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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Diane D.
I have had a “My Social Security Account” for at least a decade and never had any difficulty logging into my account. Today I tried to transition my account as required, and attempted to follow the tutorial for the same that is provided on the SSA homepage. I tried several times to access my current account as required in the first step of the process. It is not accepting my login information so I cannot complete any of the following steps and more importantly, I cannot access my account information.
Joyce D.
08/05/24 I read a few comments that were dated as of yesterday 08/04/24. Since others are experiencing difficulty and thus been unsuccessful in creating the required “LOG.gov” account; I shall join the other S.S. recipient and wait a few days to attempt it. ( The instruction video went a little too fast for me.) Thank You!
Thomas
I successfully created a Login.gov account. I then logged in and received my 6 digit SSO code. I enter the 6 digit PIN and then received a page asking me if I had requested an Activation Code. Since I never requested an Activation Code, I selected No.
I then received the following error message:
“We cannot process your request at this time”.
I called the Help Desk and they said, I would be receiving a letter in the mail with an activation code that starts with the letter A).
Is this correct? If so, why is the web page asking me if I requested an Activation code?
Thanks
G R.
I had difficulty setting up my account as well. Couldn’t get past setting up the password. I just shut my computer down and tried a few days later with success. No impressed.
Janice
I can get into Login.gov (code is sentt) but my Login.gov is not linked to my ssa. My old ssa pw and un do not work any more so this change means that I do not have access to SSA at all. Please advise how to now get into my SSA account.
Tina R.
I changed to the new system a few months ago when the notices came out. Now it won’t accept my password or user name NOR will it recognize my old user name and password. This is beyond frustrating. We no longer have an SS office where I live so this should be loads of fun…
Benton G.
I got as far as authentication but then got an ‘403 error the request could not be satisfied’
We cannot connect to the website or app at this time.
Generated by Cloudfront.
Tried three times
John K.
I have previously created a LOGIN.gov account however I do not see My Social Security information there. The instructions on this web site are circular and keep bouncing me between two web sites with no actual information on seeing my SS data on the LOGIN.gov website.
JoAnn K.
I went to ssa.gov to transition to create the new login.gov account. after completing all the steps given and entering all authentication codes, I was told that my request could not be processed at this time and to try later. I think I will do as others have suggested and wait until it is mandatory to switch. Maybe by then it will be up and running. Good luck!
Harold M.
My name is Harold David McKissick my address: 7091 Maple Leaf Ln, Harrison, TN 37341-3995 born on 2 September 1943