How to Transition Your Social Security Account to Login.gov
Reading Time: 3 MinutesLast Updated: August 23, 2024
If you created a Social Security username more than 3 years ago, you will need to transition to a new or existing Login.gov account or use an ID.me account to have continuous access to our online services. We recently announced this news in a press release.
For step-by-step instructions on how to make the transition, watch this video. We also encourage you to visit our Frequently Asked Questions for Transitioning Your Social Security Username to Login.gov.
Beginning June 1, 2024, people who sign in to their personal my Social Security account with their username are given the option to transition to Login.gov. This blog provides additional information and guidance to help you with problems you may encounter. We’re also going to provide answers to some of the questions we’ve heard.
Who does this affect?
If you created your free and secure my Social Security account on or after September 18, 2021, no action is necessary because you already have the right setup. If you are among the 46 million people who created an account before September 18, 2021 and use your username and password to access Social Security online services today, you will need to create or use an existing account with one of our two Credential Service Providers (CSP) – Login.gov or ID.me.
Is there a deadline?
While you can still use a username and password to sign in to your personal my Social Security account right now, this option is going away later this year. At that time, you will be required to have a Login.gov or ID.me account if you want to continue to access your personal my Social Security and our many other convenient online services.
A personal my Social Security account provides tools for everyone, whether you receive benefits or not. You can use your account to request a replacement Social Security card, check the status of an application, estimate future benefits, and manage the benefits you already receive. To learn more, visit What is an Account?
Why are you making this change?
This change will simplify your sign-in experience and better align with federal authentication standards while providing safe and secure access to our online services.
What do I need to do?
To avoid any disruptions in accessing our online services we encourage you to transition your account now by signing in to your account with your username and password. Our online instructions will guide you through the process of creating or signing in to an existing Login.gov account.
Information about Login.gov and ID.me
Login.gov is your one government account for simple, secure, and private access to participating government agencies. You can use your Login.gov account to access your Social Security benefit information, services, and other information. And you can use that same Login.gov account to manage other government benefits and services. For support, visit the Login.gov Help Center.
ID.me is a single sign-on provider that also meets the U.S. government’s online identity proofing and authentication requirements. You can use one ID.me account to access government and private services. For support – Go to the ID.me Help Center.
For more information, visit our Create an Account page.
Please share this information with friends and family, clients and colleagues, and others who may need it.
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Tags: General Information, my Social Security, my Social Security account
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Dawn Bystry, Associate Commissioner, Office of Strategic and Digital Communications
Deputy Associate Commissioner, Office of Strategic and Digital Communications
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Vernon A.
Why do I have to wait until the next day to access the website to see what I can download now I have to wait till morning and then I’m okay to download what is the problem now
Hubert S.
Everything was working just fine until the government stepped in now both my accounts are accessible through login.gov, yes it’s convenient to have all my eggs in one basket for me but when a criminal gets in he/she can get everything in one basket. That happened to me, still trying to get direct deposits straightened out agencies mark your accounts fraud and you have trouble accessing your accounts to find out what the criminal did. So some ways it’s better other ways it’s worse especially losing payments.
Harriet M.
I have the older SSA account that is required to change to Login.gov. I’m a retired federal employee, so have already (months ago) set up a Login.gov account to access the OPM retiree annuity management site, Services Online.
Today I tried to log in to my SSA account using Login.gov and was unsuccessful. Instead of logging me in after I entered my login information, a page came up asking me to set up a new account, as if I never had an account at all. It wasn’t clear if this was referring to a new account for SSA or for Login.gov.
It was my understanding that once you set up a Login.gov account, you could that same account to access all participating federal sites.
As of 8-1-24, I’m still able to sign in to SSA using the old method, and I’m able to log in to Services Online using my Login.gov account.
Can you please tell me what I need to do to use Login.gov to sign into my SSA account. I’d like to transition to that and make sure it’s working before the old method goes away.
Thanks for your assistance.
Sharmila M.
I was able to transition my social security account to my Login.gov account on July 31, 2024.
I did not need my Account Activation Code: A-58423998 ( which arrived by USMail on August1,2024), for the transition of my S.S.A. to login.gov
Kathleen W.
I’ve spent many hours on hold, spoke with mutiple ssa and login.gov reps (cross finger pointing), back and forth calling at their direction (and more wait time), verifying and reverifying my vitals over and over, repeating the circular online path laid out to make this “transition”, locked in/locked out, and still no luck. No one could solve it. One told me I will need to call ssa when the old login system ends. Another told me I will need paper statements. One ssa hung up on me when I asked how I would receive the mystery ssa “authentication” code that appears to be key to this game but I could not get (btw, not the same a ssa “security code” or login.gov “one-time” code). Plus, each failed attempt is a ding on my credit report! Epic fail SSA.
Sylvia C.
I received a letter indicating I am successfully linked to the LOGIN.GOV but when I attempt to sign in with LOGIN.GOV to access my account, the program indicates my password is incorrect and cannot change my password. This program is not user friendly.
Janice M.
Can not create a new login ID AND received a letter stating on/around 25JUL24 you changed my direct deposit information and that my payment will be going to the new financial institution or account. I did NOT make this change. I have been waiting for an hour to speak to someone on the phone as I can not get pass the login page. I need someone to email me regarding this!
S.D.
We’re sorry to hear about your situation, Janice. Please contact us right away to discuss your direct deposit information. You can call your local office or 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. You may want to ask to add a Direct Deposit Fraud Prevention block to your account to prevent anyone, including you, from enrolling in direct deposit or changing your address or direct deposit information through your personal my Social Security account or a financial institution (via auto-enrollment). To learn more about other ways to protect your personal information, please read our blog. We hope this helps.
James B.
The security code is never sent. The site is BROKE.
S.D.
Thanks for your question, James. It is possible that multi-factor text messages are blocked on your phone, or you have previously opted out of receiving text messages from Social Security. Please verify with your cellphone provider that text messages from Social Security are allowed. If you have previously opted out of our text messages by replying STOP, please call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Please say “Help Desk” at the voice prompt.
Keith P.
It sure would be nice if you could actually create an account. Have followed instructions and it still hasn’t given me a password. I quit.
Katherine D.
What if I don’t have a computer and never log in how will that affect me?
S.D.
Hi, Katherine. Thanks for reading our blog and for your question. If you do not have a personal my Social Security account that you created before September 18, 2018, this transition does not affect you. However, we encourage you to create a personal my Social Security account. If you receive Social Security benefits and have an account, you can get a benefit verification letter, the annual Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) notice, and a replacement SSA-1099/SSA-1042S for tax purposes. You can also change your address and direct deposit information. If you do not receive benefits and have an account, you can review estimates of your retirement, disability, and survivors benefits, get your Social Security Statement, and print verification that you are not getting benefits. To learn more about my Social Security and our other online services, please read our blog. We hope this helps.