You can change your bank account with Social Security online, by phone, or by mail — the fastest route is usually the online portal if you already have a my Social Security account

Social Security needs your bank account information so it knows where to deposit your monthly benefit check. If you want to change which bank account receives that money — because you switched banks, closed an account, or want to use a different one — you have three ways to do it. The online method through my Social Security takes a few minutes and shows you the change right away. The phone method takes about the same time but requires you to speak with someone. The mail method is slowest but works if you do not have internet access or prefer paper.

The key thing to know is that Social Security does not process changes when ready. Even if you update your information today, it can take up to two weeks for the change to show in their system, and your next deposit will go to whichever account was on file when the payment was processed — usually around the third of the month. If you are switching banks and worried about missing a payment, contact your old bank to ask if they will forward deposits, or call Social Security to ask when your next payment processes.

Key Takeaways

  • You can change your bank account information through my Social Security online, by calling Social Security directly, or by mailing a signed form to your local office.
  • Changes take up to two weeks to process, and your next payment will still go to your old account if the change has not processed by the time that payment is sent.
  • You will need your Social Security number, date of birth, and the new bank account and routing numbers to make the change.
  • If you do not have a my Social Security account, you can create one for free using your email address, or you can call 1-800-772-1213 to make the change over the phone.

Changing your account online through my Social Security

The fastest way is to log into your my Social Security account at ssa.gov. If you do not have one yet, you can create it for free using your email address, Social Security number, and date of birth. Once you are logged in, look for a section called "Manage Your Benefits" or "Payment Information" — the exact wording changes sometimes, but it will be near the top of your dashboard.

Click on the option to change your direct deposit or bank account information. Social Security will ask you to enter your new bank account number and routing number. Your routing number is a nine-digit code that identifies your bank; you can find it on the bottom left of any check, or you can call your bank and ask. Once you enter both numbers, Social Security will ask you to confirm the information, and then you are done. You will see a confirmation message on screen, and Social Security will send you an email confirming the change.

Do not assume the change is complete just because you saw the confirmation. Social Security's system takes up to two weeks to update, and your bank also needs time to recognize the new account. If your next benefit payment is due within the next week or two, call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 to ask when that payment will process — if it has already been sent to your old account, you know to expect it there instead.

Changing your account by phone

Call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213. You will reach an automated system first; follow the prompts to speak with a representative. Have your new bank account number and routing number ready before you call. The representative will ask you to confirm your Social Security number and date of birth, then they will ask for your new account and routing numbers. They will read the information back to you to make sure it is correct, and then they will process the change on the spot.

You will receive a confirmation number. Write it down. The representative will also tell you that the change takes up to two weeks to process, just as with the online method. Ask them when your next payment is scheduled to process — if it is within the next week or two, your payment will still go to your old account.

Social Security's phone lines are busiest early in the month and on Mondays and Tuesdays. If you call on a Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday afternoon, you will usually wait less time.

Changing your account by mail

If you do not have internet access or prefer to handle this on paper, you can mail a signed request to your local Social Security office. Call 1-800-772-1213 and ask them to mail you Form SSA-1199-OP4, which is the form for changing your direct deposit information. You will need to sign it, include your new bank account and routing numbers, and mail it back to the office address they give you.

This method is slower than phone or online — expect it to take three to four weeks from the time you mail the form until the change appears in Social Security's system. Your next one or two payments will likely still go to your old account. If you are closing your old bank account, contact that bank first and ask how long they will hold deposits after the account closes, or ask if they can forward deposits to your new account.

What information you need before you start

Gather these things before you contact Social Security: your Social Security number, your date of birth, your new bank account number, and your new bank's routing number. You can find your routing number on a check, on your bank's website, or by calling your bank's customer service line. Some banks list it as the "ABA number" or "transit number."

Make sure the account number and routing number you provide are correct. If you enter them wrong, your deposits will go to the wrong account, and it will take time to fix the mistake and get your money back. If you are unsure, call your bank and have them confirm both numbers before you contact Social Security.

What happens if you enter the wrong information

If you realize you gave Social Security the wrong account or routing number after you have already made the change, contact them again right away — either through my Social Security online, by phone, or by mail. The sooner you correct it, the sooner they can update their system. If a payment has already been sent to the wrong account, call that bank and explain what happened. Banks can sometimes reverse deposits and send them to the correct account, but this depends on the bank and how much time has passed.

If the wrong account belongs to another person, that person's bank may reject the deposit, and it will bounce back to Social Security. Social Security will then try to send it to your correct account on the next payment cycle. This can cause a delay, but your money will not be lost.

Timing: when the change takes effect

Social Security processes benefit payments around the third of each month, depending on your birth date. The exact date varies — if you were born on the 1st through the 10th, you get paid on the second Wednesday; if you were born on the 11th through the 20th, you get paid on the third Wednesday; if you were born on the 21st or later, you get paid on the fourth Wednesday. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments go out on the first of the month.

If you change your bank account information more than a week before your payment date, the change will likely process in time and your payment will go to your new account. If you change it less than a week before, your payment will probably still go to your old account. After your payment is sent, Social Security's system takes another week or so to fully update, so do not be alarmed if you see your old account listed for a few days after you make the change.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take for Social Security to update my bank account?

Social Security's system can take up to two weeks to process the change. Your next payment will still go to your old account if the change has not processed by the time that payment is sent. After the change processes, it may take another few days for your bank to recognize the new account and accept deposits to it.

What if my bank account is closed and I have not set up a new one yet?

Contact Social Security before you close the old account and ask them to put your benefits on hold temporarily, or ask if they can mail you a check instead while you set up the new account. Do not close the account until your next payment has been received and you have confirmed it went through.

Can I change my bank account if I do not have a my Social Security account?

Yes. You can call 1-800-772-1213 to make the change over the phone, or you can mail a signed form to your local office. You can also create a my Social Security account for free if you have an email address and your Social Security number.

What if Social Security sent my payment to the wrong account?

Call the bank that received the payment and explain the situation. Some banks can reverse the deposit and send it to the correct account. If that does not work, call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 and report the error. They can investigate and may be able to recover the payment or reissue it.

Do I need to update my bank account information if I switch banks but keep the same account number?

Yes. Even if your account number stays the same, the routing number changes when you switch banks, and Social Security needs the correct routing number to send your payment to the right place. Contact Social Security and provide your new routing number.