SSA Updates SSN Evidence Rules for Enhanced Identity Verification

The Social Security Administration (SSA) announced updates to its Program Operations Manual System (POMS) concerning Social Security Number (SSN) evidence requirements, effective August 3, 2026. This revision, specifically RM 10210 TN 66, aims to refine the agency's procedures for verifying identity.

The updates will allow the SSA to adjust acceptable secondary-level evidence for SSN applications. Furthermore, the agency plans to implement a more in-depth fraud analysis and quality review process. This enhanced scrutiny is intended to assess the impact of the recently introduced in-person identity proofing process.

This move underscores the SSA's commitment to maintaining the integrity of the SSN issuance process and adapting to new verification methods.