How hard is it to change direct deposit banks for Social Security benefits? Looking for bank bonus offers

It's actually quite easy! You can change your direct deposit online through your my Social Security account at ssa.gov. I did it last year when I switched to a credit union. Just log in, go to Benefits & Payments, and select Update Direct Deposit. The change usually takes effect with your next payment. Just make sure you don't close your old account until you confirm the new one is receiving payments.

i did this 2 months ago for a simillar reason. took like 5 min online and my check went to the rite place next month. just dont close ur old account to soon incase something goes wrong

I switched mine for a $300 bonus at Bank of America last year. Easy online process EXCEPT when I got locked out of my account trying to do it. I spent THREE DAYS trying to reach someone at Social Security to unlock it. If you can log in successfully to your my Social Security account online, it's simple. If not, prepare for phone hell. I eventually used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to a real person at SSA. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU. Saved me hours of listening to hold music and getting disconnected.

Changing your direct deposit information online is generally straightforward, as others have mentioned. However, I would add a few important considerations: 1. Make sure you're on the official ssa.gov website. Never change payment information through links in emails or texts. 2. If you're doing this for a bank bonus, read the fine print carefully. Some banks require the direct deposit to continue for several months before you qualify for the bonus. 3. Your payment date is determined by your birth date. This won't change when you switch banks, but it's good to know when expecting your first deposit at the new bank. 4. If you don't have online access or encounter problems, you can call SSA at 1-800-772-1213 or visit your local field office. I'd suggest making the change right after your monthly payment arrives, giving the system nearly a full month to process the change before your next payment date.

BE CAREFUL!!! My sister-in-law did this last year and her payment got lost for 2 months!!! SSA said they sent it but new bank never got it and old bank didn't have it either!!! Total nightmare and she almost couldn't pay her rent!!! They finally fixed it but she never got a straight answer about what happened.

my neighbor works at a bank and says SSA direct deposits are the biggest headache for them because old people always forget they changed their accounts and then come in yelling about missing money lol

While changing direct deposit online is usually straightforward, I recommend taking screenshots of each step of the process for your records. This documentation can be invaluable if there are any issues. Also, most banks offering bonuses require direct deposits to post for 2-3 consecutive months, and some specifically exclude government benefits from qualifying as "direct deposits" for bonus purposes. Chase is usually good about counting SS payments for their bonuses, but it's worth confirming this directly with them before proceeding. One technical note: If you use direct deposit for Medicare premium payments, this won't be affected by changing your bank account. Those deductions happen before the deposit occurs.

btw chase gave me the run around on my bonus last year. had to call like 5 times before they finally paid it. just so you know what ur getting into

I just logged into my mySSA account to check this out, and you all are right - it looks pretty simple! Thanks for all the advice. I'm going to read Chase's fine print carefully first, then make the change right after my next payment hits in early February. And I'll definitely keep both accounts open until I'm sure everything's working properly. $600 will be nice, but not if it means messing up my regular payments!