Adding Additional Security to Protect What’s Important to You
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: November 3, 2023
Social Security continues to evaluate and improve how we protect what’s important to you. We take this responsibility seriously, and we have a robust cyber-security program in place to help protect the personal information you entrust to us. Adding additional security measures to safeguard your personal information — but making them easy to use — is a vital part of keeping you safe and secure.
Beginning June 10, 2017, we will use a second method to check the identification of my Social Security account holders when they register or sign in. This is in addition to the first layer of security, a username and password. Right now, you don’t have to do anything for this new process. But you may want to sign in to your account to make sure you remember your username and password. Then, when you sign in on or after June 10, you will be able to choose either your cell phone or your email address as your second identification method. Using two ways to identify you when you log on will help better protect your account from unauthorized use and potential identity fraud.
Since my Social Security became available in May 2012, more than 30 million people have created an account. We have always offered this second layer of protection, but only for customers who opted to use it.
Last summer, we added a second way for us to check your identity when you registered or signed in to my Social Security . However, at that time, we only allowed the use of a cell phone as your second identification method. We listened to your concerns, and beginning on June 10, you can choose either your cell phone or your email address as the second way for us to identify you. Since an email address is already required to use my Social Security , everyone can continue to benefit from the features my Social Security provides.
We’re committed to using the best technologies and standards available to protect our customers’ data. This new security advancement is just one of the ways we’re ensuring the safety of the resources entrusted to us. If you plan to select email as your second method, you can ensure that the one-time security code email does not go into your spam or junk folder by adding NO-REPLY@ssa.gov to your contact list.
In addition to these security enhancements, we’ll also upgrade the look and feel of my Social Security , in an effort to create an enhanced customer experience. The my Social Security portal will automatically adjust to the size of the screen and kind of device you are using – such as a tablet, smart phone, or computer. No matter what type of device you choose, you will have full, easy-to-use access to your personal my Social Security account.
Our new my Social Security design puts you in control — whether you’re using a computer, smart phone, or tablet.
Did you find this Information helpful?
Tags: fraud, my Social Security, my Social Security account, Social Security benefits
See CommentsAbout the Author
Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
Comments
Comments are closed.
Emely
He made fake jewelry a final payment of nearly $93,000 last fall, court records show.Levinson’s lawyer, Jan Atlas, could not
be reached for comment.
Sterling G.
I am having trouble with my login to my account. I have forgotten the answers to my security questions. My username is 2748ELBALANE. My mailing address is 800 Jackson Avenue, Pgh, PA 15237. Please send me the proper information I need to sign into my account.
Thank you.
Ann C.
Hi, Sterling. We are sorry to hear you were having difficulty with your personal my Social Security account. If you are still unable to access your account or encounter a problem with your personal my Social Security account, you may:
•Call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. At the voice prompt, say “helpdesk”; or
•Contact your local Social Security office. Just a reminder – please be cautious about posting personal information on social media. We hope this helps.
James A.
I made too many attempts to log into Business Online and was locked out before I realized that my password was out of date. How do I get back in to file w2s? ID: 9pvqcj7s
Vonda V.
Hi James, thank you for your question. For support with submitting W-2’s online, contact Social Security’s employer reporting service center:
Phone: 1-800-772-6270 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Eastern Time or
E-mail: employerinfo@ssa.gov
Cliff
“About 16 months ago I was at my wits end. [sad emoji] I was experiencing a lot of bloating, and tummy troubles, some anxiousness and was tired [snoring emoji] all the time.
Muoi
Along with all of these great releases, we also have some other products that hit the shelves this week.
The Nobessence Fling is now available in brown wood,
caramel wood, and burgundy wood color choices.
Dominga
Those pics are set in normal everyday circumstances.
Women sitting in traffic does not breastfeeding, artsy pics of women breastfeeding in underware and their children naked does not
normalize breastfeeding.
DRG
The sign in “security code” is not being emailed to my email address or my wife’s. I did not have my phone number listed but she does. It works via text message to the phone but NEVER to email addresses since the last time we successfully logged in. No messages are lost in SPAM or anywhere and it also is not on the web version of my email account. Furthermore, I continue to receive other emails to this address. I sent an email to the web master but have not received a reply.
Please correct this problem and leave a message for all SSA account holders on the login page so they will be aware. This is a serious road block as I cannot login to add my phone number until I can receive a security code. I realize that I can reset the email account and receive a letter via postal mail but that is equivalent to re-building the Berlin Wall on our southern border. It is outdated, costly, and inefficient.
Thank you for your attention and prompt resolution to this issue.
STACEY L.
I need assistance with my social security account. I have filed a complaint to the Social Security Administration in Abingdon, MD to have my account looked at for Fraudulent use. It was brought to my attention that persons in Hardford County, MD, were creating EIN numbers on citizens and using them to obtain benefits for themselves. Please contact me I would like my account looked at. I want my information safe from criminals as well as others.
Respectfully yours and thank you.
Vonda V.
Thank you for contacting us, Stacey. Unfortunately, and because of security reasons, we do not have access to personal records in this blog and cannot assist you.
To inquire about your account, you will have to contact your local office or call our toll-free number at 1-800-772-1213. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
Alireza M.
I wonder why you stop paying my retirement check.
What is the reason.
I am outside US in Overseas and have no access to my account,
Please let me know whats going on
Thanks
ALIREZA MIRFAKHRAI
Edeltraud P.
Social Security must come with with a quicker method than blocking an account login for 24 hours when a recipient has a unsuccessful login after 3 attempts.