Social Security changes???

[ctfjr]

My uncle, who is disabled, was just notified he must come into a field office to verify his identity. One of his SS checks was stolen and cashed recently and they notified him he must come in, in person, to verify his identity.

He is paralyzed from the waist down and all they could tell him was this was new policy to prevent fraud. They weren't concerned with his Viet Nam injuries, he can't drive or that he lives 80 miles from the field office.

I call this BS. Is this for real?

 

[airbiscuit]

Yep. A very recent change.

 

[Old Machinist]

I thought they were laying off everyone and closing the field offices?

 

[armylifer]

If the policy is local to his SSA office, then I would question it. The government is now using IDME to verify people's identity. I have had to do that with the SSA and with the VA just this month. Have your uncle check if he can use IDME to verify his identity.

 

[Tarmy]

Figure out how they got the check. We had our mailbox raided years ago…Identity theft sucks. Keep track of bills and all the mail. Get a good locking mailbox too. These aholes can make life very miserable for about a year cleaning up the mess. They “moved” us to Pennsylvania and then Ohio…all of our mail was forwarded to the new addresses…they sent a moving form to the Postal service and the only way we finally figured out what was happening is when, after receiving NO mail…we went in to the PO and found out they were forwarding to fake addresses and using our info to open all kinds of account.

 

[airbiscuit]

I thought they were laying off everyone and closing the field offices?

Both/And.

 

[Old Machinist]

You need to help your uncle set up direct deposit so check theft is no longer and issue. I stopped putting checks in the mail years ago.

Just read this on the new policy but it sounds more like new applicants.

Proposed Trump policy could force thousands of citizens applying for Social Security benefits to verify their identities in person

While the move could potentially protect against fraud, it could also cause long wait times and mass disruption.

www.yahoo.com

 

[armylifer]

You need to help your uncle set up direct deposit so check theft is no longer and issue. I stopped putting checks in the mail years ago.

Just read this on the new policy but it sounds more like new applicants.

Proposed Trump policy could force thousands of citizens applying for Social Security benefits to verify their identities in person

While the move could potentially protect against fraud, it could also cause long wait times and mass disruption.

www.yahoo.com

Except for the second sentence in that article, the rest sounds like fear mongering. As I mentioned above, You can verify your identity online.

 

[Geezer3d]

As OldMachinist said, direct deposit is the way to go. I didn't realize that the SSA even mailed checks any more.

 

[lynnmor]

As OldMachinist said, direct deposit is the way to go. I didn't realize that the SSA even mailed checks any more.

I know that checks haven't been an option for new applicants for a long time. Some long time recipients were allowed to keep getting checks, I guess they still are.

 

[Henro]

I just hope this is not the tip of the iceberg...

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

I just hope this is not the tip of the iceberg...

 

[Scm]

I just hope this is not the tip of the iceberg...

Depends on which iceberg.
The era of digital identities is quickly approaching and people have no clue what they are voluntarily signing up for.