By Alex Moore
In the last few months, the Social Security Administration (SSA) has prioritized reducing fraud, waste, and abuse. That’s government speak for cutting inefficiency and corruption. Recently, the agency has rolled out three new changes to improve legal access to benefits while mitigating fraud risks.
Online Social Security Number Access
Traditionally, the best proof of your Social Security Number (SSN) was your printed Social Security card. However, that’s soon to change. This April, the SSA rolled out a new feature that enables Americans to securely view their Social Security account online for reasons other than handling Social Security matters, such as identity verification.
Seniors will be able to access the digital version of their Social Security card through their my Social Security account, which is the SSA’s portal for managing and accessing benefits. In the press release making the announcement, the SSA described this new digital access feature as a means to “provide the American public with a modernized, secure, and accessible alternative to the traditional Social Security card.”
According to the SSA, the digital Social Security card will provide several benefits for seniors. First, seniors who misplace their Social Security card or forget their SSN will be able to access their document without having to set up an in-person appointment or waiting for a replacement in the mail. They will also be able to load the digital Social Security card onto their mobile devices. Also, the agency says Americans moving to a secure digital Social Security card will reduce the risk of lost or stolen cards becoming involved in fraud.
Cracking Down on Illegal Immigrants’ Access to Benefits
The SSA has announced several new measures to ensure that it only pays benefits to people who have earned them, while cracking down on fraudulent payments to illegal immigrants and other ineligible people. The agency is operating under the direction of a presidential memorandum released on April 15, titled “Preventing Illegal Aliens from Obtaining Social Security Act Benefits.”
Following the instructions laid forth in the memorandum, the SSA will take several actions to stop ineligible people from obtaining Social Security benefits. They include:
- Expanding the SSA’s resources for prosecuting fraud
- Increasing scrutiny on the earnings of people 100 years or older with mismatched records.
- Considering the reinstatement of fines for people and organizations who misrepresent themselves or misuse their benefits.
- Reinforcing program integrity measures for noncitizens.
Introducing Anti-Fraud Screening to Support Expanded Phone Support
As of this April, the SSA allows seniors to complete all their benefit claims over the phone. This expanded service will reduce seniors’ need to visit a Social Security office in-person to manage their benefits, but it also introduces new risks for fraud. To mitigate these challenges, the SSA has implemented new tools to screen phone claims for fraud.
When someone calls the agency, the new anti-fraud technology screens for suspicious activity by analyzing patterns and anomalies in the caller’s account. If it detects any irregularities, it stops the process and asks the person to come to an SSA field office for identity verification to continue their claim.
Moving forward, seniors should expect additional changes that improve their ability to manage their benefits at home while strengthening anti-fraud measures. The SSA has obligated $16.5 million to modernize its telephone services nationwide.
