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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Georgiana
Hello
I started an application for disability and I saved the informations and log out .. When I log back in I am not able to access my application in order to continuu the process .. I tried multiple times . Please help !!! I feel really bad and I will have a major surgery soon .
Gunther J.
On Filling in Information for the Identity Verification there is no choice of Country under State/Territory.
I Live in Germany but i cannot enter this, What can i do?.
S.S.
Hi, Gunther. Thanks for reading our blog and for your question. People living abroad can now access their personal my Social Security account by registering and signing in with ID.me. If you don’t have an ID.me account, please select “Sign in with ID.me” to start the process. If you need more information about our services for our customers who live outside the U.S., please visit our Office of Earnings & International Operations webpage. We hope this helps.
Paul A.
Hello. Am going in circles. Pls help. Trying to change my USERNAME (do YOU call it that?) from old email address to new, Proton email address. Success with Login.gov. When I try log into ssa.gov, w same new Proton address, website makes me fill out “application” page. When I’m verified, and submit, system keeps telling me I’m already a member. Cycles. Help.
ms. T.
This log.gov is not working for me need to go back with old information .
please help can not pull up any on this log.gov
do I need to visit the Social Security office for Tech. support.
Dannie
Having the same issue as many other bloggers (one copied below – appears this issue has been going on for years, it’s 2025), I have tried various ways to log in, cleared my cache and web browser, does not appear to be a solution. I have contacted my local office to no avail, they say they haven’t seen this issue or know how to help. No “IT” support available…I have followed “ALL” the help screens SSA offers, calling #800-772-1213 and stating “help desk” does not work either…just get put on hold (current wait time is 120 minutes), hope there is a change coming to truly help.
November 11, 2021 11:13AM
I am going around in circles on the SS pages:
1) I click on “Sign in with LOGIN.GOV”
2) It sends me a security code which I put in
3)I am now taken to a “Terms of Service” page, I read, I check “I agree…”, and click “Next”
4) This takes me right back to “Sign in with LOGIN.GOV” and we start the whole process again. I cannot get past this circle of frustration.
A.C.
November 12, 2021 7:50AM
Hi, Janelle. We are sorry to hear about the difficulties you are experiencing. If you created a my Social Security account before September 18, 2021, go to http://www.ssa.gov/myaccount and click on “Sign In” and then click on “Sign In To My Account” where you enter your username and password using the boxes on the far right. You do not sign in using login.gov or id.me because you created your account before September 18, 2021.
If you continue to have difficulties, call our dedicated my Social Security Hotline at 1-800-772-1213, and say “helpdesk” at the voice prompt. The help desk is available to callers between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. (Eastern Time). You can also contact your local Social Security office directly. Look for the general inquiry telephone number using our Social Security Office Locator link. We hope this helps.
Kimberly P.
November 16, 2021 12:42PM
I’m having that same issue. Very frustrating…and being on hold for hour plus calling trying to speak to a human only adds to the frustration.
What good is offering the service if one can’t access it?
KATHIE
This system is HORRIBLE how is it i rec a 1st activation code, BUT then you have to send a second one WHICH NEVER COMES??? COME ON SOCIAL SECURITY YOU NEED TO DO BETTER. i guess i won’t call either reading the other comments of a 3 hour wait time…SHAME SHAME SHAME SOICAL SECURITY
S.S.
Hello Kathie. We apologize for the wait times you’ve experiences and understand how frustrating that can be. We are working to improve our response times and appreciate your patience. In the meantime, please complete our Feedback Form which will give our team a better understanding of how we can improve our processes. We value your opinion and look forward to hearing from you.
Brooks M.
Just another Biden admin. muck-up. This is what you get when you have a CIC who is literally sleeping through it all.
01/20 can’t come fast enough.
Rita H.
Same as all of the above, can’t access account, can’t get a person to fix the IT issue. We are at their mercy. This has been ongoing for months
K. L.
May SSA let us use the old way(only the username and password) to login? There are so many problem through login.gov. after login SSA with login.gov password. need me to verify. fill in all information. showed: can not create an account with this SS number. after 3 times, my account was locked. said need the wait for 23 hrs. Next day, repeated the same problem. Could not login to SSA till now.
S.S.
Hi, K. Thanks for reading our blog and for your question. Call us at 1-800-772-1213 if you are locked out of your my Social Security username/password account, if you have a security freeze/fraud alert on your credit report, or if you want to change your Multi-Factor Authentication method. Our 800# is available Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Please say “Help Desk” at the voice prompt. We hope this helps.
Mary T.
I cannot log into my acct. I have my user name and password written down, but your system says it is wrong. I’m seeing a lot of comments with the same problem, is there a problem with your system?