The Social Security Administration announced Tuesday it would transition to "stronger identity protection procedures," and said anyone who can't log into their online accounts "will then need to visit a local Social Security office to prove their identity in person."
The announcement came two weeks after the administration announced it would close dozens of local Social Security offices, and a week after a memo leaked to multiple news outlets recommended doing no longer allowing seniors to make account changes over the phone.
That memo, from acting commissioner Leland Dudek, estimated that between 75,000 and 85,000 more people would need to visit Social Security offices each week. The memo also predicted higher demand for office appointments and "increased challenges for vulnerable populations." Social Security beneficiaries, who are elderly or people with disabilities, often have mobility issues that can make it difficult to reach an office in person.