Are You Having Difficulties Accessing Your Personal my Social Security Account?
Reading Time: 3 MinutesLast Updated: November 2, 2023
This is part two of our three-part blog series, “my Social Security 101.” Did you miss the first blog? Please be sure to check it out.
We understand how frustrating it can be when you can’t remember your username or password, or perhaps the answers to your security questions. Fortunately, we have some tips for you to access our online services.
How to Recover Your Username
If you need to recover your username, go to the Sign In page and select “Forgot Username?” under the Username field. You will enter your email address, Social Security number, and date of birth. Then, select “Next” and you will see your username automatically inserted in the Username field for you.
The Second Factor: What You Need to Know
When you registered for a personal my Social Security account, you identified either your email address or cell phone number as your second factor for authentication. Each time you sign in to your account, we send you a one-time security code to either the email address or cell phone number you provided when you registered for your account. You will need access to that second factor as you go through the steps to reset your account password.
What to Do if You Forgot Your Password
If you forgot your password to your personal my Social Security account, you can request a temporary password to gain access. You can go to the Sign In page and select “Forgot Password?” You will then enter your username, Social Security number, and date of birth.
From there, select “Next” and you will be prompted to enter answers to your Password Reset Questions. If you remember your Password Reset Questions, provide the answers in each text box. Confirm your cell phone or email address where you should receive a one-time security code. Please enter the security code you receive, and select the “Submit Security Code,” and you’ll have the chance to update your password. Follow the prompts. You will automatically see the Terms of Service and after accepting the terms, you will be signed in to your account.
What to Do if You Forgot Your Password Reset Answers
If you don’t remember the answers to your Password Reset Questions, select the “I can’t remember my answers” and follow the prompts.
Instructions if Your Second Factor is Your Email
If you registered your email as a second factor, follow these steps:
- Scroll down and check the “I agree to the Terms of Service” box.
- Select “Next.”
- You’ll come to the “Provide Information” page where you’ll enter your mailing address and primary phone number. Please note that we only need your phone number to verify your identity.
- Select “Mail Temporary Password.”
- Then, Select “Done” on the next page.
After completing these steps, you’ll receive a letter by mail in 5 to 10 business days. Your letter will contain a temporary password and step-by-step instructions for creating a new password.
When you receive the letter with your temporary password, go to the Sign In page and enter your username and your temporary password. Then, you can:
- Select “Sign In.”
- Verify your email address on the following page.
- Select “Next.”
- You’ll receive a security code via email—and you’ll enter the security code on the following page.
- Select “Submit Security Code.”
- You’ll then create your new password on the next page. Select “Next.”
- Then, select “Next” again.
- Scroll down and check the “I agree to the Terms of Service” box.
- Select “Next.” This will take you to your personal my Social Security account.
Instructions if Your Second Factor is Your Cell Phone
If you registered your cell phone as your second factor, follow these steps:
- Select “Email Temporary Password.”
- Check your email for your temporary password.
- Return to the Sign In page.
- Enter your username and the temporary password.
- Verify your cell phone number and check “Next.”
- Enter the security code you receive on your cell phone.
- Then, select “Submit Security Code.”
- You’ll then create your new password on the next page. Select “Next.”
- Then, select “Next” again.
- Scroll down and check the “I agree to the Terms of Service” box.
- Select “Next.” This will take you to your my Social Security account.
In part three of this blog series, we will cover how to change your second factor authentication for your personal my Social Security account.
Did you find this Information helpful?
Tags: my Social Security, my Social Security account, social security, Social Security benefits
See CommentsAbout the Author
Darlynda Bogle, Assistant Deputy Commissioner
Darlynda Bogle, Assistant Deputy Commissioner
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Jim S.
I’ve tried 3 different PC’s each with 2 different browsers trying to logon to SSA.GOV and even though it says it sent me a PIN (after waiting for more than 2 minutes) I never receive receive one. It did work as of March 13 2021. Not sure what changed. Applied for EMAIL authentication via US mail and now I just need to wait I guess. I hope this solves it.
April
I received my one time reset code in the mail but I can not see how to enter it to reset my password.
V.V.
Hi April, thanks for using our blog. Sorry to hear you are having difficulties with your my Social Security account. For assistance with your account, you may call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), Monday through Friday, 8:00 am – 7:00 pm. At the voice prompt, say “helpdesk”; or contact your local Social Security office. Please look for the general inquiry telephone number at the Social Security Office Locator. The number may appear under Show Additional Office Information. Please be aware that our call wait times are longer than normal. We hope this information helps.
Nancy A.
Left a detailed com.ent which was deleted at the end.just lime the online. Account. Not one person could find out why I was blocked ..one guessed atleast but she was wrong .so6 months later here I sit, o account.
Cynthia J.
My husband and I have only one computer at home and share and email address because of my blindness disability. We live in Alaska and use a land line phone. SSA apparently refuses to provide second “identy approval: for those who choose not to use cell services. I cannot afford to buy a cell phone and must rely on my home land line. Why do they discriminate against seniors that do not want nor can afford to spend money on cell phones?
V.V.
Hi Cynthia, thanks for using our blog. If you do not have a cell phone number, you may choose to register your email address so we can send your security code by email. If you choose not to receive a security code by text message or email, you will not be able to access your personal my Social Security account. If a family shares an email address, each person should be able to establish his or her own my Social Security account by listing the common email address. There is no registration exclusion related to email addresses.
If you continue to have difficulties with your my Social Security account, you may call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), Monday through Friday, 8:00 am – 7:00 pm. At the voice prompt, say “helpdesk”; or contact your local Social Security office. Please look for the general inquiry telephone number at the Social Security Office Locator. The number may appear under Show Additional Office Information. Please be aware that our call wait times are longer than normal. We hope this information helps.
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Nancy A.
Why is this type of comment allowed on this blog and the subject is.your personal ss acct? Sounds like a scammer scam.ing. and should be removed
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Ann
I am trying to reset my password. I no longer have the email address I had when I signed up. it does not prompt me to receive password by mail. What do I need to do???
P.H.
Hi Ann, thanks for using our blog. Check out our Frequently Asked Questions web page for details on how to retrieve or change your username and password. If you still encounter difficulties, call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. At the voice prompt, say “helpdesk”; or contact your local Social Security office for assistance. We hope this helps.
David G.
My wife got her license renewed a few months and now when we attempted to get a social security card we filled out the form online and it stated that her license number dosen’t match their records. I’m thinking that their records have the old license number and there is no way we know what the old number was. So we are out of luck in getting a new es card. Very frustrating.
Angela
it’s frustrating when you can’t do make an account on social security at all online because it says wrong information they don’t have it then formation I’m giving out wrong information and I’m putting on the right information that when I changed my name and everything and I have my last name my marriage last name and they’re saying it’s wrong and it is it’s right and it’s frustrating because it makes me feel like I’m more stupid should I get blocked out because I can’t can’t make account and it’s stupid you guys need to change it where they can wear don’t matter how you make account online you won’t get blocked out they should let you put on whatever address you have on your ID and don’t have on your social security last name
Diane B.
I hear you. I have been trying for the past 3 months ro get a new temporary pin number,. All I get is nothing and you can’t just walk in to a ss office with your paperwork. They are all closed due to the virus.
Laura A.
I’m trying to do inquiry online and log into my SSA account, and it says it needs security check, and will email my code, so I can input, and I never ever receive code, in spam or normal email. And the only way to change email is by mail in reset, that takes forever and then, no guarantee either, probably back to square one. I’d say it’s a big failure, all-around. I guess all we can do is hunker-down and hope for the best. I drove from Los Gatos, CA to Sacramento, CA to see my old neighbor and bring him some stuff he left, day before last and the smoke and drought conditions were quite noticeable, farms dry as a bone. But, cars flooded freeways, even into early hours of the morning. I hope one day, they say, stay at home, and we’ll send all of you, including business owners, monthly money, and delivery amazon, etc. trucks/vans for food, necessities, and patient transportation. Hopefully, that would stop emissions and they could get the fires more under control, cause toxic air might clear a little with less emissions. Maybe keep people home, so no one would go out and get sick. But, doubt it’ll happen.
Guildford N.
I carefully enter the necessary information required and now I am at a loss