MILLIONS of Security recipients could be forced to abide by a proposed change soon.
Should it be implemented, the policy would follow a backtracked move by the Social Security Administration (SSA) in April.
Detailed in a regulatory filing, the policy seeks to expand multi-step verification for those who get benefits.
That expansion includes the generation of a personal identification number (PIN), which beneficiaries would have to use to make any updates to their SSA account.
Whether that’s address changes, checking statuses on claims, or getting tax forms, it would be a required step.
Any beneficiaries that couldn’t manage or abide by the PIN process would be required to make changes online or at an SSA field office.
The SSA estimated in the regulatory filing that this would likely result in about 3.4 million more visits to field offices on an annual basis to create and manage the PINs.
If approved by the Trump administration’s Office of Management and Budget, this policy would take effect as of August 18.
TRAVEL CONCERNS
Experts like Kathleen Romig, director of Social Security and disability policy at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP), argued that the PIN policy would negatively impact many Americans.
“This will create a significant new burden, particularly for those who live in rural areas or have transportation or mobility difficulties,” Romig wrote in a recent blog post.
“The Trump administration is rushing these changes with almost no public notice or feedback.”
Not to mention, most Social Security recipients live more than an hour’s drive round-trip from their nearest SSA field office, according to CBPP findings.
But, why the move for the PIN process now?
The SSA emphasized in the filing that fraud prevention is the top reason for a multi-step verification process.
An argument could be made that the ability to make a PIN online is still convenient and accessible for beneficiaries.
Except, not all seniors go online often enough for that, as pointed out by Nancy LeaMond, executive vice president and chief advocacy officer with AARP.
HOW TO SUPPLEMENT YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY
Here's how to supplement your Social Security:
Given the uncertainty surrounding Social Security’s long-term future, it’s essential for workers to consider ways to supplement their retirement income.
Senior Citizens League executive director, Shannon Benton recommends starting early with savings and investing in retirement accounts like 401(k)s or IRAs.
401(k) Plans A 401(k) is a retirement account offered through employers, where contributions are tax-deferred. Many employers also match employee contributions, typically between 2% and 4% of salary, making it a valuable tool for building retirement savings. Maxing out your 401(k) contributions, especially if your employer offers a match, should be a priority. IRAs An Individual Retirement Account (IRA) offers another avenue for retirement savings. Unlike a 401(k), an IRA isn’t tied to your employer, giving you more flexibility in your investment choices. Contributions to traditional IRAs are tax-deductible, and the funds grow tax-free until they are withdrawn, at which point they are taxed as income.“AARP supports efforts to strengthen fraud prevention and identity verification. However, we are concerned that the SSA’s new Security Authentication Pin (SAP) process, particularly its expansion to additional telephone services, could create new barriers for older adults who rely on telephone access to manage their Social Security benefits,” LeaMond said while speaking with MarketWatch.
“Our experience shows that the option to verify identity online will be a challenge for the one in four older adults who report never going online.”
LeaMond continued that “creating an online ‘My Social Security’ account can be a complicated process for people who are uncomfortable with online systems or do not have reliable internet access.”
AARP also noted that some beneficiaries in Alaska would even be forced to travel by plane to their nearest SSA office.
PHONE IT IN
The proposed policy also comes after the SSA changed its decision in April that would’ve required identity verification processes (without a PIN) to be completed solely online or through a field office.
It rolled out anti-fraud software at the time that could help flag potential fraud over the phone, per CBS News.
That meant beneficiaries could still verify claims by calling in.
The SSA noted that it gets about 4.5 million phone-based claims yearly, with only around 70,000 cited for possible fraudulent activity.
Should the original policy have been in place that removed the ability to do it over the phone, about 6 million seniors would’ve had to make the trip to field offices.
DEPOSIT DEBACLE
While the PIN requirement would drop it to the 3.4 million office visits, it also comes on top of the 1.9 million additional for the direct deposit change taking effect on September 30, 2025.
An executive order from The White House this summer confirmed that the US Department of the Treasury would no longer send out paper checks to Social Security recipients.
The White House emphasized the mandate as a way to prevent fraud and also reduce costs, noting that paper checks are around 16 times more likely to be reported lost or stolen.
Estimates from the US Treasury also showed yearly savings of around $750 million switching to direct deposit.
Social Security recipients must sign up for direct deposit or another electronic payment method by the deadline, otherwise they could face delayed distributions.
Millions of retirees are also facing up to an $18,000 cut to Social Security checks after official warnings about funds running out.
An expert also advised recipients not to forget a “harmless” clause as the 2026 cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) approaches in October.
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