A significant change is on the horizon for Social Security beneficiaries in the United States. Beginning in April, all beneficiaries who register for the first time or make a modification will be required to authenticate their identity in person at official offices in order to continue receiving monthly payments. This new initiative, presented by the Trump administration through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), intends to improve federal expenditure monitoring and prevent Social Security fraud.

The change has already prompted alarm, particularly among senior citizens and people living in remote areas who may experience difficulty accessing government services. The new rule applies to both new applicants and present recipients, and it replaces the former method, which allowed for identity verification via the official Social Security website. Those who fail to complete this step risk losing access to their benefits because unverified accounts may be identified as inactive or fake.

In-person identity verification begins in April

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Donald Trump and overseen by Elon Musk, is enforcing this policy in response to internal claims that the Social Security Administration (SSA) was issuing payments in the names of deceased individuals. The new process is intended to prevent such errors and tighten control over public funds.

Beginning in April, online identity verification via the SSA website will no longer be accepted. All recipients, regardless of when they enrolled in the program, must visit a local SSA office to verify their identity in person.

Failure to complete this verification process may result in the suspension or termination of monthly payments, as the system considers unverifiable accounts suspicious or inactive.

Elderly and rural residents may face disadvantages

Advocacy groups and community leaders have expressed concern about the new policy, warning that it could affect thousands of vulnerable beneficiaries, particularly seniors living in remote or underserved areas who may struggle to get to SSA offices.

The situation is exacerbated by the recent layoff of over 7,000 SSA employees, which may result in additional delays and long wait times for those attempting to comply with the new rule.

While the government defends the measure as a necessary step to improve transparency and reduce waste, many Americans are now facing uncertainty because their continued access to Social Security benefits is contingent on completing an in-person verification process—a step that some may find difficult or even impossible.