Social Security’s New Anti-Fraud Measures Begin Amid Mixed Messages from Agency

The Social Security Administration on Monday began using its newly enhanced “fraud prevention tools” for claims filed over the phone. 

This comes after the agency caused widespread confusion over the last few weeks, as it recently reversed its plans to prevent retirees from completing claims over the phone. 

As of April 14, individuals applying for all claim types who cannot use a personal mySocialSecurity account can complete their claim entirely over the telephone without the need to come into a field office. Previously, the agency had said it would require people to either come in person or complete claims online for “identity proofing” reasons. 

Social Security will now conduct an anti-fraud check on all phone applications by analyzing “patterns and anomalies within a person’s account.” 

If irregularities are detected, the individual will be asked to complete in-person identity proofing to continue processing their claim.  

“These advancements allow SSA to maintain the security of its services while continuing to expand access for customers who may be unable to file online or visit an office in person,” the SSA wrote in a press release. 

“We are modernizing how we serve the public—enhancing both security and accessibility,” said Leland Dudek, acting commissioner of the SSA, in a statement. “These updates improve our ability to detect and prevent fraud while providing more flexible options for people to access their benefits.” 

Andrew Biggs, senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and formerly the principal deputy commissioner of the SSA, says while it is hard to say how applicants and beneficiaries are being impacted by the changes at the SSA at this time, it does appear that wait times and disconnects for SSA’s 800-number have increased. 

“However, it’s not yet clear whether this is due to a degradation of service or because of higher call volumes, likely driven by publicity over changes at SSA,” Biggs said. “So there are chicken-and-egg problems… I suspect that some applicants have been inconvenienced and some beneficiaries are concerned about their benefits, but it’s really not clear what the scale of the issue is yet.” 

Biggs added that the SSA has backed off some proposed changes while introducing others, such as steps to prevent undocumented immigrants from accessing the financial system via SSA’s so-called “master death file.” 

The agency also caused confusion over the weekend, with reports that it is cutting staff from its communications office and would rely on the social media app X to communicate to the press and public. However, the SSA responded to a post on X two days ago, saying the news was false and that Social Security will continue to “communicate through any and all mediums.” 

Talks about downsizing come as the agency is reassigning about 700 employees to field office positions nationwide. Layoffs are also likely to occur under an ongoing federal Reduction in force.  

Last week, U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand, D-New York, and Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, led a group of 21 Democratic senators in a letter calling on the Trump administration and the Department of Government Efficiency to stop their attacks on Social Security. 

According to the letter, SSA had announced plans to slash at least 12% of its workforce and offered buyout incentives to staff.  

The agency announced last week that reports about closing local field offices were false and that since January 1, the agency has not permanently closed or announced the permanent closure of any local field office.