By Alex Moore
Did you create your Social Security online account before September 18, 2021? Do you sign in to access your benefits with a “my Social Security” account? If so, it’s essential that you go online and update your account to maintain access to your online services before a new Social Security Administration (SSA) change takes effect.
This Summer, the Social Security Administration announced that beneficiaries will soon be required to use a new portal to access its online services, such as viewing benefits statements, managing direct deposits, and printing tax forms. The new login service is called Login.gov, and it is designed to provide you with a single login across all government services. The change will also improve your account’s security, says the SSA.
Making the transition from “my Social Security” to Login.gov is easy. You only need to make a change to your existing online account and will not need to open a new one.
Here’s how to make the change:
Step 1: Sign In to Your Legacy Account
To get started, open your web browser and go to www.SSA.gov. There, you should see a button that says “Sign In” in the top-right corner of the page. Click it. From there, if you don’t already have a Login.gov account, you’ll need to click the button that says, “Sign in with Social Security Username,” enter your existing username and password, and select “Sign In.”
The next screen will show you the phone number you registered with your account and ask if you still have access to it. If you have access to this number and click yes, you’ll receive a text with a security code that you can enter on the next screen to continue the login process.
Step 2: Create Your Login.gov Account
Once you’re finished signing in, your screen will automatically show you a prompt that says, “Create or Sign in with Login.gov.” Go ahead and click it. This will take you to a new page that asks for your email and preferred language.
After you finish filling out the form to create your Login.gov account, you’ll receive an email confirmation to complete the process. Look for a message with the subject “Confirm Your Email,” open it, and click the “Confirm Your Email Address” button inside.
Step 3: Choose a New Password
Once you confirm your email, you’ll be directed to a web page where you can create a new password for Login.gov. The password will need to be at least 12 characters long.
Step 4: Set Up Authentication
One of the big changes with Login.gov is that it requires two-factor authentication, which is basically a process that confirms that you are who you say you are when you access online services. You’ll have to choose how you want to do this: through a phone number, an app, or some other method.
If you choose to use your phone, you’ll register your phone number and specify whether you want to receive a call or text to confirm your identity when you sign in. Click the “Send Code” button, then you’ll receive a call or text with a security code you can enter on the next screen.
Now you’re all set. You’ll just have to click a button that says you agree to share your information with SSA.
