This Fall, Fall Into an Online Account with my Social Security
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: November 6, 2023
As the sounds of summer quiet down, and the air turns cooler, you’ll want to check out your favorite football team, check your furnace settings, and check your earnings in your Social Security Statement online.
Opening a free personal my Social Security account is convenient and secure. Once you establish an account, you’ll have access to a wealth of information. For example, you can get an estimate of your future retirement benefits, get an estimate of your benefits should you become disabled, and verify your earnings history.
Are you a person who prefers to read materials with paper in hand? Fear not, as my Social Security allows you to view, print, and save your full Statement. This option is especially important, because we only mail paper statements to most beneficiaries every five years.
If you’re already receiving benefits, my Social Security is also a great tool! Once you establish a personal my Social Security account, you’ll be able to change your address or update your direct deposit, print a benefit verification letter, get a replacement Medicare card and a replacement SSA-1099 or SSA-1042S statement.
While you’re visiting our website to establish your personal my Social Security account, you’ll want to check out our new redesigned website. We’ve changed the look of the site based on your feedback and made it easier to navigate and more accessible on mobile devices.
Establishing a secure account on my Social Security has never been easier and can be done in as little as 15 minutes — so there’s no reason to delay. You’ll be asked some basic questions to verify your identity. Then you’ll choose a user name and password. Pretty soon you’ll be registered with full access.
At Social Security, our highest priority is protecting the privacy and security of the personal information we maintain on you and almost every American, so you can rest assured that doing business online with us is both safe and secure.
When the leaves show brilliant shades of red, orange, and yellow this fall, you’ll want to show that you’re part of the millions of people who have chosen to establish a personal my Social Security account.
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Tags: my Social Security, my Social Security account, online services, social security, SSA
See CommentsAbout the Author
Doug Walker, Deputy Commissioner, Communications
Deputy Commissioner, Office of Communications
Comments
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vrf f.
Why this web site don’t have different languages support?
http://www.ayagrup.com.tr
12 v.
Why this site don’t have different languages?
http://www.aracbuzdolabi.net
Gil V.
Are we American citizens living abroad ever going to be able to open a MySocial Security account? System always rejects us because we are abroad. Thanks.
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Hi Gil, we appreciate you trying to use our online services. At this time you must have a U. S. mailing address to create or to access your online account. The “my Social Security” authentication system requires address verification as one of the essential criteria for issuing an account. People with APO/FPO/DPO addresses can create an account overseas, but our system does not support registration and account creation for users with a foreign address yet. Please contact your local U.S. Embassy or Consulate for any assistance related to your Social Security benefits
John
It could be argued that people residing overseas have a greater need for online services. As someone in this situation, I would like to recommend that online services be made available to those residing overseas as soon as possible. Where I like I need to call an international number to get assistance or ask questions. This is quite costly.
R.F.
John, we apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your feedback. Remember, for any assistance related to your Social Security benefits, please contact your local U.S. embassy or consulate. Also, our Office of International Operations home page provides more information to assist our customers living abroad. We hope this information helps.
Mike
Sir: I called the help desk several weeks ago and they told me to contact my Embassy (I’m overseas). Told me that the SS folks there would be able to give me a 1 time activation code to set up my account after seeing a picture ID along with my SSN. I’ve queried the SS office here in Manila about this…still waiting for a reply. From what you are saying, it is not possible to do this. Which is the correct guidance?
R.F.
Hi Mike, thank you for using our blog to communicate with us! We’ve confirmed with our operations department and at this time individuals living abroad still need to have a U.S. mailing address to create a personal “my Social Security account”. For assistance with your Social Security benefits, please continue working with the U.S. Embassy in Manila. Also, our Office of International Operations (OIO) home page provides more information to assist our customers living abroad. We hope this information helps.
Gil V.
Are we American citizens living abroad ever going to be able to open a MySocial Security account? System always rejects us because we are abroad. Please reply to my email. Thanks.
Cosme
I had an account, but it seems you are locked out too often, so I just gave up.
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Thank you for using our online services, we really appreciate it. If you are having difficulty with your personal my Social Security account, you can call 1-800-772-1213 for assistance. After you hear “Briefly tell me why you are calling,” say “Help Desk” for help with a my Social Security account. Sometimes, it might be best to visit your local Social Security office for further assistance. We hope this helps.
Enrique O.
Dear Sir/ Madam,
I’m a retired American living abroad, I opened a SS online acct around 2009, several times I tried to get in my acct but the system somehow is rejecting me.
Is there a way to know why is this happening.
I appreciate your fine help on this matter.
Peggy A.
Enrique, No one at SSA or elsewhere can give you a 100% Hacker Free Guarantee. How could such a thing be possible? Apart from this, we are still the United States federal government, unchallenged as grade technology security and maintenance for all of the personal data archived about SSA Retired non-govy workers who paid-in Social Security Taxes over the years of their work history. Of course ALL available secure and Hacker prevention tools are in place, constantly monitored, and invasion will be detected immediately if ever the system is tampered… but I’m sure you MUST also know that NOTHING THESE DAYS IS INVINCIBLE. NO ONE’S COMPUTERS ARE EXEMPT FROM hacking. If man created it, other men can find a way to sabotage it… undeniable fact. That’s why have such a huge technology budget for U.S. Defense and Active military.
Since Sept 11th the lesson has been harshly learned throughout the world… ANYTHING can happen, ANYWHERE… so best technology, best qualified and trained technicians, are employed at SSA (you should go online and look at the technology education, practical experience and security checks candidates for hire at SSA in IT must meet. WOW. Seems they can do no more than that but eyes and ears are always open for suggestions from users like you and me, so don’t be shy if you have ideas. ALL genius technology is initially born from someone’s seed of an idea.
Ciao!
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We’re sorry to hear you’re having problems accessing our online services, Enrique. Please contact your local U.S. Embassy or Consulate for any assistance related to your Social Security benefits.
Johnetta
PS WHat do you do with Astrid when you’re baking with your older girls? Normally I’d bake when Sydney is napping, but we’re transitioning out of the morning nap (they both still have afternoon nap or &#t;e02qui28” time!!!). So, my options are either have her in the high chair and ply her with snacks for 45 minutes or let her destroy everything in my kitchen while we bake. lol What works for you???
Manuel S.
is the site protected from hackers ?
AJC W.
Great question. If the IRS and several other high profile Fed agencies have been hacked, I wouldn’t count on it! I already know the Russians and Chinese have my family data, because we were Fed employees!
Ken G.
I have tried several times unsuccessfully to set up my Online account. I think some of the questions asked may contain inaccurate information. Is there some other way for me to establish an Online account?
Peggy A.
Hello,
I had the same problem that you described in your pithy comment. FIRST a couple of things for preparation for you to do that will HELP YOU VERY QUICKLY GET THIS DONE. Go back to the SSA website (your comment is very vague… so get a notepad) and as you begin to set up your online account… note EXACTLY what question you are talking about “may be incorrect” or note EXACTLY what is on the screen… or take a picture of the screen with your phone, and then, if the site allows, go on to the next account setup task and when you have another problem or block crop up to stop you from going forward to completion… either take a photo of it or write COMPLETE notes on your pad about what you see, what you were trying to INPUT when it happened on the screen. Ken many people make notes and then a day or 2 later have no idea what they mean because they are cryptic… so carelessly incomplete that you STILL CANNOT INTELLIGENTLY EXPLAIN YOUR PROBLEM to anyone else who is qualified to help you. OK.. you got this part. STEP 2. Call your local SSA office or anyone where you prefer to go… you can go to ANY office throughout the USA because they are federal. If you have a health problem, some are more comfortable, convenient than others. CALL THEM 1st because you want to find out the BUSIEST DAYS… when is the line waiting out of the door and down the street because you have a health issue, unable to stand long periods of time, blah, blah. Usually Mon are BAD, BAD days; usually when they FIRST OPEN… 1st… not 30 min after… because you will be waiting 1 or 3 hrs depending on how big the community is where you live; or… LATE AFTERNOON is always best in a LOT of the SSA offices. Lines go faster… fewer people arriving; representatives are give faster service (they want to get out of there and go home too) so treat yourself to finding out BEST TIME TO GO… by being warm and needy with the SSA operator BEFORE you plan to physically show up. Next.. you must go down there to register in a FACE to FACE… get the Representatives help. You could be having a glitch in their software issue (which definitely happens; or, you are not properly doing something, which also happens; or it could be that what you are inputting is contrary to data SSA has in their historical file about you… so it keeps “kicking out” as if you are either doing something that may be a fraud alert… or you are just confused (which happens a LOT), in any event… the only way to keep yourself from going CRAZY is to get yourself down there… get a good night’s sleep before hand… those reps are always quite pleasant to deal with… I have sent a lot of people to them over many yrs (my own job requires proof of different SSA child, widow, retiree, disability and other support income) and if you have the right “stuff” with you… your case sounds like that’s only a detailed explanation of what keeps happening to block your electronic first-time setup of your account. You will have your pictures of the error screens that you experienced; and you will have backup notes that supplement info contained in the photos. this way you won’t be sitting there trying to answer questions in “government lingo” with “English lingo” because you won’t understand each other! HOPE this helps. You may be told elsewhere that “oh, you can get computer, technical support with the screen setup of new acct while you sit at home… don’t need to go to SSA office.” Ha! DON’T BELIEVE IT BECAUSE YOU WILL NOT BE THAT LUCKY (Laugh). And it depends on how computer savvy you are… how easily you can explain the screens, text fields and symbols on the screen so that technician knows EXACTLY what you’re looking at…. WHO NEEDS THE FRUSTRATION when it’s easy if you just get down to SSA office, where it’s quick, easy, a breeze for them to get it done with you.
Ken G.
Thanks for the info, Peggy
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Ken, we are sorry you are having difficulty signing up for your my Social Security account. For assistance in creating an account, please call us toll-free at 1-800-772-1213. After you hear “Briefly tell me why you are calling,” please say “Help Desk” for help with a my Social Security account. Sometimes it might be best to visit your local Social Security office for further assistance. We hope this helps.
Lisa A.
I also tried to get an ss acct.with no results.ty f/ the toll free # and telling me to go to my local office.
Leonor V.
I already have an e-mail and password with Social Security, can’t I use the same information for my Social Security.
Respectfully, Leonor DiGeronimo
Amaury
Dear Mr. Walker, I.m sick with an Inguinal Hernia it about big as an Pine Apple , you may see a bulge under, pants , it is horrible , but I do not have the Part B- the SSA. are refusing to render it to me the other half .