While it normally pays to be skeptical about any unsolicited emails you receive from the Social Security Administration, the latest missive sent from the federal agency in mid-July is not a scam. SSA is changing the way individuals access their online account in the near future. That means you may need to take action.
If you created your personal “my Social Security account” before September 18, 2021, you will still be able to use your username and password to sign in—for now. But you won’t be able to so for much longer.
In a recent press release, SSA announced that customers who created an online account before September 18, 2021, will soon be required to transition to a Login.gov account to continue access to their online services. Over five million of these account holders have already transitioned to Login.gov, SSA said.
The agency explained that it is making the changes to simplify the sign-in experience and align with federal authentication standards while providing safe and secure access to online services.
Although there is no specific deadline for the changeover, account holders are encouraged to sign-in now before the username option goes away later this year.
When you log in at www.ssa.gov/myaccount, you will be presented with an option to transition to Login.gov. Once your account is successfully linked, a confirmation screen will appear, and you will have immediate access to your personal my Social Security services.
“My Social Security accounts are free, secure, and provide personalized tools for everyone, whether receiving benefits or not,” Social Security Commissioner Martin O’Malley said. “People can use their account to request a replacement Social Security card, check the status of an application, estimate future benefits, or manage the benefits they already receive.”
Existing Login.gov or ID.me account holders do NOT need to create a new account or take any action.
If you have a security freeze, fraud alert, or both on your credit report, you can still open a personal my Social Security account by temporarily lifting it. To do this, you must:
–Contact each of the three credit reporting services—Equifax, Experian and Trans nion–and request that they temporarily lift your security freeze or fraud alert.
–Create a personal my Social Security account online after lifting the security freeze or fraud alert.
–Reinstate the security freeze or fraud alert with the credit reporting services, if needed. When you request a temporary lift of your credit freeze or fraud alert, the Identity Services Provider may automatically reinstate it after your temporary lift expires.
If you don’t want to temporarily lift your security freeze or fraud alert, you can create your account using ID.me or you can contact your local Social Security office for assistance.
For more information click here.
