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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Ann
I have tried multiple times to transition my Social Security account to the new Login.gov account. I repeatedly receive the message “SORRY, WE COULD NOT VERIFY YOUR IDENTITY”.
This is very frustrating!
S.S.
Hello, Ann. Thank you for reading our blog. If you need help with transitioning your account, you can contact Login.gov help center for assistance with Login.gov accounts, and ID.me support center for assistance with ID.me accounts. Call our toll-free number at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778). Our National 800 number is available Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Please say “Help Desk” at the voice prompt. We also encourage you to visit our Frequently Asked Questions for Transitioning Your Social Security Username to Login.gov. We hope this helps.
David C.
I cannot log in to secure.ssa.gov. I used my valid login.gov and I got a one-time code to use to get in to ssa.gov. I entered my social security number and my one-time code within 2 minutes but it did not work. Then I tried to log in using my SS# and address and birthday and it said “We cannot process your request at this time.” Then I called 800-772-1213, heard a bunch of messages about stuff I don’t need, and found that my wait time would be over 60 minutes. Then I requested a call back at https://secure.ssa.gov/cet/contact-us-ui/#/call-back and got a message saying “Call back is currently unavailable.”
S.S.
Hello, David. Thank you for reading our blog. If you need help with transitioning your account, you can contact Login.gov help center for assistance with Login.gov accounts, and ID.me support center for assistance with ID.me accounts. Call our toll-free number at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778). Our National 800 number is available Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Please say “Help Desk” at the voice prompt. We also encourage you to visit our Frequently Asked Questions for Transitioning Your Social Security Username to Login.gov. We hope this helps.
Jim S.
In reviewing the comments, I guess I’m not the only one with this problem. I logged into ssa.gov and, using their instructions, created a login.gov account. Now all I can see is a page which shows me how to manage my account. I cannot see anything else (e.g., statements, earnings records, etc.) that I saw on ssa.gov. Under “Connected Accounts”, I can see my SSA account is connected, but the link just goes back to the sign-in page. If I try to sign in to ssa.gov, it does not recognize my old username/password. All the responses to my issues from SSA or anyone else are just “canned” responses which do not solve the issue. I’m thinking of deleting my login.gov account and creating one from scratch as if I never had a ssa.gov account. Any thoughts?
S.S.
Hello, Jim. Thank you for reading our blog. If you need help with transitioning your account, you can contact Login.gov help center for assistance with Login.gov accounts, and ID.me support center for assistance with ID.me accounts. Call our toll-free number at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778). Our National 800 number is available Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Please say “Help Desk” at the voice prompt. We also encourage you to visit our Frequently Asked Questions for Transitioning Your Social Security Username to Login.gov. We hope this helps.
Gwendolyn W.
HILARIOUS! WHO SUGGESTED THIS PROCEDURE?
And no one is answering the phone at SSA.
Catherine H.
Hello,
I currently live in France. I cannot access my account because the online forms that must be filled have zero provision for A) a foreign address, B) A foreign format for cell or land base phones. The international side of SSA sends us to the US embassy in France, SSA service, who cannot access our file for an email address change. They send us back to the general 800 number in the US. Waiting is around an hour, and then they drop the line. I tried through login.gov, but recycles me back to the form that does not accept foreign formats. HELP! It’s bee a year!
T.Y.
Hi, Catherine. Thank you for reading our blog. Since you are living outside of the United States, you can contact your local Federal Benefits Unit for any assistance related to Social Security benefits. Also, our Office of Earnings and International Operations home page provides more information to assist our customers living abroad. We hope this helps.
Beverly W.
I try signing in online but was not able to login in with the reentry number still no luck sign in, I just wanted to know the status of my social security and Medicare, or Medicaid wanted make sure I sign up in time.
Srinivas M.
I need help.
S.S.
Hello, Srinivas. Thank you for reading our blog. If you need help with transitioning your account, you can contact Login.gov help center for assistance with Login.gov accounts, and ID.me support center for assistance with ID.me accounts. We also encourage you to visit our Frequently Asked Questions for Transitioning Your Social Security Username to Login.gov. We hope this helps.
Kyle b.
When I click on “ID me” to log in, it brings me to the next page. But the “ok” button just does not work. I’ve refreshed the page, reset my Wi-Fi.. this is frustrating
Shelley
You allow both ID.me AND Login.gov access at the same time.
Did you want to do this?
Helen S.
I feel better knowing i am not the only one having a difficult time trying to transition over to their new system. Leave it to the gov to screw things up. I would love to going back to paper and via the mail.