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
See CommentsAbout the Author
Dawn Bystry, Associate Commissioner, Office of Strategic and Digital Communications
Deputy Associate Commissioner, Office of Strategic and Digital Communications
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LA
I tried logging into my account using code, it then opens page asking if I had requested activation code, was never asked if wanted code, when I checked no it open page to
set up account! I despise this way of trying to get into account, old way using name & password was the best!!!!!
T.Y.
Thank you for reading our blog. LA. If you are having problems receiving or entering your activation code, you can 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. We hope this helps.
Michael D.
I cannot access my account via Gov Login because it says I am using the wrong email address. HOW CAN I CHANGE THIS?
T.Y.
Hi, Michael. Thank you for reading our blog. If you need to change your personal my Social Security account email address, please log in to your personal my Social Security account with your username and password. When prompted for the security code, indicate that you no longer have access to that email. Follow the on-screen instructions and request a reset code, which will be sent by U.S. mail to your verified address. We hope this information helps.
Dennis
Why does login.gov say to try back another time?
I have tried back many times.
Dennis
Ms. L.
Login.gov land line phone authenticator calls all came through as SCAM CALLS and were blocked by my cell phone provider’s spam/scam filter. I also noted that calls from the same numbers were listed as ROBOCALLS on a NoMoRobo robocall blocker search of the numbers when I performed an online reverse search of the phone numbers.
Jung H.
Hi,
After I created my login.gov account with one authentication method with phone message, I would like to also add an authentication app method. How can I do it? Do I have to deleted my current account and create a new one in order to change or add authentication method?
JH
S.S.
Thank you for reading our blog, Jung. We are sorry you are having difficulty accessing your account. You can call our “Help Desk” at 1-800-772-1213. After you hear “How can I help you today?” please say “Help Desk” for help to access my Social Security account. The help desk is available to callers between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. We hope this helps.
Maxine
It has been impossible to contact anyone at SSN via phone my calling early in the morning or late in the evening. My inperson visit to my locale SSN office was a wasted trip. The employee was unable to answer my questions. I have subsequently received notice that I owe $912.00 payable NLT February 2025.
Charles O.
I like many of the other people cannot access my SS acct. do to the hoops that are impossible that the system has created. I will be writing a letter to Social Security to go back to the mail system to have communication sent to me. Social Security has made it impossible to access electronically
Joe A.
I agree with most of the responders that it is way more difficult to access my account with the new log-in. I tried unsuccessfully to get logged in. An improvement should make it easier to access not more difficult for the user.
tom b.
i went to my local ss office in px., az. i expected to sign in, get a number and then talk to a ss rep when my number was called.they got too busy and you can only go to the office after you have made an appt via phone. the wait time to speak to a ss rep was 200 minutes. how ludicrous! why not allow people on social security to make appointments on line? how easy would that be? it might even help reduce the phone wait time to something less than 200 minutes.
Gloria
We moved. Comcast dropped our email account when we switched and got a new account. Now I can’t get the code to access my social security account. How am I supposed to get this resolved? I need tech support that will actually be able to help me.
T.Y.
Hi, Gloria. Thank you for reading our blog. If you need to change your personal my Social Security account email address, please log in to your personal my Social Security account with your username and password. When prompted for the security code, indicate that you no longer have access to that email. Follow the on-screen instructions and request a reset code, which will be sent by U.S. mail to your verified address. We hope this information helps.