Challenges and Implications of Identity Verification in Combating Social Security Benefit Fraud in the Age of AI

open_access
Open Access
Author:
Oommen, Ryan
Area of Honors:
Cybersecurity Analytics & Operations
Degree:
Bachelor of Science
Document Type:
Thesis
Thesis Supervisors:
Tanusree Sharma, Thesis Supervisor
Nick Giacobe, Thesis Honors Advisor
Keywords:
Cybersecurity
Identity Verification
Artificial Intelligence
Biometrics
Fraud
Data Privacy
Public Sector
Abstract:
The Social Security Administration faces a growing identity verification crisis rooted in the limitations of its current infrastructure. Static identifiers originally designed for record keeping have evolved into digital authenticators which they were never intended to do. The reliance on knowledge-based and possession-based credentials has created exploitable gaps that can be leveraged by threat actors. This study argues that the failure of the current verification system is not just the increased volume of fraud cases, but fundamental flaws in the system’s design from the start. This study examines personhood credentials as an emerging verification framework to address this gap. Public sentiment and experiences with SSA identity verification systems are captured through a computational analysis of Reddit data and 13 semi structured interviews with individual participants. Findings revealed a pattern of user distrust and accessibility barriers resulting in fraud being viewed as an inevitable outcome of the current system. Participants expressed cautious optimism toward personhood credential-based verification as a potential solution while raising concerns around accessibility and AI-enabled threats. This study concludes that no single verification mechanism can fully address the verification problem facing the SSA in isolation. Instead, layering personhood credential systems on top of existing infrastructure offers the most resilient path forward for security. Accessibility and governance must be priorities when structuring this new system. Building a verification system that confirms the humanness behind every interaction is a crucial step the SSA can take towards earning back the public's trust.