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
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Dawn Bystry, Associate Commissioner, Office of Strategic and Digital Communications
Deputy Associate Commissioner, Office of Strategic and Digital Communications
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Rebecca D.
I have tried several times to get in. I set up my acct and then go to sign in and it says this acct or email already exist. use a different email or make a new acct. And when I try that it doesn’t work either. When things work and they are not broken leave them alone.
Marie S.
I am having problems because I live in Europe now. My husband and I retired here. Now, I have a foreign phone number, and foreign address. This system doesn’t allow for ease of transition to Americans retired abroad? Help! I need information on how to create an account when you live abroad as Americans with Social Security benefits.
Linda
I’ve been continuing to sign into my acct with my social security Id acct like always. I do however remember making an ID.me.acct for me and my husband a few years ago for something that had to do with the IRS UNFORTUNATELY IM DISABLED and so I don’t remember exactly if it was easy or hard or if I even completed it? So anyways I choose to continue to sign in through my regular my social security account. After reading all these terrible and troublesome reviews I’m choosing to continue to use the old way to sign in as long as it lets me. It’s hard enough for a lot of people with disabilities and or seniors why make it more difficult?
Keith K.
I spent 2 hours yesterday trying to log in. Ive spent an hour so far today and still not in. I moved and changed phone numbers and that just threw ID.Me for a loop.
Pam M.
Received email saying I was all set to use the new login. Now when I try, I can’t get into my account. This definitely is not easier, especially for 75+ seniors.
John
This make me kind of worried now after reading some of these comments about people are not able to log back into their accounts now after setting up the new ID. Also this looks like it is going to a cashless way, which I do not want. My problem though is it will not let me use the phone number to setup the new account. I live in the Philippines now and I know for fact they have number setup for my SSA. I do understand wanting to make it more secure, but from what I am reading it is not to user friendly. And also it seem no one getting any help from the SSA about this as well. I do understand also everyone trying to get help which is overloading the system. As of now I have not set it up, I have to call the SSA office in Manila, Philippines and hopefully get an answer to my problem. I also had another question which is more to the IT side. I read over several options you all have listed that we could try to do, the one option you all mentioned is the USB security key. My question about that, can that USB key work with two different accounts? Like one for SSA, and the other is my bank account, or do I have to buy two of them? Thanks for your time.
Dena W.
This was a real pain. My original account was made with my old cell phone number. A while back, I changed that account to my new cell pone but the Logon.gov still had my old cell phone on file. When I attempted to create my new account, it knew my email as I had that forever but it wanted to verify me with my old cell phone number. I had to delete the Logon.gov account and recreate it. I am in and it’s working but the process takes a full day to complete. I feel sorry for somebody weak in computer skills.
Ignacio F.
I been trying to get into my account and I just can’t get into my account and I try different ways to get into it just won’t let me i may be doing something wrong because old school Men
Edmund E.
I have tried 4 times to convert from My Social Security screen to transfer over to Login.gov. Says it can’t find either email/password that Iv’e used in past. This is ridiculous.You want us to switch over but yet you make it so difficult. Easy transition so you say. DO BETTER NY STATE!!
Grace E.
can get in but do not know how to obtain information. usually use account to confirm pay date then set up specific month bill bill. Help!