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Three Online Social Security Musts

August 4, 2022 • By

Reading Time: 1 Minute

Last Updated: November 2, 2023

Profile of elderly man sitting at table typing on laptopIt’s never been easier to do business with us online. Often there is no need to call or visit an office. Here are three webpages that can make your life easier:

  • Create Your Personal my Social Security Account. Did you know you already have access to much of your Social Security information? All you need to do is create or sign in to your personal my Social Security account. You can verify your earnings, get future benefit estimates, instantly get a benefit verification letter, and more, with your own personal my Social Security account.
  • File for Your Retirement Online. Planning for retirement? Or looking to retire now? You can complete and submit your online application for retirement benefits in as little as 15 minutes on our Retirement Benefits page.
  • Stay Informed! Need more information about our programs? There’s a publication for that. Visit our publication library online (including audio versions) to learn more about our programs.

Our online resources don’t end there. If you didn’t see what you need in the list above, visit our Online Services page. Please share these pages with your friends and family.

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About 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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Comments

  1. Florence A.

    By reading the different cases, and seeing the responces, I have learned some new information. Thank you in furthering my SSA knowledge.

  2. Kathy D.

    I’m 57yrs old I’ve been on disability for almost 4 yrs (SSI) My husband passed away in2002 from cancer,at what age can I collect
    his social Security? I was told not till 60? We were married for 19 yrs some people say I should be able to collect it now.. I just can’t get a straight answer can someone please let me know.. Ty

    • A.C.

      Hi, Kathy. We are sorry to hear about your loss. You are eligible to apply for survivor benefits beginning at age 60. If you are disabled, you could begin receiving benefits as early as age 50 if the disability started before or within 7 years of your spouse’s death. For more information, please visit our Survivors Planner. For specific questions, please contact your local Social Security office. We hope this helps.

  3. Vickielynn

    I receive SSI/Abi Long Term Waiver and live alone.
    I’m now *eligible* to draw Social Security off my x husband. I went to my Social Security/Special Needs Trust (SNT) Attorney to get his advice. I explained to him that
    when I called SS to ask questions Re: How,
    When, Amount, etc… I said I was only calling to get information. The next thing I knew the lady told me I had no choice in the matter and had to take it now.
    Attorney told me to call and have them stop the the application if they had indeed started.
    They told me I had NO choice.
    Attorney told me if I took it now it would only be about $800 if I waited 2 more years it will be $1500.
    The SS people told me I would loose Medicaid but I could re-apply or something to that effect.
    My question is: What about my Abi lt waiver?? Nobody at SS could answer that question….. 5 different people I talked to. Attorney still says wait..Im so confused??
    Please help

    • Vickie

      Cont… Will I loose my Abi LT waiver if I loose Medicaid?
      Vickie

    • A.C.

      Hi, Vickielynn. Thanks for visiting our blog. Unfortunately, your question is a bit more complex than we can handle in this forum. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. We encourage you to continue working with your local Social Security office. We hope this helps.

  4. Jo-anne R.

    Hi I am Australian and a permanent resident of the USA for 22 years. I am married and I am unable to perform my normal work duties becorse of some medical conditions and I am almost 61 years old. I worked in Australia and worked here for 12 years. Why isnt social security adding the Australian tax credits. Also I have applied for disability support pension benefits 4 times. And the last time I seen a chiropractor about my back. I was told that Social security shouldn’t have sent me there to him becorse a chiropractor isn’t legal. I have been denied 4 times. I have not had a income since 2013. Australia and America have a agreement with each other for all Social security benefits. Why is it so difficult to get.

    • A.C.

      Hi, Jo-Anne. We are sorry to hear about your condition and situation. Unfortunately, your question is a bit more complex than we can handle in this forum. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. We encourage you to continue to work with your local Social Security office for case specific questions. We hope this helps.

  5. Edgar B.

    Hi

    My wife has beeing trying to get her SSN but they can’t match her info with immigrations. She has a non immigrant TN visa and all of her i94 are in order. Can someone help me with this?

  6. Frank B.

    I’m a homeless shelter case manager. You recommend creating an online account. But for homeless individuals this is very difficult. They move around a lot. Their address on record may be a hotel or a place they no longer stay or can’t even remember. They have different phone numbers, different email addresses. For one client we got to the point where SSA mailed an activation code to an address that client hasn’t lived at in years. Can anything be done? 

    • A.C.

      Hi, Frank. Thanks for your question. Unfortunately, your question is a bit more complex than we can handle in this forum. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. We do ask that members in our Blog community contact our offices with questions about their specific case. The individuals can also contact their local Social Security office. We hope this helps.

  7. John S.

    Thanks for keeping us informed.

    • Kenneth C.

      cant get online. keeps telling me wrong verification code after I use the one they send me.

      • A.C.

        Hi, Kenneth. We are sorry to hear that. If you are still unable to create an account or encounter a problem with your personal my Social Security account, please call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. At the voice prompt, say “help desk.” We hope this helps.

  8. Bill

    I made an account years ago. I just turned 60yrs old, and plan to submit for SS in 2 yrs.

    Trying to get into my account and clicked “Forgot Username.” Tried to go through the process of updating it and it says, “We already have an account by that email.” Well, i know that. I need help getting into my account by way of temporary so I can “update” my password, sho I can get in and see what my approx. Benefit will be in 2 yrs.

    Help?

    • A.C.

      Hi, Bill. We are sorry to hear you have had difficulty accessing your personal my Social Security account. If you are still unable to access your  account or encounter a problem with your personal my Social Security account, please call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. At the voice prompt, say “help desk.” We hope this helps.

  9. Cheryl

    I have been seeing everywhere, “it’s never been easier with online SSA!”, but I have had nothing but trouble trying to set up my account. I went through a long online process to verify my identity, including putting in my physical address when it asked for “address”, only to find at the end that it said an activation code would be mailed to me at that address–but it’s not my mailing address (USPS doesn’t deliver to my physical address). It didn’t ask for my mailing address (just “address”). I called several times and stayed on hold for extended periods, only to hang up when I had no more time to waste. Today I finally talked to a real person on the phone, who told me that I would have to go to the office to get an activation code! I am in a rural location, and will not drive all the way to an office, especially with these gas prices. Not easy to set up online–I can’t even set it up online or on the phone! Now I am mailing a paper form for my request (never mind the paper reduction act). Stop saying that it’s easy online–maybe it would be if I could set up my account without going to the SSA office in the city.

    • A.C.

      Hi, Cheryl. We are sorry to hear about your experience. If you created a personal my Social Security account before September 18, 2021 and you are still are unable to access your account, please call  our dedicated my Social Security Hotline at 1-800-772-1213, and say “helpdesk” at the voice prompt. The help desk is available to callers between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. (Eastern Time).

      The Login.gov contact center will assist you through the Login.gov proofing flow only i.e. to help create, sign in and manage your login.gov account. This is done only through their online web support page (https://login.gov/contact/) where you can submit your questions/concerns. Though you can submit your questions at any time, login.gov’s customer support operating hours are Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) and it could take up to two business days for their customer support agents to respond to  inquiries.

      For ID.me registration and/or authentication process, you should contact ID.me through their customer support page on https://help.id.me/hc/en-us/categories/360005564453-Verifying-for-the-Social-Security-Administration. The page also allows you to submit your requests for any inquiries https://help.id.me/hc/en-us/requests/new.

      We hope this helps. 

  10. Kathy T.

    Hello. Trying to setup online SS account for my 90 year old mom who now lives with me. I set up a user name & password but can’t get the system to accept her personal info that I am taking directly from her card. She can’t see well enough to read & has difficulty hearing; I am her healthcare POA. Can someone help me with this? Had no issues setting up my & my husband’s accounts a year or so ago. Thank you. Mom’s name is Helen Tisdale; DOB is 05/31/1932.

    • A.C.

      Hi, Kathy. Thanks for using our blog. You can only create a personal my Social Security account using your own information and for your own exclusive use. You cannot create or use an account on behalf of another person, even if you have that person’s written permission. Please note that having a Power of Attorney does not give you legal authority to manage payments for someone receiving Social Security or SSI benefits. If your mother needs help managing her benefits, you may be interested in applying to become her representative payee. As a representative payee, you will have access to your mother’s records and the ability to update her account information. 

      Generally, a face-to-face interview is required when applying to be someone’s representative payee. If your mother cannot be present, a statement from her doctor would be helpful. The statement should say that your mother is not able to -mentally and physically- manage her Social Security benefits and identify you as the person responsible to keep her finances in order. 

      Please read our publication: A Guide For Representative Payees for more information. If you have specific questions, please contact your local Social Security office. Just a reminder – please be cautious about posting personal information on social media. We hope this helps. 

       

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