How to set up an online social security account

LOG-INS CHANGING FOR SOME Before Sept. 18, 2021, My Social Security sign-up was fully done within Social Security’s website, SSA.gov. The SSA is phasing out the old sign-ins to simplify

account access and align with federal standards for authenticating users. If you have one of these accounts, you will need to switch it to a Login.gov account to maintain access to My Social

Security. (The SSA says not doing so will not affect your Social Security payments, only your online account access.) This should only take a few minutes and will not change your account

information. JOIN OUR FIGHT TO PROTECT SOCIAL SECURITY You’ve worked hard and paid into Social Security with every paycheck. But recently, we've heard from thousands of Americans who

want to know more about the future of Social Security. Here’s what you can do:  When you log in using the old method, select the option to transition to Login.gov and follow the prompts to

change your sign-in credentials. The SSA has a video with step-by-step instructions and an FAQ page with more detailed information and troubleshooting tips. If you already sign in via

Login.gov or ID.me, the SSA’s other provider for account credentials, you can continue accessing your account using those platforms and your existing username and password. ID.me is the only

sign-up option available if you have a foreign mailing address. On the account sign-in page, click on the green “Sign in with ID.me” button. You’ll be sent to the ID.me site, where you can

create an account and be guided through the set-up process. PROTECTING YOUR BENEFITS FROM SWINDLERS  The SSA offers secure sign-in via Login.gov and ID.me to guard against identity theft.

Once you create your account, you can use it to verify your identity with the SSA — a necessary step when applying for benefits or changing your banking information on file. If you haven’t

created your account yet, scammers who obtain your Social Security number and address through phishing, data breaches or other means may be able to go online and set one up in your name. The

threat grows once you reach age 62, the minimum claiming age for Social Security retirement benefits. Thieves could start collecting monthly payments in your name, and you might not find

out about it until years later when you apply for Social Security. Only one account is permitted per Social Security number, so claiming your account early is key. Scammers can still cause

harm if they gain access to your account — for example, by changing your bank information to divert benefit payments. Don’t share account credentials or multifactor authentication codes, and

if you’re using a device other than your own, be sure to log out of your account when you’re done. If you suspect you have been the victim of identity theft, report it to the SSA Office of

the Inspector General or visit the Federal Trade Commission’s IdentityTheft.gov information site.