Update to New Online Security
Reading Time: 1 MinuteLast Updated: November 3, 2023
On July 30, 2016, Social Security began requiring new and current my Social Security account holders to sign into their account using a one-time code sent via text message. This second layer of security that requires more than a username and a password is known as “multifactor authentication.” We recently mandated this second layer of security to comply with the President’s Executive Order on Improving the Security of Consumer Financial Transactions. We implemented it aggressively because we have a fundamental responsibility to protect the public’s personal information.
Our aggressive implementation resulted in some of our customers being unable to access their personal my Social Security accounts. We listened to the public’s concerns, and have temporarily rolled back this mandate.
As before July 30, current account holders will be able to access their secure account using only their username and password. We highly recommend the extra security text message option, but it will not be required. Now, we are developing an alternative authentication option, besides text messaging, that we will implement within the next six months.
We strive to balance security and customer service options, and we want to ensure that our online services are both easy to use and secure. The best way to secure your information is to create a personal my Social Security account. If a person already has an account, a fraudulent attempt to create an account would be unsuccessful. The my Social Security service has always featured a robust verification and authentication process, and it remains safe and secure.
We regret any inconvenience you may have experienced. Open or access your personal my Social Security account today.
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Tags: my Social Security, my Social Security account
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Jim Borland, Assistant Deputy Commissioner, Communications
Jim Borland, Assistant Deputy Commissioner, Communications
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mike s.
Thank you for removing the mandatory use of a text system (that I and many other users do not have) for this verification process. with all of the other methods available such as security questions etc. I could see no need for this added barrier. If the additional security mode will use the online website it should be compatible with everyone’s capabilities.
Thank you for rethinking the secondary system.
R.F.
We appreciate your comments Mike. The my Social Security service has always had a robust verification and authentication process, and it remains safe and secure. We strive to balance security and customer service options – a large part of our stewardship responsibility is to keep data secure – and we want to ensure that our online services are both easy to use and secure. Our aggressive implementation of a one-time code sent via text message inconvenienced or restricted access to some of our account holders. We apologize for any inconvenience you may have experienced. While it’s not mandatory, we encourage you who have a text capable cell phone to take advantage of this optional extra security, which has always been available. We continue to pursue more options beyond cell phone texting. We are developing an alternative authentication option in addition to text messaging that we will implement within the next six months. Thanks!
R.F.
THANK YOU, for your continuing support!
JOC
thank you for listening to our concerns.
R.F.
We appreciate your continuing support!
Gail L.
Thank you for reconsidering.
tony
Obama want to take away guns from the mentally ill on Social Security disability. If the SSA does the same thing as the Veteran Administration and put people on the FBI background check, will those people receive benefits for life like the VA does for it’s people. Will you get your rights back once you are off disability. How about the people who already own a gun? Will the FBI take away their guns? Will those people get reimburse the cost of their gun?
I can see disaster about to happen in the future. A mental I’ll patient goes to buy a gun, but they are denied. They get so mad that they go and buy a stolen gun off the street and start shooting people. They can buy a stolen gun anywhere. It would be hard to track the ballistic on the gun because it is stolen.
If the mentally ill had a registered gun, then the FBI could come and knock on their door.
tony
So many people are shot everyday with stolen guns and never caught. The SSA would increase the demand for stolen guns by the mentally ill. The stolen gun dealers won’t need to sell their guns and export it to Mexico. They got people to buy them here in the US.
tony
The police are already being shot at by military veterans. Now they have to watch out for the mental ill people on SSDI/SSI who thinks the police is coming to take away their guns that they paid for.
Helene
Oh, I hope your back starts behaving very soon! I’ve had back issues on and off forever and know how they can halt life for a bit. Best with healing and getting all of your fun projects taken care of, we#&l217;8l be thinking of you!!!xo J~
Patricia D.
I will no longer be able to use My Social Security because I don’t have a cell phone. Makes me sad.
R.F.
Update! We removed the requirement to use a cell phone to access your #mySocialSecurity account. While it’s not mandatory, we encourage those of you who have a text capable cell phone to take advantage of this optional extra security, which has always been available. We continue to pursue more options beyond cell phone texting. We apologize for any inconvenience you may have experienced.
Duder
What do you know!!! They actually listened to the public!!! Goes to show how sticking together can solve situations….WITHOUT VIOLENCE!!!!.
Stephen
Welcome to the real world bureaucrats. How many man-hours and how much money was wasted?
.joe
Another 0 dummy idea. Use e mail
Debber
This text message is not going to work for me as I don’t own a cell phone. So, I guess I will no longer be able to access this account. There has to be a better way to access my account than this and don’t assume that we all have all of the modern electronics!
R.F.
You spoke, we listened. We removed the requirement to use a cell phone to access your #mySocialSecurity account, while we continue to pursue more options beyond cell phone texting. We apologize for any inconvenience you may have experienced.
Greg P.
It’s about time, I have not been able to access mine for over 5 years!