If your old Social Security username and password stopped working, that’s because the Social Security Administration retired its own login system on June 7, 2025. The Social Security login changes mean that anyone who created a “my Social Security” account before September 18, 2021, and hadn’t already migrated, now needs to sign in through one of two approved providers: Login.gov or ID.me.1Social Security Administration. Frequently Asked Questions – Transitioning Your Personal My Social Security Account You only need an account with one of them, and setup is free.
If you created your “my Social Security” account after September 18, 2021, or already switched to Login.gov or ID.me on your own, nothing changes. You don’t need a second account and you don’t need to do anything.2Social Security Administration. Social Security Announces Upcoming Changes to Accessing Online Services Individual representative payees who file annual reports or manage direct deposit online are in the same boat as everyone else and need credentials through one of the two providers.3Social Security Administration. Representative Payee Program Organizational payees use a separate system called Business Services Online, which has its own login process.
Login.gov or ID.me: Which One to Choose
Both providers get you to the same Social Security dashboard, so the choice is about which sign-in system fits your situation. You can even have both, though there’s no reason to unless you want the option.1Social Security Administration. Frequently Asked Questions – Transitioning Your Personal My Social Security Account
Login.gov is run by the General Services Administration and works as a single sign-in across participating federal agencies, so one account can cover Social Security, some VA services, and other federal programs.1Social Security Administration. Frequently Asked Questions – Transitioning Your Personal My Social Security Account Your data is stored within a government cloud environment, and Login.gov will not share it with a partner agency unless you specifically consent each time.4Login.gov. Privacy and Security: Our Privacy Act Statement If online verification doesn’t work, Login.gov offers in-person verification at participating U.S. Post Office locations.
ID.me is a private company that provides identity verification to both government agencies and commercial businesses, so a single ID.me account works across public and private services. SSA specifically directs customers with foreign mailing addresses to use ID.me, which makes it the practical choice if you live abroad.1Social Security Administration. Frequently Asked Questions – Transitioning Your Personal My Social Security Account If automated verification fails, ID.me offers a video call with a live agent.5ID.me Help Center. Verifying With a Short Video Call
One more factor: ID.me collects biometric data as part of identity verification, and its retention details are in a separate Biometric Information Privacy Policy rather than the main privacy page.6ID.me. Privacy Policy If that matters to you, read it before signing up. Login.gov may also request a selfie in some cases, but its published authentication methods lean on non-biometric options like passkeys, security keys, and one-time codes.7Login.gov. Rules of Use
What to Have Ready Before You Start
Most people who get stuck in the middle of verification are missing a document or a way to receive a code. Pull these together first:
- A government-issued photo ID: driver’s license, state ID card, or U.S. passport. Login.gov’s in-person option at the Post Office currently requires a driver’s license or state ID and may not accept a passport for that path.8Login.gov. Verify in Person
- Your Social Security number.
- An email address you can access right now, since both providers send confirmation codes.
- A way to receive multi-factor authentication codes. A mobile phone is the most common, but neither provider requires one. Security keys, landline phone calls, authenticator apps, and backup codes all work.9Social Security Administration. What If I Change or Lose My Cell Phone
During registration, expect to give your full legal name, date of birth, and residential address so the provider can match you against government records. Login.gov may ask you to take a selfie to confirm you match your ID photo.10Login.gov. Verify My Identity ID.me may ask you to upload or photograph your ID and check it against additional databases.
No primary photo ID? ID.me accepts several secondary documents to support verification, including utility bills, medical bills, tax forms like 1099s and 1098s, vehicle registration or title documents, auto or home insurance statements, and certain military discharge papers. Each has its own requirements around what information must be visible and how recent it needs to be.11ID.me Help Center. Other Secondary Documents for Identity Verification
Linking Your New Credential to Social Security
Once you’ve created and verified your account with your chosen provider, connecting it to Social Security takes a few minutes. Go to ssa.gov and click the sign-in option. You’ll see buttons for both Login.gov and ID.me. Pick the one you set up.
Clicking that button sends you to the provider’s login page, where you enter your credentials and complete the multi-factor step. The provider then sends an encrypted confirmation back to Social Security, which links your new sign-in to your existing benefit records. Your browser returns to the Social Security portal and you land on your account dashboard.
You should get a confirmation email acknowledging the successful link. Keep it. If you didn’t initiate the change, that email is your signal to contact Social Security immediately. From this point on, every login goes through your chosen provider. The old username and password no longer exist as an option.
Once you’re in, your dashboard is the gateway to the usual online services: benefit estimates, your earnings history, applications for retirement, disability, or Medicare, your SSA-1099, benefit verification letters, and updates to your address or direct deposit.12Social Security Administration. Online Services
If Online Verification Doesn’t Work
Verification fails for ordinary reasons: your address on file doesn’t match, an ID photo is blurry, a database has stale information. Both providers have fallback paths.
Login.gov at the Post Office
If Login.gov can’t verify you online, you can finish at a participating U.S. Post Office. Start online by entering your personal information and phone number. Login.gov emails you a barcode with a seven-day deadline. Bring that barcode and the same driver’s license or state ID you used online to a Post Office, where a retail associate scans the barcode and reviews your ID. Login.gov emails the result within 24 hours.8Login.gov. Verify in Person If it doesn’t succeed, you can try again with a valid, unexpired ID.
ID.me Video Call
ID.me’s fallback is a video call with what the company calls a Trusted Referee. You’ll need a phone or computer with a camera, your photo ID, your Social Security number, and your email address. After uploading your documents and joining the call, an agent compares your face to your ID on camera. The call is recorded with your consent. If you don’t have a driver’s license, state ID, or passport, you can request an extended video call that may accept alternative documentation.5ID.me Help Center. Verifying With a Short Video Call
Calling Social Security
If neither online path works, call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. local time, or visit your local office in person. Phone wait times can be long, but a representative can help you access services that would otherwise require an online login.
Watch for Scams Tied to the Change
Any time millions of people are told to update their accounts, scammers move in. SSA has warned about criminals impersonating the agency through phone calls, emails, and text messages. A few rules that keep you safe:
- Social Security will not email or text you a link to “update your login.” Type ssa.gov into your browser directly.
- No one from Social Security, Login.gov, or ID.me will call and ask for your password.
- There is no fee to transition your account. The process is free through both providers.
- If someone threatens to suspend your benefits unless you “verify” immediately, hang up. Social Security doesn’t operate that way.
Report suspected scams to the SSA Office of the Inspector General at oig.ssa.gov.