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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MarkW
Come on SSA! Don’t saddle retired folks with a complicated login setup procedure. A simple 2 step login with ONE (no back up) verification step is all that is needed…..banks have been doing it for years. Delay the change until it is simpler!
Peter T.
I already have a SS account plus a Login.gov account, but I was told I needed to receive an “activation” code by mail (2 weeks). If true, then everybody in this situation should be told about it up front, because I (wrongly) assumed that I could do the transition in one computer session.
Maureen O.
I signed up to switch to login.gov and received a reply that my email is not found. Now what do I do????? I sent an email 5 days ago and am still waiting for someone to respond.
Mary W.
When attempting to transition my account to login.gov, I am told my email address is already associated with an account. This is true, it is associated with my existing SS username. How do I proceed?
paul j.
THANK YOU.. I love my SocSecur. saves my life. ,,I DO NOT HAVE A CELL PHONE.. I.PHONE… SMART/PHONE,, ETC. … My disability/handicap does not permit me to use or pay for a phone,, impossible for me to set/up new account with SSA… I cannot receive a setup code.. I receive email codes.. thank you
Donna R.
I’m trying to help my husband transition his SSA online account to the new login.gov one. On 22 July 2024 I created a new email just for him as the email we share (and I used for myself for a new login.gov account) is not allowed. I then couldn’t create a new account for him with the new email until he got an Account Activation Code directly from SSA. He got it on 02 Aug 2024 with an expiry date of 20 Sept 2024. Today, 03 Aug 2024, I have been trying to get his accnt set up but after entering the new code, I get the message “We cannot process your request at this time. Please try again later….” I’m now thinking the website is down due to millions of people trying to transition their accnts as well. This is very frustrating. There should not be one deadline date for EVERYONE. I feel for those who are not computer savvy or do not even use a computer or have a cell phone (whether it be a USA or foreign number). I’ll be contacting our local SSA office and discuss our situation/frustration. What was so wrong with the way we were accessing our account that SSA felt it needed to migrate with login.gov? We personally do not like having one sign-in for multiple government/personal information in one location. So vulnerable for hackers to get in to. I’m now wondering if it was a wise thing for me to have transitioned my accnt in July.
PV
This sucks!!!!!!!!!!! Have tried numerous times on different devices and still can’t get it to work. Try developing it so the average RETIRED person with little COMPUTER knowledge can do the change. Might have been useful if you’d first tried it with end users (without sitting there guiding them) to find out what those with more limited technical skills would have issues with, then fix those and try it again with another group.
Cynthia A.
I have no connected accounts to login.gov. How do I connect my SS account?
Jeff a.
Same as everybody above. I want a sit down office attp at the topeka ssa office.
LOI T.
I have a login.gov account with my federal agency. I successfully logged on to my login.gov account. Since I did not receive an activation code, I was asked to provide personal information, SSN, address, phone number,… to verify my identification. The system then displays the message “you either use a different email address to access your login.gov or not yet link your social security user name with my login.gov” and “Please sign in with your registered login.gov email address”. I kept trying back and forth but it went nowhere. I never had a previous Social Security account or user name. Please help