For many people receiving Social Security retirement, survivors, or disability benefits—and for people enrolled in Medicare—the place to check eligible direct-deposit and contact details is my Social Security. Sign in and open My Profile; the services available depend on your benefit type and circumstances. SSI recipients have different online limits, so check the SSI-specific route below before trying to change a bank account.
First, identify your benefit type and situation
Social Security’s online options are not identical for everyone. Use the route that matches your benefits and mailing address.
| Situation | What you can generally do | Where to start |
|---|---|---|
| Retirement, survivors, or disability benefits with a U.S. mailing address | SSA lists eligible address and direct-deposit changes through My Profile; availability can depend on the transaction. | Sign in to my Social Security. If the change is not available, follow the next-step instructions SSA provides. |
| Medicare enrollee | SSA’s FAQ includes Medicare enrollees among those who can change a U.S. mailing address or direct deposit online. The FAQ is dated September 20, 2024. | Check My Profile and confirm the current options shown for your account. |
| SSI recipient | SSA says the same online address and direct-deposit update services are not currently available to SSI recipients. An account holder can view address and payment method and update a phone number. | Use SSI reporting instructions or call SSA about a bank-account change. Do not assume the standard online direct-deposit change will work. |
| Outside the U.S. or without a U.S. mailing address | SSA says U.S. citizens can change an international address online. People without a U.S. mailing address or who cannot update online may need to call or contact a local office. | Check the applicable SSA or Federal Benefits Unit route for your location. |
For SSI bank-account changes, SSA says to report covered changes promptly and no later than the tenth day of the month after they happen, to help ensure accurate SSI payments. That deadline applies to the SSI changes described by SSA, not as a general deadline for every Social Security beneficiary.
Check the bank account and contact details SSA has on file
Go directly to ssa.gov/myaccount, sign in to your personal account, and open My Profile. SSA describes my Social Security as its secure online account and lists direct-deposit management and address or phone changes among its account services. What you can view or change depends on eligibility and the options displayed for your account.
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If you only need to check which account is on file, use the information shown in your official account rather than relying on an old bank notice or an unofficial service. Do not post or send your Social Security number, account number, or login credentials to anyone offering to make the change for you.
Change direct deposit online when SSA offers the option
- Open my Social Security and sign in to your personal account.
- Go to My Profile and choose the direct-deposit option available for your benefit and account.
- Enter the information SSA requests in the official account. Do not share bank details or your Social Security number in article comments, email, or an unofficial site.
- Review the information and follow the confirmation steps on screen. If SSA does not offer online completion or displays another required step, use that instruction rather than assuming the change has gone through.
- Check your account or contact SSA if the confirmation is unclear. SSA’s public guidance does not establish one processing-time guarantee for every bank, benefit type, and method, so do not assume a particular payment will go to the new account until the change is confirmed.
SSA calls online updates the fastest route for direct deposit when available. Its update page also says, “Your bank can send your updated direct deposit information directly to Social Security—no call or office visit required.”
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If the online change is unavailable: compare the other routes
| Route | What it can do | Important conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Participating bank enrollment | A bank may send updated direct-deposit information to SSA through Automated Enrollment (ENR). | Not all banks offer ENR. Ask your bank whether it supports the process and follow its instructions. |
| Phone transaction with a one-time code | For eligible direct-deposit changes, SSA says a caller who cannot complete the online change may use a one-time code. | Generate the code first at ssa.gov/PIN by signing in to or creating a personal account. Give it to the representative when you call SSA. |
| SSA office | An office is an alternative if you cannot use the online account or generate the code. | Use SSA’s official office/contact instructions for your circumstances. |
The routes do not all change the same information: bank enrollment and the code-enabled phone transaction concern direct deposit, while address and phone updates are handled through My Profile when available or the route SSA specifies for your case.
Update your mailing address or phone number
For eligible beneficiaries, open My Profile in my Social Security and use the address or phone option shown. SSI recipients can update a phone number online, but SSA says online address changes are not currently available to SSI recipients in the same way. If you are outside the United States, check SSA’s instructions for international addresses and local contact routes before proceeding.
What to know before calling or responding to a message
SSA’s current direct-deposit update page lists 1-800-772-1213 and TTY 1-800-325-0778. It says representatives are available in most U.S. time zones Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Check the SSA update page for current contact instructions and the route shown for your case.
SSA’s identity guidance, updated April 28, 2025, says people continue to receive benefits on schedule to the bank account already in SSA’s records without proving identity. That assurance concerns continued payments to the existing account—not approval of a new direct-deposit change. SSA also warns that it will not text people asking them to provide or confirm identity information. Do not provide credentials, one-time codes, bank details, or Social Security numbers in response to unsolicited messages; navigate to SSA’s official website yourself.
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SSA reported in a March 12, 2025 press release that approximately 40 percent of Social Security direct-deposit fraud was associated with someone calling SSA to change bank information. This is SSA’s reported figure for 2025, not an independent estimate. Treat unsolicited requests and unexpected calls cautiously, and initiate contact using the official number or website.
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