Protecting Your Social Security
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: November 3, 2023
At Social Security, protecting your personal information is more important than ever. We continue to evaluate and improve our robust cyber-security program to safeguard your information. The thing is, we can’t do it alone. You can help us secure your information by taking one of these steps:
- Open your personal my Social Security account. A my Social Security account is your gateway to many of our online services. Create your account today and take away the risk of someone else trying to create one in your name, even if they obtain your Social Security number.
- If you already have a my Social Security account, but haven’t signed in lately, take a moment to log in. We’ll send a one-time security code to your cell phone or to your email address each time you sign in with your username and password. The security code is part of our enhanced security feature to protect your personal information. Keep in mind that your cell phone provider’s text message and data rates may apply. If you suspect identity theft, report it to our Office of the Inspector General.
- If you know your Social Security information has been compromised, and you don’t want to do business with us online, you can contact us to block any automated telephone and electronic access to your Social Security record. No one, including you, will be able to see or change your personal information on the internet or through our automated telephone service. If you block access to your record and then change your mind in the future, you can contact us and ask us to unblock it after you prove your identity. This resource is available to certain victims of domestic violence or identity theft and those who need extra security.
We will continue to do our part to protect what’s important to you. And we’ll continue to advise you on how to protect yourself.
Did you find this Information helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Tags: fraud, my Social Security, my Social Security account, Office of the Inspector General, OIG, Social Security benefits
See CommentsAbout the Author
Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
Comments
Comments are closed.
Adrain L.
someone left a message on my phone stating that my social security number has been used illegally and if I didn’t respond back they will freeze my assets
from this number 240-503-4323
V.V.
Adrain, thank you for checking in with us. Social Security Administration (SSA) employees occasionally contact citizens by telephone for customer-service purposes. An SSA employee may call you in limited situations, such as if you recently filed a claim or have other Social Security business pending. In only a few limited special situations, usually already known to the citizen, an SSA employee may request the citizen to confirm personal information over the phone.
If you have questions about any communication — email, letter, text or phone call — that claims to be from SSA, please contact your local Social Security office, or call Social Security’s toll-free customer service number at 1-800-772-1213, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, to verify its legitimacy (TTY number at 1-800-325-0778). You may also report the information to the OIG at 1-800-269-0271 or online via https://oig.ssa.gov/report.
Don P.
Are we to receive a new social security card soon….without our number visible? Will these new cards be more difficult to fake ?
Donpearce68@gmail.com
V.V.
Hi Don. Your Social Security card contains your nine-digit Social Security number, which is needed to get a job, collect Social Security benefits and receive certain government services.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is sending new Medicare cards with new Medicare numbers. Instead of your Social Security Number (SSN), your new Medicare card will include a new number unique to you. This will help to protect you against identity theft and protect Medicare from fraud. Medicare will automatically mail your new card to the address you have on file with Social Security. As long as your address is up to date, there’s nothing you need to do! If you need to update your address, use your personal my Social Security account.
Orval D.
I have received two tx calls recently about possible fraud relating to my social security number, and they left two phone numbers i.e. 240-317-4476 and 240-489-5924. It sounds fraudulent to me, and thought I should report it. Today is 9-4-2018.
Thank you
V.V.
Hi Orval. Thank you for checking with us. Social Security employees occasionally contact citizens by telephone for customer-service purposes, and occasionally send correspondence to individuals requesting a return phone call. Anytime you have questions about any communication – email, letter, text or phone call – claiming to be from SSA, we ask that you contact your local Social Security office, or call Social Security’s toll-free customer service number at 1-800-772-1213, 7 a.m. to 7p.m., Monday through Friday, to verify its legitimacy. (TTY number at 1-800-325-0778). Thanks!
Rita G.
Thank you for having this website. Such great information.
It beats calling and waiting to reach someone.
Thank you !!!
Wendy h.
Is there any way to let your office know that your social security card was stolen during a weekend or holiday? My wallet was stolen t h is morning and my c a rd was in it.
V.V.
Hi Wendy. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) created a Self-Lock process. Locking an SSN helps stop individuals from using stolen SSNs to gain work authorization through E-Verify. Read more at https://www.uscis.gov/mye-verify/self-lock. To learn more about the steps individuals can take to prevent or resolve issues of identity theft, read our publication: “Identity Theft and Your Social Security Number”. To see if you’re eligible to apply for a replacement Social Security card online or to learn more on the process and what documents you will need to get a card, please visit our “Social Security Number and Card” web page. We hope this information helps!
George C.
Someone is using my SS number , identity theft is what it is called I guess, I can’t access or make a my SS account ,because it says error and I have an mortgage loan credit card payment ,and I don’t have any such thing,I don’t want to block my number because IAM trying to buy a used car, but someone is using my number what am I supposed to do?
V.V.
Hi George, thank you for your question. If you suspect someone is using your Social Security number, you should go to http://www.idtheft.gov and report the theft to the Federal Trade Commission or call 1-877-IDTHEFT (1-877-438-4338). In addition, you can order free credit reports annually from the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian and Trans Union). To order your credit report go to http://www.annualcreditreport.com or call 1-877-322-8228. For more information, check out our publication, Identity Theft And Your Social Security Number.
Also, for assistance with your my Social Security account, you may:
•Call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. At the voice prompt, say “helpdesk”; or
•Contact your local Social Security office.
Sohail A.
a Nice information that you shared Quad Biking Dubai Deals
KAREN M.
i have blown my password, and i can’t get any help. i have tried several times and i can’t get in. i also call the phone number and was told that no one was around and they couldn’t help.
if you are able to help me please contact me at:
stapletonkarenm@hotmail.com
thank you
karen m stapleton
V.V.
Hi Karen, we are so sorry to hear you are having difficulties with your my Social Security account. See our Frequently Asked Questions web page for information on how to retrieve or change your password. If that doesn’t work, you will need to call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Be sure and say “helpdesk” at the voice prompt. You can also contact your local Social Security office for assistance.
Avery T.
Thanks in favor of sharing such a good opinion, paragraph is pleasant, thats why i have read it fully|
V.V.
Thanks Avery, we appreciate your positive feedback! Certainly, we’ll continue trying to provide the best possible service to our customers in all forums.
Kyoko O.
Hello to all, for the reason that I am genuinely keen of reading this blog’s post to be updated daily. It consists of good stuff.|
V.V.
Thank you so much! We appreciate your positive feedback! Certainly, we’ll continue trying to provide the best possible service to our customers in all forums.
Kathryn H.
I am unable to create a my social security account since I cannot remember some of the questions they are asking. I have no idea what account I closed or opened 5 years ago or why they are not listing correctly who my credit card is with. I understand you need to provide security and it is for my good as well but this is ridiculous that I can’t even open a my social security account. I was able to apply for Medicare today but now I have no idea how I’m going to even check it. I am not receiving any statements from social security which may be because I have moved in the last couple of years. How can I even change it if I can’t get into my account. Please help! Thanks
V.V.
Hi Kathryn, thanks for using our blog. Sorry to hear you are having difficulties creating your my Social Security account. For assistance with your account, you may:
•Call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. At the voice prompt, say “helpdesk”; or
•Contact your local Social Security office.
V.V.
Hi Kathryn. Thank you for your question. The amount you’re allowed to earn depends on your age. If you attain full retirement age (66) in 2018, the earnings limit is $45,360 but we only count earnings before the month you reach full retirement age. Beginning with the month you reach full retirement age, earnings no longer reduce your benefits, no matter how much you earn. If you’re under full retirement age for the entire year, then we deduct $1 from benefit payments for every $2 earned above the annual limit. For 2018, that limit is $17,040.
Visit our Retirement Planner: Getting Benefits While Working and our Retirement Earnings Test Calculator. Hope this helps!