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Evelyn Rivera

How to change direct deposit bank account for Social Security benefits online?

I've been receiving my Social Security retirement benefits via direct deposit for about 3 years now. My current bank is charging ridiculous monthly fees, so I opened a new account at a credit union. I want to switch my SS direct deposit to this new account ASAP. Can I make this change online through my MySocialSecurity account, or do I have to call and wait on hold forever? Has anyone done this recently? Is it complicated to change where your benefit gets deposited?

Yes, you can absolutely change your direct deposit information online through your MySocialSecurity account! I did this last year when I switched banks. Just log in, go to the 'Benefits & Payments' section, and look for the direct deposit information. You'll need your new account number and routing number ready. The change usually takes effect by the next payment cycle. Much easier than calling and dealing with the phone system.

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Thank you! I wasn't sure if that option would be in my account since I couldn't find it at first glance. I'll look more carefully in that Benefits & Payments section. Do you remember how soon after you made the change that it was processed?

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be careful when u do this!! my brother changed his bank account last month and his payment went to NOWHERE. took him 3 weeks to get it fixed and he almost missed his rent. make sure u keep ur old account open til u see the new deposit happen!!!

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Oh no, that's exactly what I'm worried about! I was planning to close my old account right away to stop the fees, but maybe I should wait. Thanks for the warning.

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I tried to do this online last month and the website kept giving me an error message. Something about "unable to process your request at this time." After trying for three days, I finally had to call. Spent 2.5 hours waiting and got disconnected TWICE. The SSA phone system is absolutely infuriating! When I finally got through, the agent told me there was a "freeze" on my account because of some identity verification issue that no one bothered to tell me about. So frustrating!

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I've been dealing with the same issue! Tried to call 5 times this week and never got through to a real person. It's ridiculous how hard they make it to talk to anyone.

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I wish I'd known about this sooner! Will definitely try it next time instead of wasting my entire day on hold. The SSA phone system is absolutely broken.

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I handle these changes for clients regularly as part of my job. Here's the correct information: 1. Yes, you can change direct deposit online through MySocialSecurity if you have a fully verified account 2. Changes made before the deposit cutoff date (usually 3 business days before payment date) will affect the next month's payment 3. Always keep your old account open until at least one payment posts to the new account 4. If the online system gives an error, it could be due to: - Fraud prevention measures if you've recently changed other account details - System maintenance (usually happens overnight) - Account verification issues If you get an error online, calling is your next option, but be prepared for long wait times.

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This is really helpful, thank you! My payment date is the 3rd of each month. If I make the change today (the 18th), should it take effect for next month's payment? Or would I need to wait another cycle?

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If you make the change today (the 18th), it should definitely take effect for your payment on the 3rd of next month. You're well before the cutoff period. Just to be safe, I recommend checking your MySocialSecurity account about a week before your payment date to confirm the change is showing correctly in the system.

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my daughter had to do this and she said the website worked fine BUT make sure u have ur routing number right!!! she typed one number wrong and it took 6 weeks to get her money back!!!!

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I'm actually going through this exact process right now! I switched from Bank of America to my local credit union last month. I changed my direct deposit information online through MySocialSecurity on the 10th, and my next payment is scheduled for the 2nd. The website was easy to use, but I called SSA anyway just to confirm the change went through (I'm paranoid about money stuff). Took forever to get through, but the agent confirmed my change was processed successfully. Like others said, definitely don't close your old account until you see a successful deposit!

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Good to hear your experience was smooth! I'm also switching to a credit union. Did you need anything besides the routing and account number when you did it online?

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Nope, just the routing and account numbers! The system asked me to enter them twice to confirm. Also had to check some acknowledgment boxes. The whole process took maybe 5 minutes. The website gives you a confirmation page at the end that I took a screenshot of, just in case.

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i tried 2 do this and it was SOOO confusing!!!! ended up just going to the SS office in person. had to wait 3 hrs but at least got it done right

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One important thing no one has mentioned: when you set up direct deposit to a new account, you should be aware that if there's ever an overpayment issue, the SSA has the right to withdraw funds from that account to recover the overpayment. Just something to keep in mind - it's in the fine print when you set up direct deposit. Not saying it will happen, but it's good to be aware.

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I didn't know that! Thanks for the heads up. I'm pretty careful about reporting any income that might affect my benefits, but that's definitely good to know.

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Just a follow-up tip: After you make the change online, wait 1-2 business days and then call the SSA's automated system at 1-800-772-1213. Use the automated options to check your direct deposit information. This lets you verify the change was recorded correctly without having to speak to a representative. It's a good peace-of-mind check that doesn't require waiting on hold for hours.

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That's a great suggestion! I didn't know you could check that through the automated system. Will definitely do this after I make the change. Thanks!

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I just went through this process last week and wanted to share my experience! I was also switching from a big bank to a credit union due to fees. The MySocialSecurity website worked perfectly - took me about 10 minutes total. I logged in, went to Benefits & Payments, clicked on Direct Deposit, and entered my new routing and account numbers. The system confirmed the change immediately and even sent me an email confirmation. My payment is scheduled for the 1st of next month, so I'll know for sure if it worked, but everything looks good so far. Like others mentioned, I'm keeping my old account open until I see the deposit hit the new one. Good luck with your switch!

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Thanks for sharing your recent experience! It's really reassuring to hear that the online system is working smoothly for people right now. I was getting a bit nervous after reading about some of the technical issues others have had. Your step-by-step description is super helpful - I'll follow the exact same path when I log in later today. Fingers crossed my experience goes as smoothly as yours did!

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I'm going through the same situation right now! Just opened a credit union account to escape those awful bank fees. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been really helpful. It sounds like the online process through MySocialSecurity is pretty straightforward when it works. I'm planning to make the change this weekend when I have time to double-check everything. The advice about keeping the old account open until seeing a successful deposit is definitely something I'll follow - can't afford to have my payment disappear! Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences, especially the recent ones. It's good to know the system seems to be working well lately.

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I need my ss transferred to another bank

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Hi Chloe! Based on all the helpful advice shared in this thread, you should be able to change your direct deposit online through your MySocialSecurity account. Just log in and go to the "Benefits & Payments" section, then look for direct deposit options. You'll need your new bank's routing number and account number ready. Make sure to keep your current account open until you see at least one successful deposit in the new account - several people here learned that lesson the hard way! The change usually takes effect by the next payment cycle if you make it a few days before your payment date. Good luck with the switch!

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I switched my Social Security direct deposit online about 6 months ago and it was surprisingly easy! The MySocialSecurity website walked me through each step. One thing I'd add to the great advice already here - take a screenshot of the confirmation page after you submit the change. I also printed out the confirmation email they sent. When my first payment went to the new account successfully, I felt much more confident about closing my old account. The whole process from making the change online to receiving my first payment in the new account took exactly one payment cycle. Also, double and triple-check those routing and account numbers before hitting submit - as someone mentioned, even one wrong digit can cause major headaches!

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That's excellent advice about taking screenshots and printing the confirmation! I'm relatively new to dealing with government websites, so having that documentation would definitely give me peace of mind. Six months ago sounds recent enough that the process should be similar to what I'll experience. Did you have any issues with your credit union accepting the Social Security deposits, or was that seamless once the SSA side was set up correctly? I've heard some smaller banks can be picky about certain types of direct deposits, but maybe that's just a myth.

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As someone who just completed this process two weeks ago, I can confirm the online method works great! I was also fleeing high bank fees to join a credit union. Here's what worked for me: Log into MySocialSecurity, go to "Benefits & Payments," then "Direct Deposit Information." Have your new routing and account numbers ready - I actually called my credit union first to verify I had the correct numbers. The website makes you enter everything twice for confirmation, which is reassuring. I submitted the change on a Tuesday, got an email confirmation within an hour, and my payment hit the new account perfectly on schedule three weeks later. Pro tip: The MySocialSecurity website shows your payment history, so you can actually see when the change takes effect in your account dashboard. Much less stressful than wondering if it worked! Just remember what everyone said about keeping that old account open until you're 100% sure the new one is working.

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This is such helpful, recent information - thank you for sharing! I really appreciate the tip about calling the credit union first to verify the routing and account numbers. That's something I hadn't thought of, but it makes total sense to double-check before entering anything into the SSA system. The fact that you could track the change through your MySocialSecurity dashboard is really reassuring too. I've been putting off making this switch because I was worried about something going wrong, but hearing about so many successful recent experiences is giving me the confidence to finally do it. Your timeline (submitted Tuesday, confirmed within an hour, successful payment three weeks later) is exactly the kind of detail that helps me plan this out properly. Thanks again!

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I just successfully changed my direct deposit online last month after reading horror stories about calling SSA! Here's my experience: The MySocialSecurity website worked perfectly - no errors or glitches. The key is making sure you have a fully verified account (I had to upload documents when I first created my account years ago). The process took about 5 minutes: logged in, went to Benefits & Payments, clicked Direct Deposit, entered my new credit union info twice, got instant confirmation. My payment switched over seamlessly the next month. One thing I'd add - after making the change, you can actually see the new bank info reflected in your account within 24 hours, which gave me great peace of mind. And yes, definitely keep that old account open until you see the money hit the new one! The fees are annoying but not worth risking a missed payment.

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This is really encouraging to hear! I've been hesitating to make the switch because I kept reading mixed reviews about the MySocialSecurity website, but your recent success story (along with several others here) is giving me confidence. The detail about being able to see the new bank info reflected within 24 hours is particularly helpful - that would definitely ease my anxiety about whether the change actually went through. I'm planning to make the change this weekend, and I'll definitely follow your advice about keeping the old account open despite those annoying fees. Better safe than sorry when it comes to my monthly payment! Thanks for sharing such a detailed and recent experience.

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I'm in a very similar situation - tired of paying ridiculous monthly fees to my current bank and ready to switch to a credit union! Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly helpful. It sounds like the consensus is that the MySocialSecurity online system works well when you have a fully verified account, but the key things to remember are: 1) Have your routing and account numbers ready and double-check them, 2) Keep your old account open until you see at least one successful deposit in the new account, 3) Make the change a few days before your payment date, and 4) Take screenshots of the confirmation for your records. I'm feeling much more confident about doing this online rather than dealing with the SSA phone system nightmare that some people described. Thanks to everyone who shared their recent experiences - it's really reassuring to know the process has been working smoothly lately!

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You've summarized the key points perfectly! I'm also planning to make this switch soon and your bullet points are exactly what I needed to see laid out clearly. The part about making the change a few days before the payment date is especially important - I was wondering about timing. It's really reassuring to see so many recent success stories in this thread. The MySocialSecurity system seems to be much more reliable than the horror stories about calling would suggest. I'm definitely going to follow the advice about screenshotting everything too. Thanks for putting together such a clear summary of all the best practices shared here!

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I just want to add my voice to all the positive experiences with the online method! I changed my direct deposit through MySocialSecurity about 3 months ago when I switched to a local credit union, and it couldn't have been easier. The website guided me through every step, and I loved that I could do it on my own schedule instead of waiting on hold. One tip I haven't seen mentioned yet - if you're switching to a smaller credit union like I did, you might want to give them a heads up that you'll be receiving Social Security deposits. My credit union actually called me the day before my first deposit was scheduled to arrive just to confirm it was legitimate (they're very security-conscious). It wasn't a problem at all, but it was nice to know they were looking out for me. The whole process from online change to successful deposit took exactly one payment cycle, just like others have reported. Definitely keep that old account open though - the peace of mind is worth the extra month of fees!

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That's such a thoughtful tip about giving your credit union a heads up! I wouldn't have thought to do that, but it makes perfect sense that a smaller institution would want to verify a new large recurring deposit for security reasons. I actually really appreciate that they called you to confirm - shows they're paying attention to their members' accounts. I'm switching to a small local credit union too, so I'll definitely give them a call once I make the change online to let them know to expect my Social Security deposit. Thanks for sharing that detail - it's exactly the kind of real-world insight that helps make this process go more smoothly!

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I successfully changed my direct deposit online just two weeks ago! Like many of you, I was escaping those awful bank fees to join a credit union. The MySocialSecurity website was straightforward - took about 10 minutes total. I went to Benefits & Payments, then Direct Deposit Information, entered my new routing and account numbers twice for verification, and got immediate confirmation. The system even sent me a confirmation email within minutes. My first payment to the new account is coming up next week, so fingers crossed! I followed everyone's advice here about keeping my old account open until I see a successful deposit. One thing I'd add - I called my credit union beforehand to verify I had the correct routing number, and they were super helpful. They even noted in my account that I'd be receiving Social Security deposits so they'd be expecting them. The online process was so much easier than I expected after reading some of the phone horror stories here. Good luck to everyone making the switch!

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Thanks for sharing such a recent experience! It's really helpful to hear from someone who just went through this process. The detail about your credit union noting in your account that you'd be receiving Social Security deposits is smart - I hadn't thought about that but it could prevent any confusion when the first payment arrives. Your timeline sounds very similar to what others have reported, which is reassuring. I'm planning to make this change myself next week, and reading about all these successful online experiences has definitely convinced me to try the MySocialSecurity website first rather than calling. Hope your first payment to the new account goes smoothly next week! Please update us on how it goes if you get a chance.

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I'm going through the exact same situation right now! Just opened an account at a local credit union to escape those ridiculous monthly fees my current bank is charging. Reading through all these experiences has been incredibly helpful and reassuring. It sounds like the MySocialSecurity online system is working really well for most people lately, which is great to hear. I was dreading having to call and wait on hold forever. Based on everyone's advice here, I'm planning to: 1) Call my credit union first to verify my routing and account numbers, 2) Log into MySocialSecurity and go to Benefits & Payments, 3) Take screenshots of everything for my records, 4) Keep my old account open until I see at least one successful deposit in the new account. The timing advice is really helpful too - I'll make sure to do this well before my next payment date. Thanks to everyone who shared their recent experiences, especially those who just went through this process in the last few weeks. It's given me the confidence to try the online method first!

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Your plan sounds perfect! I just went through this exact process last month and those four steps you outlined are spot-on. Calling the credit union first was definitely worth it - they actually walked me through exactly where to find my routing number on my account paperwork and confirmed I had everything correct. The MySocialSecurity website really is much more user-friendly than I expected from a government site. One small addition to your plan: when you take those screenshots, make sure to get the confirmation page AND save/print the confirmation email they send you. Having multiple forms of documentation gave me extra peace of mind. The hardest part for me was actually the waiting period to see if it worked, but keeping that old account open made it stress-free. You've clearly done your homework reading through everyone's experiences here - I'm confident your switch will go smoothly! Good luck with the process!

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