Important Change to Social Security Procedures: What You Need to Know
March 26, 2025


A recent Executive Order from the current Administration has introduced a change to Social Security procedures that may seem minor—but could have significant consequences if not addressed proactively.

The Key Update

You can no longer change the bank account receiving your Social Security payments over the phone. Updates to direct deposit information now require either:

  • A visit to your local Social Security office, or
  • Access to your personal my Social Security online account.

While this change might sound simple, it has the potential to create serious challenges—particularly for those assisting loved ones with long-term care planning, or for individuals who experience sudden health issues or limited mobility.

Why This Matters

  • Social Security does not recognize a traditional Power of Attorney. Instead, they require a separate process to appoint a Representative Payee, which involves opening a new bank account and filing annual reports.
  • Setting up an online account can be complicated. If Social Security’s records don’t exactly match your personal information (legal name, date of birth, or even address), you may be unable to create or access your account without a visit to their office.
  • In our experience, this comes up often. At Daley Zucker, nearly every long-term care planning case we handle requires changes to Social Security deposit information. Unfortunately, we’ve encountered many situations where online account access isn’t possible due to mismatched records—and in some cases, this creates significant delays.

Our Recommendation

We encourage everyone—whether for yourself or a loved one—to take the following steps now:

  1. Set up your my Social Security account if you haven’t already.
  2. Log in and confirm that your information is accurate and up to date.
  3. If you’re unable to create an account, schedule an appointment with your local Social Security office to verify and correct any outdated records.
  4. Discuss a plan with trusted family members or advisors about how to manage account access if you become unable to do so yourself in the future.

Proactive planning can prevent unexpected headaches later. If you have questions about this change or how it may impact your long-term care or estate planning, our team at Daley Zucker is here to help.

Contact us to schedule a consultation or learn more about planning for Social Security and elder law needs.



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