A Cellphone Required for Social Security Online Access and Then Not

This is a story of now you need it, now you don’t. Social Security recently required that a person have a cellphone to use the online benefits services.  The New York Times ran an article about this requirement that went into effect at the end of July, 2016. Social Security Now Requires Cellphone to Use Online Services explains that SSA makes it mandatory to have an access code sent by text to the recipient’s cellphone.  The article notes that this requirement “may create hurdles, however, especially for older Americans, who are less likely to use mobile phones. About 78 percent of people 65 and older own a cellphone, compared with 98 percent of 18- to 29-year-olds, according to 2015 data from the Pew Research Center.” Still almost 80% of elders have a cell phone-a good number, but that doesn’t mean that those with cellphones use text features.  The article features a variety of complaints, including the lack of advance notice.  The article includes some FAQs, as well as a link to a website on where to get help (at least it’s a website, not a cellphone #).

Now for the now you don’t part of this story. Recall the quote in the prior paragraph “may create hurdles”….  So within two weeks of the regulation taking effect, Social Security has stopped it, for now.  The New York Times ran a follow up story explaining the suspension:

After an outcry from older Americans, as well as a letter from two United States senators, the agency backed off the cellphone-based code requirement.

“Our aggressive implementation inconvenienced or restricted access to some of our account holders,” said a statement emailed by an agency spokesman, Mark Hinkle. “We are listening to the public’s concerns and are responding by temporarily rolling back this mandate.”

Note the use of the word “temporarily” because Social Security is continuing to increase security to protect beneficiaries’ information and will “introduce alternative authentication options, in addition to texting, within the next six months.”  The FAQ for this article notes that beneficiaries can opt-in to text-verification now, it’s just not a requirement.