W ASHINGTON — Dozens of Social Security Administration offices across the country are slated to close this year due to actions taken by Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency as part of the Trump administration’s unprecedented effort to shrink the size of government.

The Social Security Administration will require people filing benefit applications who cannot prove their identities online to visit a field office to complete the claim in person in an effort to combat fraud,

In an effort to limit fraudulent claims, the Social Security Administration will impose tighter identity-proofing measures.

Security measures being updated with the Social Security Administration will soon require certain beneficiaries to verify their identity in person at an SSA office. The change will impact new and existing recipients who need to make a change to their direct deposit information.

The Social Security Administration will add new procedures requiring beneficiaries to prove their identity before claiming benefits or changing their direct deposit instructions, as part of an effort to crack down on fraud.

The changes will start March 31. The agency will allow those who cannot use the My Social Security account to start the process over the phone but will require in-person visits to verify identity. You can visit a local office to process the change or can call 1-800-772-1213 to schedule an in-person appointment.

The Social Security Administration just made a major announcement about certain kinds of claims and a new deadline at the end of the month.

In an interview last week, Elon Musk promoted debunked theories about Social Security while describing federal benefit programs as filled with fraud, suggesting they will be a primary target in his ca