Learn About Social Security Online in 2024
Reading Time: 1 MinuteLast Updated: January 11, 2024
Our programs touch the lives of more than 71 million people. We work hard to ensure critical benefits and other services are accessible to you. Consider the start of the new year as an opportunity for you to engage with us online.
This begins with creating your free and secure personal my Social Security account.
Once you create an account, you can:
- Apply for retirement, spouses, or disability benefits.
- Apply for Medicare.
- Check your application status.
- Request a replacement Social Security number card.
If you do not receive Social Security benefits, you can use your personal my Social Security account to:
- Get personalized retirement benefit estimates.
- Get your Social Security Statement.
- Get estimates for spouse’s benefits.
- Get instant proof that you do not receive benefits.
If you receive benefits, you can use your personal my Social Security account to:
- Change your address (Social Security benefits only).
- Set up or change your direct deposit information (Social Security benefits only).
- Instantly get proof of benefits.
- Print your SSA-1099.
Your personal my Social Security account has a secure Message Center. You can choose to receive the annual cost-of-living adjustments and the Medicare income-related monthly adjustment amount online. Unless you opt-out of receiving notices by mail that are available online, you will receive both mailed and online notices.
Your account offers easy access to features that save you time when you do business with us online. Check out our other resources for more information.
Please share this information with your friends and loved ones who may need it.
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Tags: my Social Security, my Social Security account, online services
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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James M.
It would be convenient and perhaps expedite the application process if individuals were able to upload data supporting their recent SSDI / SSI applications.
I find it rather odd that this option only exists if one is invited to do so by an SSA representative, then given an access code to a portal that facilitates the electronic submission of additional documents post application.
I find it even more odd that as is the case currently individuals are directed to submit additional or updated data post application via the U.S. mail. One would be safe to assume that this is certainly not the most efficient means by which to accomplish the submission of additional or updated data relative to their previously submitted application. With other factors considered, such as the potential for lost, delayed and mis-filed documents it seems that this would have been made possible.
Elizabeth C.
How can I put my daughter on my account since I need her to help me?
Sue
Hi, Elizabeth, Thanks for reading our blog and for your question. If you need help managing your Social Security benefits, your daughter can apply to become your representative payee. To learn more, we recommend she review our Frequently Asked Questions. To make an appointment or to speak to a representative, she can call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., or contact the local Social Security office. Your daughter may also want to check out A Guide for Representative Payees. We hope this helps.
John A.
İ am retired US citizen residing in Europe and İ am not allowed to set up My Social Security account on line.why? Why?…i need access to SS services more than a person who live on mainland USA ..maybe a couple of blocks away from SS ofice…This is discrimination and it should end!All US citizens from all over the world should be able to use this service.
James M.
John,
Might I suggest using a high quality (Paid) VPN service and set your location somewhere in the mainland U.S.A.
I think you will find that this is the quickest solution to your issue. If it helps to convince you I just signed in to the SSA website with my VPN and set my location to the other side of the country and I had no problem signing in.
Hope that helps you.
Good luck.
Sue
Hi, John. Thanks for reading our blog and for your question. People living abroad can now access their personal my Social Security account by registering and signing in with ID.me. If you don’t have an ID.me account, please select “Sign in with ID.me” to start the process. If you need more information about our services for our customers who live outside the U.S., please visit our Office of Earnings & International Operations webpage. We hope this helps.
SAM
Awesome post
debi w.
Can you explain WHY letters sent to SS recipients are NOT on our touted personal page, where we get up to date info? WHY can’t we see any & all correspondence sent to us? In my opinion the digital access is lacking….
Sue
Thanks for reading our blog and for your comment, Debi. At this time, some notices are available online in your my Social Security account Message Center, including the annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) notice. If you’d like to suggest that all correspondence be accessible in your account, visit our How can we help? webpage. From there, select the “Email Us” link. This will take you to the “Email Our Support Team” form where you can submit a suggestion, compliment, or complaint. We hope this helps.
Antonios k.
I live permanently overseas, not able to loggin.,or apply for benefits. Donot have U.S. address. How do i get access to loggin?
Sue
Hi, Antonios. Thanks for reading our blog and for your question. You can now access your personal my Social Security account by registering and signing in with ID.me. If you don’t have an ID.me account, please select “Sign in with ID.me” to start the registration process. For more information about our services for our customers who live outside the U.S., please visit our Office of Earnings & International Operations webpage. We hope this helps.
Aida C.
Is there any program that will help a retired, widow with a car for transportation, the car she has has stop working, there’s no money available to replace the car.
Sue
We’re sorry to hear about the widow’s situation, Aida. She may be eligible to receive social services from the state in which she lives. To learn about services in her community and to find out if she qualifies, she should contact her state or local social services agency or welfare office. We hope this helps.
Judith C.
What happened to the calendar showing dates of SS checks.
Sue
Hi, Judith. Thanks for reading our blog and for your question. You’ll find the 2024 Schedule of Social Security Benefit Payments here. We hope this helps.
Allison T.
So same old same old.
It would be nice if logiin were not such a PITA!
Thomas L.
I applied for my Social Security recently. I had set up my account a year or so prior to applying. During that year, once I got the procedure “down”, it was great. I got notices of changes. I got notices to check my earnings account/report. I got notices that “it was my times” as my 70th birthday approached. When I “hit” 70, I applied for my benefits on line. I got my first check on Wednesday, 01/10/2024. I love the on line procedure. It was easy. The problem was me. Once I calmed down, I went thru the process, on line, with “little or no problems”.
SSA; Thank you;Thank you;Thank you…
Sue
Hi, Thomas. Thanks for reading our blog and for your compliment! Your thoughts are important to us, and we’re pleased that you’ve had positive experiences with your personal my Social Security account. We try hard to provide the best possible service to our customers. Thank you!
Jami
Until such time as SSA sees fit to handle problems online, what good is it? Don’t see anything different in this rollout than what was there before.
MajJohn
This was not a rollout. It is a reminder of what services you can get on-line. Many new recipients become entitled each year and it’s nice to review old information. After all, it’s new information for a lot of folks.
debi w.
one thing NOT accessible? Correspondence sent to SS recipients.