Where to log in and what you need
You log into Social Security through my Social Security, which is the official website run by the Social Security Administration. The address is ssa.gov/myaccount. You will need either a username and password you created before, or you can use a Login.gov account — a separate federal login system that works across multiple government websites.
If you do not have either one yet, you will create them during your first visit. The process takes about 10 minutes. You will need your Social Security number, a valid email address, and a phone number where you can receive a text message or voice call for verification.
You do not need to call Social Security or visit an office to set up your account. Everything happens online at that single website.
Key Takeaways
- Log in at ssa.gov/myaccount using either a my Social Security username and password or a Login.gov account.
- First-time users need a Social Security number, email address, and phone number that can receive text or voice verification.
- You can view your earnings record, check your benefit statement, and report changes to your account without calling or visiting an office.
- If you forget your password, use the "Forgot username or password?" link on the login page — you will verify your identity by text or email.
Creating a my Social Security account for the first time
Go to ssa.gov/myaccount and select "Create an account." You will be asked to enter your Social Security number, date of birth, and email address. Social Security will send a verification code to that email — check your inbox and spam folder, then enter the code on the website.
Next, you create a username and password. Your username can be anything you choose; your password must be at least 12 characters and include uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and a special character like ! or @. Write this down or save it in a password manager, because you will use it every time you log in.
Social Security will then ask you to verify your phone number by sending a code by text or voice call. Enter that code, and your account is active. You can log in immediately.
Using Login.gov instead of creating a separate account
If you already have a Login.gov account — which you may have created for taxes, veterans benefits, or another federal program — you can use that to log into my Social Security instead of creating a new username and password. This means one login works for multiple government websites.
To link your Login.gov account to Social Security, go to ssa.gov/myaccount and select "Sign in with Login.gov." You will be taken to the Login.gov website, where you sign in with your Login.gov username and password. Then you confirm that you want to connect your Login.gov account to your Social Security account. After that, you can use Login.gov to access my Social Security every time.
If you do not have a Login.gov account yet, you can create one at login.gov before you go to Social Security, or you can create it during the Social Security login process — both routes work.
What you can do once you are logged in
Once inside my Social Security, you can view your earnings record — the record of wages you paid Social Security taxes on, year by year. This is the number Social Security uses to calculate your benefit amount. You can also see any corrections you have requested and their status.
You can view your benefit statement, which shows your estimated benefit amount at different ages (62, full retirement age, and 70) if you have not started receiving benefits yet. If you are already receiving benefits, you can see your current monthly payment amount and your payment history.
You can also report a change to your account — for example, a name change, address change, or phone number change — without calling or visiting an office. You can view your Social Security Statement, which is a summary of your work history and benefit information sent to you once a year.
If you forget your username or password
On the login page at ssa.gov/myaccount, select "Forgot username or password?" You will be asked to enter your Social Security number. Social Security will then offer you a choice: receive a verification code by email or by text message to your phone.
If you choose email, check your inbox and spam folder for a message from Social Security. If you choose text, you will receive a code on your phone. Enter that code on the website, and you will be able to create a new password or retrieve your username.
If you cannot receive email or text messages, or if you do not remember the email address or phone number you used when you created your account, you will need to call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) to reset your account. Wait times are usually shorter early in the morning on weekdays.
Troubleshooting common login problems
If you see a message that your username or password is incorrect, check that you are typing it exactly as you created it — passwords are case-sensitive, meaning capital letters and lowercase letters are different. If you are still stuck, use the "Forgot username or password?" link instead of guessing.
If the website says your account is locked after several wrong password attempts, wait 30 minutes and try again. This is a security feature to prevent someone else from guessing your password.
If you see an error message about your browser or connection, try a different web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge all work) or clear your browser's cache and cookies. If the problem continues, try again in a few hours — the website occasionally goes down for maintenance.
If you created your account using Login.gov and you cannot log in, the problem may be with your Login.gov account rather than Social Security. Go to login.gov and try to log in there first to make sure that account is working.
Security and protecting your account
Never share your username, password, or Social Security number with anyone who contacts you by phone, email, or text claiming to be from Social Security. Social Security employees will not ask for your password. If someone contacts you this way, hang up or delete the message and call Social Security directly at 1-800-772-1213 to report it.
Use a strong, unique password that you do not use on any other website. If you use the same password on multiple sites and one of those sites is hacked, someone could use that password to access your Social Security account and your other accounts too.
If you think someone has accessed your account without permission, change your password immediately and call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 to report it. You can also place a fraud alert on your credit report by contacting one of the three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I log in on my phone or tablet?
Yes. The my Social Security website works on phones and tablets using any web browser. You log in the same way as on a computer. There is no separate app — you use the website at ssa.gov/myaccount.
What if I do not have a phone number that can receive text messages?
During account creation, you can choose to receive your verification code by voice call instead of text. Social Security will call you and read the code out loud. You can also use an email address for verification instead of a phone number for some steps.
Can someone else log into my account if they know my password?
Yes, which is why a strong, unique password is important. If you think someone knows your password, change it immediately by logging in and selecting the option to change your password. If you cannot log in, use the "Forgot username or password?" link to reset it.
Do I have to create a my Social Security account to get benefits?
No. You can receive Social Security benefits without ever logging in online. Creating an account is optional and is useful if you want to check your information, view your statement, or report changes without calling or visiting an office.
What happens if I do not log in for a long time?
Your account stays active. You can log in anytime, even if months or years have passed since your last login. Your username and password remain the same unless you change them.