Frauds & Scams

New Online Security

August 3, 2016 • By

Reading Time: 2 Minutes

Last Updated: November 3, 2023

MFAWe’ve added an extra layer of security for our customers when they interact with us online. Now, my Social Security account holders are required to use their cell phone — in addition to their username and password — as another authentication factor during online registration and every sign in. An authentication factor is information used to determine if someone is who they claim to be.

This extra layer of security is called “multifactor authentication” and complies with an executive order requiring federal agencies to provide more secure authentication for their online services. Any agency that provides online access to a customer’s personal information must now use multifactor authentication.

Since my Social Security became available in May 2012, almost 26 million people have created an account. We have always offered multifactor authentication, but only for customers who opted for extra security. For your protection, we now require multifactor authentication for all my Social Security users. To register and sign in, you must now enter a security code that we will send to your cell phone. Your cell phone provider’s text message and data rates may apply.

Our research shows that an overwhelming majority of American adults have cell phones and use them for texting. Because of technical and resource constraints, we are not currently able to offer alternative methods of satisfying this security requirement. However, we may consider adding more options in the future. We appreciate your patience as we work continuously to secure your online information.

We’re committed to using the best technologies and standards available to protect our customers’ data. Multifactor authentication is just one of the ways we’re ensuring the safety and security of the resources entrusted to us. Visit my Social Security to learn more about this helpful suite of online services, including additional details about our latest security measures.

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About the Author

Jim Borland, Assistant Deputy Commissioner, Communications

Jim Borland, Assistant Deputy Commissioner, Communications

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Comments

  1. Jay B.

    I think insisting on a cell phone number for login to our own account is harassment of senior citizens. It will definitely not win any praise for security. Please add more alternatives like code through registered email or registered land line. Otherwise we will never be able to login to our SSA account and that is not fair and it defeats the purpose of creating online access.

    • R.F.

      Thanks for your comment Jay. We are limited to text messages for the initial multifactor authentication (MFA) implementation due to technical and resource constraints. We may consider adding additional options in the future. For more information about our MFA process, check out https://www.ssa.gov/myaccount/MoreInformationAboutMFA.html.

      • GlennB

        Are you trying to be funny, or just another BS artist.

        Ever since the hacking of various retail companies and financial institutions(credit cards) the last several years, the Privacy Act of 1974 has been fortified with amendments and Executive Orders to increase security. Just about every organization I deal with the last few years, has implemented the ‘Multi-Factor Authentication’ process with MULTIPLE types of verification.

        So what’s your excuse for being so inept that you are limited to ONLY one????

  2. Duder

    Then again, there is a bright side….with this asinine decision, nobody will be accessing the SSA accounts, so….they can RIF 98% of the SSA folks and save SOME of our tax dollars!!!

    • Disgusted w.

      And they can start with the brain trust who came up with lame brain plan!

  3. Duder

    I see by the comments, folks are vastly against this text decision! Anyone who agrees with this decision (OBAMA, AGAIN!) is as lost as he is (and DEE!)! The simple answer is, email our damn computers!!!

  4. NYC O.

    SSA didn’t tell me back in 2013 that they changed their system and I couldn’t access my account because they contract with EXPERIAN Credit Bureau and all my personal information had to be in sync with Experian’s records which were three years old. So I had to purchase Experian even though I had Equifax…a far superior and more user-friendly Credit Bureau. So now, SSA require that I have a cell phone with texting to set up and gain access TO MY SOCIAL SECURITY INFORMATION!!!!! Maybe I’ll hire a 15-year old hacker to help me get access to MY OWN INFORMATION.

  5. Dee

    I have never heard so much whining and complaining in my life. SSA is required to add another layer of security to its on-line site. I am assuming that you would all be in an uproar if SSA was hacked and you would be demanding that more should have been done to protect your personal information. Well, more is being done and here you are having a fit.

    You can’t have it both ways.

    • DBGraniteville

      Just so you understand – adding this type of layer of so called security doesn’t keep SSA from being hacked – SSA wasn’t hacked because they didn’t have another layer of security for individuals accounts – the complaints aren’t about the cell phone# it’s the lack of another option and the making it a “requirement” by SSA to access your own account – & this “requirement” can be a finical impact for many seniors

  6. Chris

    Government administrators are self serving twerps. The same government types that put all my security clearance information online then lost it to the Chinese because they didn’t even employ the security used by a credit card company now expect me to get a cell phone and pay for texting so they can play some more security theater. A pox on all of them!

  7. Karen B.

    I’m with all the others. I don’t have a cell phone but I do have internet and a land line. Please give me back access as quickly as possible as I am getting very close to retirement age. I am disappointed that you chose to roll this out without more options for security. I have also notified my senator about this development. I agree to more security. I do not like the EXCLUSIVENESS of your one option only.

  8. Joseph H.

    I do not have a cell phone. Now, how do I log on? What do you propose? There must be other ways to verify authenticity of contact. This is ridiculous !!!!!!

  9. anthony

    This is the worst idea that you have presented. do your homework and make this option user friendly. for those without cell phones use a landline or add questions to complete this security feature. DO NOT force elders to spend money for texting just to appease some bureaucratic BS! This is one reason the country is going in the wrong direction. No consideration for the “people” affected by ridiculous decision makers!

  10. renae r.

    What makes you think that most seniors text?
    Do you really think that Social Security pays enough for many senior citizens to even AFFORD a smart phone? Did you even take into account the fact that seniors have many eye problems which preclude them from texting even if they have a phone with that capacity?
    What happens to people residing outside the country? Oh, they are to go to their Embassy or Consulate? Have you thought of just how far that might be? Or just how long to get an appointment there?
    Phone your social security office? The International Operations office has a phone number that has a message ‘if you need us to call you back, please leave your phone number”…….well, I have left 23 such messages in the last 31 days with NO CALLBACK. So, just how realistic is this?
    I recommend that everyone who is commenting on this page write and or call their congressmen and Senators and let them know of this new, ridiculous directive. Seniors VOTE……consistently VOTE (more that any other demographic). Perhaps they (our representatives) will at least be interested in the fact that we can show our displeasure with our withholding of that vote they count on!

    • R.F.

      We apologize for the inconvenience. We have referred your complaint to our Office of International Operations staff to follow up and to take corrective action as necessary. We appreciate your feedback, and thank you for bringing this to our attention.

      • renae r.

        Well Mr Fernandez…….I am not holding my breath for a call-back!
        This is not my first rodeo with that office…….While I have been most impressed with some of the staff there……the problem is GETTING thru to them/having them RETURN calls. (Do you know that 1 of the phone numbers you promote for general inquiring calls has been a line dedicated to a specific legal settlement? For MONTHS?)
        What good is a phone line that asks : your name/your ssi #/a quick mention of the problem and then your phone # for them to call you back if they NEVER call back?
        What good is preparing everything for a waiver request/ having to pay almost $50 to send such request (local postal strike and FedEx/UPS etc are unable to deliver to a US PO Box)…..having a signature of the IO mailroom signing for said package yet NO ONE CAN FIND IT? Are you kidding me? And now…..unable to access the mysocialsecurity site? THIS is progress?

      • D T.

        Don’t aapologize. Just correct this terrible change. Not one reply has been positive.

    • GlennB

      >>I recommend that everyone who is commenting on this page write and or call their congressmen and Senators and let them know of this new, ridiculous directive>>

      Unfortunately this is an election year, plus summer recess–so NOTHING will get DONE

      Suggest contact your local news media consumer affairs people….the Gov’t doesn’t like being in the news

Comments are closed.