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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Jenny H.
Have tried to connect to Login.gov for approx 5 hours over two days. I have followed the instructions on the letter that you sent to me on July 25th to switch to Login.gov. However, every time I get to the page to agree/disagree and click submit, the next page either gives me an error message or takes me to my benefits and I can’t go any further.
Linda B.
I didn’t find the instructions very helpful. I hope I was supposed to get to the place where you will send me a letter with a code. That’s where I ended up. I guess once I receive the letter I will know if this is right.
Ronee G.
Tried to transition/link Social Security to Login.gov and ended up with a mess. There are so many windows to go through and then at the end it says that it doesn’t recognize our email or user id. Why in the world didn’t you have a simpler method of linking our Social Security account to Login.gov? What a mess! I believe through all the steps I accidentally deleted my account because I misunderstood that one of the accounts we tried to set up was under my email address. My husband and my accounts were both initially set up with my email account because he did not have one. I not only have my Social Security information under my once regular sign in account, but I am my son’s representative and I believe his information was deleted as well. This is a nightmare and should have had more thought put into changing over to Login.gov!
Jim Y.
I tried and failed to set up a new account! Will try again but it does seem rather more difficult than it should be.
Valdemar E.
Lo deseo en ESPAÑOL
Nancy R.
Need Medicare replacement card.
S.S.
Hi, Nancy. Thanks for reading our blog and for your question. You can print or request a replacement Medicare card using your online Medicare account. You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) to order a replacement card to be sent in the mail. We hope this helps.
James P.
How do i get a advice payment for emergency from my ssi benefits
Gregory V.
I’ve tried to get help transitioning to Login.gov. I requested a call back 3 times today waiting a total of 1.5 hours. My phone rings and I answer but it gets disconnected. I want to cooperate with this change but cannot do so without help
Joyce K.
I have the wrong text number for verification text code to be sent to me . I cannot find where to change this text # it goes to my former employees phone text message & I have to call him & ask for the code to log in to my account
Barb
So these comments have me VERY nervous. SSA, you are basically asking us to turn over access to our accounts to the only people who we can ask for help – our kids or grandchildren. THANKS SSA and why are there very few replies or real help offered or available. This changeover is too complicated unless you are a Digital Native, and if it’s too complicated for us to do, YOU’VE LOCKED US OUT OF OUR OWN ACCOUNTS!
Elaine L.
I am trying to transition to the login.gov account but cannot use 2 step verification by phone since I live overseas. This was possible with my old account, so why not now? The other verification methods are unfamiliar to me and entail downloading other apps and I am not comfortable or familiar with their safety or security.
Kathleen R.
How do I make an appointment to go i to the New Orleans SS office?
S.S.
Hi, Kathleen. Thanks for reading our blog and for your comment. To locate information on your local office, visit our Social Security Office Locator page. We hope this helps.
Tina
Code in the mail expired before I can set it up online. Smh