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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John D.
The screens that appeared in the video tutorial did not match the screens in My Socialsecurity. I was unable to establish a Login.gov account.
John A.
I have set up my login.gov account. My wife is trying to do her’s also. We have the same e-mail address and it won’t allow both accounts to be utilized on the same e-mail account. What must be done?
T.Y.
Hello, John. Thank you for reading our blog. We encourage you to visit our Frequently Asked Questions for Transitioning Your Social Security Username to Login.gov. We hope this information is helpful.
LML
I don’t want a single point-of-contact for all of my personal financial information! We should have the option to continue logging in with user name & password. I was required to use ID.me to apply for state unemployment benefits. It took hours of repeated attempts and required me to record biometric information (facial or voice recognition) using unfamiliar technology. This should not be mandatory! Will you make the same account information available by phone instead?
T.Y.
Hello, LML. Thank you for your question and for reading our blog. For more information about our automated services, visit Using Our Automated Telephone Services. We hope this informtion is useful.
Jeff
Of course, you know your video on how to transition to Login.gov won’t play.
I was able to see the information by stepping through the screens by clicking on the progress bar at the bottom.
I did get my SS account connected to Login.gov, but it’s screwy that I have to log in twice.
Ron B.
Like most things our government tries to do, it doesn’t work. Message “Please try again later.”
RL
Set up account with Login.gov and now am unable to open SSA account. The old way does not work at all. This is really frustrating. There is no number to contact for this problem.
T.Y.
Hi, RL. 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.
Ed R.
My wife and I have the same e-mail address. I set up my new log.in but it will not let me do my wife’s because we have the same e-mail address. I used her USER name to try to set up the new sign in.
T.Y.
Hi, Ed. Thank you for reading our blog. We encourage you to visit our Frequently Asked Questions for Transitioning Your Social Security Username to Login.gov. We hope this information is helpful.
Lou
I’ve always used IDme without any problems, cause I always had difficulty with the other options. Therefore, after reading some of the complaints….I’ll just stay with IDme.
DIANE
I tried to set up ID and it is terrible. Hope I haven’t messed up the old way to log in to SSA. I’ll call Monday, that will be a real joy I’m sure.
Jim C.
Ditto, it was complicated and unsuccessful, plus I object to being required to provide a video of my head and face. I think I may well stop using ssa.gov.
Victoria D.
What is the phone number to call? I’m pretty computer literate and I can’t get it to work.
T.Y.
Hello, Victoria. 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.
Cindy R.
It is awful……I tried to change over and couldn’t get in after they confirmed my email. The first phone call resulted in a gal telling me that Firefox wouldn’t work and I would have to use Chrome or another browser. I won’t even start on the mess that caused…… it was not true… my second phone call was a guy that said I had to clear my cache and cookies- which WAS correct. But, you still can’t go immediately to the SS page even tho they say you can right on their information sight. You have to wait 5-10 business days and receive a LETTER with an access or activation code. It was ugly….. Both phone calls were an hour wait time.
Barbara
Yes. I tried a year ago and don’t even know if I ever got an account. No I can ONLY watch to video. I can’t understand things tha way. i have to read the instructions
Robert E.
I was going to make the transfer to login.gov, however after reading the complaints above I think you need to clean up things before I try to do that.