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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David H.
Presidential Executive orders = plans without congress.
This thing is another fail attempt as with any national planning failure like Affordable healthcare acts, along with numerous others this president implemented.
dor c.
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Cindy
Thanks for returning access to the 73% of elders over 65 who don’t have smart phones. Since you notified us by email that we would no longer be able to access our accounts, I would recommend you also be proactive and notify everyone by email that they now have access again. Don’t rely on them somehow learning this by osmosis or reading a blog they probably don’t know exists.
Omar M.
Amen to that, Cindy! Very well put!!!
Stan
Why can SS not use a verbal numeric code on a land line or email like many other institutions. Give a choice between mobile, landline, or email.
Thanks.
Ray F.
Hi Stan, 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. http://bit.ly/20nvsaI
Omar M.
Ray, you or whoever the idiot who implemented the texting requirement should have thoroughly researched the issue and foreseen the impact your so-called “multifactor authentication” would have on those of us senior citizens your agency is supposed to serve, and who pay for your salary! Hope you and whoever came up with such idiotic idea are having CROW for supper with their families!!!
Ray 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. http://bit.ly/20nvsaI
Ardsley M.
When are we who live abroad going to be able to have a MySocialSecurity account online? It is so hard to communicate with SSA from overseas.
Thanks,
Ray F.
We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your feedback Ardsley. We assure you that we are continuously working to improve the Social Security online services that we offer via our website http://www.ssa.gov. Remember, for any assistance related to your Social Security benefits, while living abroad; please contact your local U.S. embassy or consulate. In addition, our Office of International Operations home page provides more information to assist our customers living abroad. Thanks.
Martin M.
I wish to add one more voice thanking SSA for rethinking the cell phone requirement. But I still face a problem because I live currently outside the US. As has been pointed out previously, it is impossible to supply a phone number that does not fit the 3-3-4 pattern, so my Swiss phone is of no use in this context. I do have a US phone, but I am charged for every text message it receives here, with extra roaming charges tacked on as well. The next step for SSA is to acknowledge that not all its beneficiaries live within the bounds of the US/Canadian phone system. If my credit union can do it, so can SSA.
Alejandro O.
Dear SSA, I did not have a cell phone because I am extremely nervous. Due to chronic anxiety and social phobia I cannot have a cell phone because of all kinds of unexpected calls that I cannot handle. Every time I had a call my anxiety would just spike for the rest of the day or two. The cell phone requirement was really making me very anxious having a cell phone in order to access my SSA account online. Not to mention I cannot afford one, and the free phone I don’t want it either. Thank you for removing this requirement.
ben
Please don’t let this reversal of the TEXTING requirement be real and not another OBAMA flim/flam SCAM to abuse our tax dollars needlessly.
Marta
With or without the added security of texts/emails, I have not been able to access my account for over a month. Waited on hold for over an hour twice, when someone finally answered she put me on hold to check on something and the system kicked me into the survey. So I called back, another hour wait and the woman who answered said the system was down. Have been on hold today for 30 min already. Have to go catch the bus soon. Maybe you need to hire more people to answer the phones. Working people don’t usually have an hour or two to wait on hold.
Arthur S.
NIST does not look on 2-factor authentication, as you have implemented it, with any favor. See https://cssig.brats.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/NIST-Digital-Authentication-Guidelines-for-OOB-and-2FA.html and the hyperlinked articles in the document.
Your approach to security seems flawed and subject to inadequate controls.
Art
Chair IEEE OC CyberSecurity SIG