Guide
How to Set Up a My Social Security Account
How Do I Set Up a My Social Security Account?
To open a my Social Security account, go to ssa.gov/myaccount and sign up through Login.gov or ID.me, the two sign-in services SSA uses. You must be 18 or older and have your own email address, and you'll verify your identity with a government-issued photo ID. SSA says the one-time setup takes 5 to 20 minutes and is free. After that you can print a benefit letter, change direct deposit and check payments without a trip to an office.
Setting Up a My Social Security Account: What You Need
You can open a my Social Security account on a phone, tablet or computer, at any hour. Gather these first:
- Your age and email. You must be 18 or older and have a valid email address that only you use.
- A government-issued photo ID.
- A phone number if you choose Login.gov, or a device with a camera if you choose ID.me.
- A supported browser. SSA lists Chrome, Edge and Safari.
SSA says verifying your identity is a one-time task that takes 5 to 20 minutes. Signing up is free.
Login.gov or ID.me: Which Sign-in to Choose
SSA no longer runs its own usernames. You sign in through one of two partner services, and you only need one.
| Login.gov | ID.me | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A government sign-in used across many federal agencies | A sign-in used by many federal agencies and private companies |
| Best for | Most people in the United States | People inside or outside the United States |
| What you need | Email, government-issued photo ID, phone number | Email, government-issued photo ID, device with a camera |
| No mobile phone? | Get your code by voice call to a landline | You may be able to verify on a video call |
SSA’s advice is simple. If you aren’t sure, use Login.gov. If you already have a Login.gov or ID.me account from another agency or company, use that one. If you live abroad, use ID.me.
How to Create Your Account
- Go to ssa.gov/myaccount. Check that the address starts with https://www.ssa.gov/ or https://secure.ssa.gov/.
- Choose “Create an account” with Login.gov or ID.me.
- Sign in to that service if you already have it. If not, create an account there. Use an email address that only you use.
- Verify your identity by following the prompts with your photo ID and phone or camera.
- You return to SSA and land in your personal my Social Security account.
The next time, choose “Sign in” on ssa.gov and use the same Login.gov or ID.me email and password.
What You Can Do Once You’re in
What you see depends on whether you get benefits yet.
| If you get benefits | If you don’t get benefits yet |
|---|---|
| Set up or change direct deposit | Get retirement benefit estimates at different ages |
| Print a benefit verification letter | Get estimates for spouse’s benefits |
| Get current and past SSA-1099 tax forms | Check your application or appeal status |
| See your yearly cost-of-living increase | Get your Social Security Statement |
| Change your address or phone number | Review your earnings record |
| Read SSA notices in the Message Center | Get proof that you don’t get benefits |
Everyone can also request a replacement Social Security card in most areas, change their name, and upload documents. If you’re getting a new card, the replacement card guide covers who can do it online.
Your account also shows your upcoming and past payment dates, which the 2026 payment schedule explains. To change where SSA mails your notices, see the change of address guide.
Changing Direct Deposit in Your Account
Updating your bank details is one of the most common reasons people sign in. It’s also the fastest way to make the change.
- Sign in to my Social Security.
- Open the direct deposit page from the Manage Benefits menu.
- Enter your bank’s routing number and your account number, then confirm.
SSA notes that some benefit types can’t be changed online. If yours can’t, the page tells you the next step, usually a call to 1-800-772-1213. Many banks can also send the change to SSA for you through Automated Enrollment, so ask yours.
Don’t close your old account until the first payment lands in the new one. Your payment day follows the 2026 payment schedule, and the lost or stolen payment guide covers what to do if a deposit goes missing.
Checking Your Statement and Earnings Record
If you’re still working, the account’s most useful tool is your Social Security Statement. It shows estimates of your future retirement, disability and survivor benefits based on your actual earnings.
SSA suggests reviewing your earnings each year for accuracy. Your future benefit is figured from that record, so a missing year matters. The account also shows the Social Security and Medicare taxes you’ve paid.
SSA also lists monitoring for unusual activity as a reason to have an account. Signing in now and then lets you spot a changed address or bank account you didn’t make. SSA says securing your own account helps prevent misuse of your record.
Getting Notices Online Instead of by Mail
SSA posts most cost-of-living notices in your account’s Message Center each year. You can choose to get available notices online instead of by mail when you sign in.
Online notices arrive sooner and don’t get lost in the mail. If you prefer paper, keep your mailing address current so letters reach you.
Your Old Account Stopped Working: Here’s Why
If you made an account years ago with a Social Security username and password, it no longer signs you in. SSA removed that option on June 7, 2025. Login.gov and ID.me are now the only ways in.
Sign in through Login.gov or ID.me to reach your personal account. If you already have one of those accounts, there’s nothing new to create.
When You Can’t Get in
Most sign-in problems have a simple fix.
- No cell phone. Use a landline, a security key or backup codes. Login.gov can call your landline with the code.
- You share a phone with your spouse. You can both add the same mobile number to separate Login.gov accounts. Each of you still needs your own email.
- You share an email. You can’t. SSA requires a unique email address for each person, so create a free email account for yourself first.
- The page won’t load or loops. Use Chrome, Edge or Safari, update the browser, and clear your cache and cookies.
- Identity check fails. Contact the Login.gov or ID.me help center. SSA uses these partners to verify identity, so they handle those problems.
If you still can’t finish, you can do many tasks by phone at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. That includes ordering a benefit letter and changing direct deposit. The phone number guide lists the best times to call.
Do You Need to Visit an Office?
Not to open the account. SSA’s sign-up runs entirely online through Login.gov or ID.me.
You may still need an office for tasks SSA requires in person. SSA’s online appointment request also asks you to sign in first, which is one more reason to set up the account. The office finder covers all 1,231 offices, and 1,194 of them keep standard hours, Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
To find yours, open your city page. Tampa, Atlanta, Seattle and Denver each list their offices with addresses and phone numbers. In Detroit, for example, the Detroit downtown office is at 477 Michigan Ave. Before you go, read office hours and appointments and what to bring.
Keep Your Account Safe From Scams
Criminals copy SSA’s emails and texts to steal sign-ins. SSA gives these tests:
- Real SSA emails come from addresses ending in ssa.gov, and their links go only to ssa.gov pages.
- Real links start with https://www.ssa.gov/ or https://secure.ssa.gov/. Hover over a link to see where it really goes.
- SSA never asks for sensitive personal information by social media, email or text.
- Threats to suspend your Social Security number or account are a scam sign.
Don’t reply to a suspicious email or click its links; SSA’s account help page lists where to forward it. Report scam calls at oig.ssa.gov/report. Never give your Login.gov or ID.me password or sign-in code to anyone who contacts you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Still Use My Old Social Security Username?
No. Since June 7, 2025, SSA accepts only Login.gov and ID.me. If you made an account with a Social Security username and password, sign in with Login.gov or ID.me instead. If you already have either one, use it.
Do I Need a Smartphone?
No. Login.gov can send your sign-in code by voice call to a landline, and both services offer other methods such as security keys or backup codes. ID.me may let you verify on a video call if you don't have a personal phone.
Can My Spouse and I Share an Account or Email?
No. SSA requires each person to have their own account with a unique email address. You can both add the same mobile number to separate Login.gov accounts.
I Live Outside the United States. Which Sign-in Should I Use?
ID.me. SSA says customers with a foreign mailing address should create their account with ID.me, and many online services work overseas with it.
Does It Cost Anything to Open an Account?
No. SSA says signing up is free. A website or caller that charges you to create or fix your account isn't SSA.
Can I Manage Someone Else's Benefits Through My Account?
Only as their representative payee. Payees use the Representative Payee Portal to manage direct deposit, wage reporting and annual reports for the people they represent. Otherwise each person needs their own account.
Keep Reading
- What to BringThe documents SSA asks for at common office visits and what you can do online instead
- Office Hours and AppointmentsStandard office hours, how appointments work and when to call instead
- Phone NumbersSSA's national number, local office lines and how to get through faster
- Replace a CardWho can replace a card online, the documents needed and what it costs
- Name ChangeChanging your name on your Social Security record after marriage, divorce or a court order
- Change of AddressWho must report a move, the ways to do it and what happens to your payments