You can change your Social Security direct deposit online, by phone, or by mail

The fastest way to change where your Social Security payment goes is through your my Social Security account at ssa.gov. You can update your bank details yourself in minutes without calling or visiting an office. If you do not have an online account, you can call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) and speak to a representative, or fill out a form and mail it in.

Social Security processes changes within three to five business days. Your next payment will go to the new account if the change is made before the third Wednesday of the month; if you miss that important date, the payment goes to the old account and the one after that goes to the new one.

Key Takeaways

  • The my Social Security website lets you change your direct deposit details without waiting on hold or visiting an office.
  • Changes made before the third Wednesday of the month take effect with your next payment; changes after that take effect the following month.
  • You will need your bank's routing number and your account number to set up direct deposit, or the name and address of a financial institution if you want payments sent there instead.
  • If you do not have internet access or prefer to speak to someone, calling 1-800-772-1213 is faster than mailing a form.
  • Social Security will not send payments to a third party or hold them in a way that requires someone else to access them on your behalf.

Setting up a my Social Security account to change direct deposit online

Go to ssa.gov and select "Create an account" under my Social Security. You will need your Social Security number, email address, and a way to verify your identity—usually a driver's license, state ID, or passport. Social Security will ask you security questions based on your credit history to confirm who you are.

Once you are logged in, select "Manage benefits" and then "Change direct deposit." Enter your new bank's routing number (a nine-digit code your bank provides) and your account number. You can also choose to have payments sent to a financial institution that is not a bank, such as a credit union or prepaid card issuer, as long as they accept direct deposit.

After you submit the change, you will see a confirmation on screen. Write down the date you made the change so you know which payment cycle it affects. Social Security will send you an email confirming the update.

Changing direct deposit by phone

Call 1-800-772-1213 between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. Have your new bank's routing number and account number ready. A representative will ask you to verify your identity by answering security questions, then update your direct deposit information in the system.

The representative will read back the new account details to you before saving the change. Ask them to confirm the date the change takes effect so you know whether it applies to your next payment or the one after. Request a confirmation number for your records.

Changing direct deposit by mail

read and print Form SSA-1199-OP4 from ssa.gov, or call 1-800-772-1213 and ask for it to be mailed to you. Fill in your new bank's routing number and account number, sign and date the form, and mail it to the Social Security office address listed on the form.

Mail takes longer than phone or online—typically one to two weeks to arrive, plus three to five business days for Social Security to process it. If you need the change to take effect quickly, use the phone or online method instead.

What information you need to provide

Social Security will ask for your new bank's routing number (the nine-digit code that identifies your bank) and your account number (the number of the specific account where you want payments sent). You can find both on the bottom left of a check, or call your bank and ask for them.

If you are changing to a credit union, prepaid card, or other financial institution, ask them for their routing number and your account number with them. Some prepaid card companies have their own routing numbers; others use a partner bank's number.

You do not need to bring documents or proof of identity if you change your direct deposit online through my Social Security—the account itself verifies who you are. If you call or mail a form, Social Security will verify your identity through security questions or by checking information on file.

When your change takes effect

Social Security pays benefits on a schedule based on your birth date. If you were born on the 1st through the 10th of the month, you are paid on the second Wednesday. If you were born on the 11th through the 20th, you are paid on the third Wednesday. If you were born on the 21st through the 31st, you are paid on the fourth Wednesday.

A direct deposit change made before the third Wednesday of the month takes effect with your next scheduled payment. A change made on or after the third Wednesday takes effect the following month. For example, if you change your direct deposit on March 15 and you are paid on the second Wednesday, the new account receives your next payment. If you change it on March 20 and you are paid on the second Wednesday, your old account receives the March payment and your new account receives the April payment.

What to do if your new bank account is not working

If your payment does not arrive in your new account on the expected date, contact your bank first to confirm they received the deposit. Banks sometimes reject direct deposits if the account number or routing number was entered incorrectly, or if the account was closed or flagged for fraud.

If your bank confirms they did not receive the deposit, call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 and ask them to verify the routing number and account number in their system. If there was a mistake, they can correct it and reissue the payment. If the information is correct but your bank is rejecting it, ask your bank what the problem is and whether you need to update your account settings to accept government deposits.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I have my Social Security payment sent to someone else's bank account?

No. Social Security will only send payments to an account in your name. If you need someone to help you manage your money, you can set up a representative payee through Social Security, but the payment still goes to an account you control or that is held in your name.

What if I do not have a bank account?

Social Security can send your payment to a prepaid card account or a credit union account instead of a traditional bank. If you do not have any of these, you can ask Social Security about a representative payee or other payment options by calling 1-800-772-1213.

How long does it take to change direct deposit?

Social Security processes changes within three to five business days. If you change your direct deposit before the third Wednesday of the month, the new account receives your next payment. Changes made after that date take effect the following month.

Do I need to notify my old bank when I change my direct deposit?

No. Once Social Security stops sending payments to your old account, you do not need to do anything. Your old bank will straightforward stop receiving the deposits. You can close the old account whenever you want, but it is safe to wait a month or two to make sure the new account is working.

What if I made a mistake entering my new bank information?

Log back into my Social Security and update the information, or call 1-800-772-1213 to correct it. Changes made before the third Wednesday of the month take effect with your next payment. If you miss that important date, the correction takes effect the following month.