for roughly 72 million people across the country, with retirees and children among the biggest recipients of the support. The reversal on in-person verification will go down as a win but efforts made by Elon Muck and DOGE to cut the budget at the Social Security Administration will have worried those who rely on the programs.

Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.

Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.