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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Jolene W.
Jolene Wiggers. SSA and SSDI.
Ronald F.
Needless complications and complexity to keep some bit-nerd employed? Your process requires someone to have a cell phone to obtain a text message of a security code. If you don’t have a cell phone, will SSA be providing one to me for free to receive the security code? Don’t you people think things through before subjecting senior citizens to all this crap? How do I get your initial security code without having a cell phone?
Linda C.
As a senior, I find these constant changes challenging
R.B.
Agreed!! Retired seniors deserve to be heard..
Haven’t seen many replies as how to assist seniors attempting to tackle a new system..very sad..
Gerzon e.
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Jon
I was a victim of identity fraud and and my credit information is frozen at the three major agencies. How do I complete my online account?
T.Y.
Hi, Jon. Thanks for reading our blog. Call our toll-free number at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-078) if you have a security freeze or fraud alert on your credit report. Our National 800 number 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.
Marcus R.
This new Login.gov is ridiculous. I have established a login.gov account but it won’t let me in to my SSA account. It asks me for a verification code that I never got. It then asks me to enter way to much personal information to get the verification code. Why should I have to enter all this sensitive information to get into SSA account when SSA already has al this info?? It looks like a scam to colect too much personal info. I never enter this type of info in one place, especially to a site that should already have it. This is bad security procedure!!!!! Typical Government bad IT that must be run by high school students.
Ruth W.
My verification code went to my spam folder
T.Y.
Thank you for reading our blog, Ruth. We encourage you to visit our Frequently Asked Questions for Transitioning Your Social Security Username to Login.gov. We hope this information is helpful.
T.Y.
Hello, Marcus. 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.
Debbie H.
The 3 min video goes so fast and tiny print that it was useless to me! I kept stopping and restarting it, didn’t help. So aggravating!
Timothy J.
the new login.gov account will not let me change from the old sign in account. It will not let me use the email address me and my wife share. We both are receiving benefits. This is the email address listed on my profile.
S.D.
Thanks for your question, Timothy. Each person must set up their own Login.gov account with their own personal email address, not an email that you share with someone else. We hope this helps.
Sue T.
My husband and I have the same issue – we use the same email address. We live in the same house, have the same mailing address, why do we each have to have our own email address? It’s frustrating and a burden.
Doug G.
With all the issues we now have with security online, why don’t we take a simple process and make it difficult for some, especially older participants. The explanations are practically useless, the justification is worse. Sometimes it is better to leave things alone, especially when you aren’t actually improving anything and connecting private info with more outside groups that are only interested in free government money, the consumer be damned. Rant over, not a happy customer just a pissed off one.
David W.
I don’t think it was as simple as the articles have been making it sound. I went to transition and am now waiting for a code/password to be “snail mailed” to me before I can continue with the process. It seems like there should be a simpler way to transition to Login.gov or Id.me.
Sandy E.
Good luck, I requested on 7/29/2024 and yet to receive.
Albert B.
Ok