How to Set Up a my Social Security Account

The task was meant to take five minutes, and instead the SSA site asks for an account that did not exist last time, or refuses the username that used to work. The sign-in system changed in 2025, and the account now sits behind an outside identity service rather than an SSA password.

Check what the account covers

The SSA's page on my Social Security presents the account as the way to access Social Security information and manage benefits online. The SSA's page on the Social Security Statement says it gives secure access to the statement and allows an address change, a check of reported earnings, and an estimate of future benefits. The pages on a benefit verification letter, on direct deposit, and on replacing a Social Security card route those tasks through the same account.

Choose a sign-in service before starting

The SSA's page on creating an account says an applicant must be 18 or older with a valid email address, and must select either Login.gov or ID.me as the sign-in service. Its comparison describes Login.gov as a government sign-in service used across many federal agencies and suited to most users in the United States, and ID.me as a service used by federal agencies and private companies and suited to users inside or outside it. The my Social Security page directs anyone living abroad, or without a Social Security number, to the second option.

Verify identity with that service

The SSA page says the sign-in service performs the identity verification, that the one-time task takes 5 to 20 minutes, and that an existing Login.gov or ID.me email address and password can be used instead. The Login.gov guide to identity verification lists a US driver's license, state ID, or passport book or card, a Social Security number, and a US phone number or mailing address, and describes submitting photos of the ID. The SSA comparison notes that the ID.me route expects a device with a camera.

Sign in and download the statement

Once the sign-in service has verified the identity, the SSA creating-an-account page says the account opens from SSA.gov. The Social Security Statement page holds the sign-in link for the statement and says workers aged 60 and over without an online account are mailed one three months before their birthday.

If an older SSA username no longer works. The SSA creating-an-account page states that as of June 7, 2025 its online services use Login.gov and ID.me for sign-in, and that anyone without one of those accounts needs to create one. An SSA notice about retired activation codes says codes issued by the agency are no longer supported and points to the same two services.

If online verification fails. The SSA's page on proving your identity says someone who cannot create or access an account, and who needs to change direct deposit details, has to visit a Social Security office to prove identity or arrange the deposit through their bank. The field office locator finds offices by address, city, state, or ZIP code.

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