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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pat c.
Sighed up in login.gov. and have a account,.but it’s not showing any social security information …why?
Roger
Transition does work.
New login.gov show only session timed out
Can’t do anything else
Karen S.
I have the authentication code I received in the mail, but there is no place that asks for this information. I had created a new system password in order to get the authentication code mailed. Why doesn’t it work getting into this new system?
WILLIAM C.
Why do I have to submit my D.L. photo every time I log in to IDMe? I submitted it when I set up the account. If I have to do that every time I log in that’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard of.
S.D.
Hi, William. Thanks for reading our blog and for your question. Please contact the ID.me Help Center for assistance with your ID.me account. We hope this helps.
Wayne D.
I’m really confused by this as it seems others are too. There are so many scams on the internet I’ve been holding off doing this — especially as I have not seen a lot of publicity.
Gina O.
After reading all the comments here – about troubles others are having with the login.gov process; I’m actually scared to transfer from the social security.gov account.
How can you all expect people to transfer to a system that obviously is creating that many problems for so many other people? Please respond, as I need help since we are being mandated to switch over.
Harshad M.
After entering all info. I get msg. That it doesn’t recognize me
Philip
I live overseas and have (finally) been able to create my login.gov account. Here’s how we did it:
At the point where it asks you to 1) create a login.gov acct 2) create id.me acct or 3) sign in using your Soc Sec login, select the last one. From there it seemed obvious how to navigate, including having the one-time codes sent to my UK phone. No need to add a foreign address or tele # (which you can’t do at login.gov – shame on them ).
Good luck!
Mandy
If you choose login with your Social Security login you haven’t “created a login.gov account”. You’ve just logged in “as usual” and that option will not be available at some point in the future. It happens to still be available for now. In order to create an account and use login.gov you actually have to choose that option.
Donald S.
I made an login.gov account last night and now it says that my password is invalid, worked fine last night when I updated the account
Jami
What is a backup code ??
Am I waiting for letter mail. Do I create it, if so where?