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
Comments
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Loretta W.
The Sign In with”Social Security Username & Password”, for accounts created before 9/18/21,
WHY DON’T YOU JUST LEAVE THIS ALONE! People had NO problems accessing their accounts with this SS Username. Now there are lots of hassles transitioning to this login.gov. If someone wants to transition, let them, but those having difficulties, please let us do the easy way.
Tom C.
I’ve successfully made the transition to login.gov after 3 tries. I tried to look at my SS benefit information but, I couldn’t look at the info because nothing came up. Is the system down?
T.Y.
Hi, Tom. Thank you for reading our blog. You must sign in to your personal my Social Security account from our online portal. If you are attempting to access your personal my Social Security account from Login.gov sign-in page, you may not see anything related to Social Security. We encourage you to visit our Frequently Asked Questions for Transitioning Your Social Security Username to Login.gov. We hope this information helps.
Sandra S.
I’ve gone through the Login.gov account setup before in early Dec ’24 (although it was difficult due to no text verification message). I think I was able to eventually get a Login.gov credentials since I recorded a new username and password.
But now when I try to login to Login.gov, it does not give me a way to see my SSA homepage. So does that mean that we continue using ssa.gov after getting Login.gov credentials? The above article does not clarify this.
T.Y.
Hi, Sandra. Thank you for reading our blog. You must sign in to your personal my Social Security account from our online portal. If you are attempting to access your personal my Social Security account from Login.gov sign-in page, you may not see anything related to Social Security. We encourage you to visit our Frequently Asked Questions for Transitioning Your Social Security Username to Login.gov. We hope this information helps.
Dennis B.
I have been trying to access my account through Log-in. It does not accept the code it sends me. I have been trying to get a call through to someone and am always timed out while waiting on hold; and then disconnected. I need to make an appointment to go to the local office and can’t get through to make one! Help!
T.Y.
Hi, Dennis. Thank you for reading our blog. We apologize for the call wait times you’ve experienced and understand how frustrating that can be. We are working to improve our wait 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.
Susan
I am going on 2 years trying to set up my new social security updated, so called more secure, better serviced account and it’s too frustrating! I can’t get any help or talk to anyone for assistance.
T.Y.
Hi, Susan. Thank you for reading our blog. For step-by-step instructions on how to make the transition, watch our 3-minute video. We also encourage you to visit our Frequently Asked Questions for Transitioning Your Social Security Username to Login.gov. We hope this information is helpful.
Craig B.
ID.me: This is the most ridiculously complicated time consuming and INACCESSIBLE site I’ve ever seen. (“Upload a driver’s license, passport, etc.) I don’t have time for this – so fix it. In the meantime, my SS messages are INACCESSIBLE, so if you have an important message, better mail it.
Valerie H.
I am trying to transition my Your Social Security Account to Login.Gov. In the first step, I was instructed to wait up to two minutes for a code to be sent in a text message to my phone. I have done so twice and have yet to receive the text message and code. Very frustrating…
T.Y.
Thank you for reading our blog, Valerie. 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 also encourage you to visit our Frequently Asked Questions for Transitioning Your Social Security Username to Login.gov. We hope this helps.
Riley S.
I am not receiving a text verification message when trying to login into my account. I am receiving text messages from other sources, so the problem appears to be on your side.
T.Y.
Hi, Riley. Thank you for reading our blog. 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.
Kathy J.
I have been unable to access my message inbox – which indicates I have several pending messages. Keep receiving error statement every time I select the message inbox to read pending notifications.
T.Y.
Hello, Kathy. Thank you for reading our blog. We are sorry that you are having difficulty accessing your online 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.
DeWayne W.
As per government B.S., they have made it ever harder to get into your own account. So now one is required to get past a “virtual idiot” that can’t understand anything you say. Then spend several hours to finally speak to a human in another country that has an accent that you can’t understand. Just so you can view something one thier B.S. website. They they can’t understand why your so pissed.