Can I recover my old MySocialSecurity account or need to create new one after cancelled application?
Hi everyone - I'm in a bit of a situation with my Social Security online account. About 18 months ago, I set up a MySocialSecurity account because I was planning to start collecting benefits at 62. After submitting my application, I consulted with a lawyer who advised me to cancel it, which I did about a week later. Now I'm actually ready to apply, but I've completely forgotten my username and password for that account. Do I need to create an entirely new MySocialSecurity account, or is there a way to recover my old one? I've tried the password reset option but it asks for information I can't remember setting up. Anyone dealt with this before?
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Sayid Hassan
You don't need to create a new account. There's a specific account recovery process for MySocialSecurity. Go to the login page and click on 'Forgot Username' or 'Forgot Password' - you'll need to verify your identity using your email, phone, or answer security questions. If that doesn't work, you can request a reset code by mail to your address on file. Don't create a new account as that will just cause confusion in their system.
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Arnav Bengali
•Thanks for the quick reply! I tried the forgot username/password options but I can't remember the answers to my security questions (should have written those down somewhere). And the phone number I used back then might be different from my current one. Would requesting the reset code by mail be the best option now?
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Rachel Tao
i had the SAME EXACT problem!!! forgot everything after setting it up and waiting. went round and round with the online reset stuff with no luck. ended up having to go to my local SS office with ID to get it sorted. took forever and the lady was super rude about it like i was wasting her time!!! bring a book if you go that route lol
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Arnav Bengali
•Oh no, that sounds frustrating! My local office is always packed. Did you have to make an appointment first or did you just show up? I'm wondering if there's any way to avoid an in-person visit.
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Rachel Tao
•just showed up and waited 2.5 hrs!!! they told me i should've made appointment but the earliest one was like 6 weeks out and i didnt wanna wait. good luck!!!
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Derek Olson
This happened to me too. Instead of messing with the online stuff or waiting at an office, I just called the main Social Security number. I did have to wait on hold for like 30 minutes but the agent was able to help me recover my account. Make sure you have your SS card and maybe a recent tax return handy when you call.
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Danielle Mays
•I'd be cautious about trying to call the main SSA number directly. From my experience working with clients, wait times can be 2+ hours these days, not just 30 minutes, and many people report getting disconnected after waiting. A more reliable option might be using Claimyr.com - it's a service that waits on hold with Social Security and calls you when an agent is ready. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU that shows how it works. It's been a lifesaver for several of my clients who needed to resolve account issues quickly.
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Roger Romero
u dont need ur old account just make new 1... thats what i did when i forgot mine... no problems
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Anna Kerber
•This is actually incorrect information. The Social Security Administration specifically recommends against creating multiple accounts. Having two accounts tied to your SSN can create complications in their system and potentially delay your application processing. If you can't recover your existing account through the normal channels, you should contact SSA directly for assistance rather than creating a new account.
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Niko Ramsey
When I couldn't recover my MySocialSecurity account last year, I went to my local office and they helped me, but I had to bring specific documents: my driver's license, Social Security card, and a utility bill showing my current address. The whole process took about an hour once I was seen. They were able to reset everything right there. Just make sure you have proper ID with you if you go the in-person route.
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Arnav Bengali
•This is really helpful, thank you! I'll gather those documents just in case I need to go in person. Did you have to make an appointment first, or were you able to just walk in?
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Niko Ramsey
•I made an appointment online through the SSA website, which I highly recommend. The wait was still about 30 minutes past my appointment time, but people without appointments were being told 3+ hour waits. The appointment system is actually pretty efficient now.
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Danielle Mays
A few important things to consider here: 1) The MySocialSecurity account recovery system has been updated since you last used it 18 months ago. They now offer additional verification methods including ID.me verification. 2) Regarding your cancelled application: Even though you cancelled it, that information is still in their system and will be visible when you reapply. This can actually be helpful as the agent may reference your previous application. 3) If you've moved or changed phone numbers since creating your original account, you'll need to update this information when you recover the account. 4) When you do reapply, you'll need to provide a reason for the delay between your cancelled application and current one, so have that explanation ready.
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Arnav Bengali
•This is excellent information, thank you! I hadn't considered that they'd ask about the gap between applications. My reason is simply that I decided to work a bit longer to increase my benefit amount, so hopefully that's sufficient. I'll look into the ID.me verification option as well.
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Sayid Hassan
Just to clarify a point that might be causing confusion: The MySocialSecurity account (your online access) is separate from your application for benefits. Recovering your account will just give you access to the online portal again. You'll still need to complete a new application for retirement benefits when you're ready. Don't worry about your previous cancelled application - it won't negatively affect your new application in any way.
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Arnav Bengali
•Thanks for that clarification! That makes sense. I was a bit worried that my cancelled application might somehow complicate things. Good to know they're separate issues.
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Rachel Tao
my neighbor tried to make a new account when she forgot her old one and SSA flagged her account for fraud investigation!!!! took like 3 months to sort out and delayed her getting her checks. dont do that!!!
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Arnav Bengali
•Yikes! That's definitely something I want to avoid. Thanks for the warning. I'm definitely going to focus on recovering my old account rather than creating a new one.
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Derek Olson
I used that Claimyr service someone mentioned above when I had account issues last month. Got through to an actual human at SSA in like 20 minutes instead of spending all day on hold. The agent reset everything for me over the phone after verifying my identity. Just needed my SSN, date of birth, and they asked some questions about my work history to confirm it was really me.
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Arnav Bengali
•That's really good to know! I'm going to try the online recovery options first, but if those don't work, I think I'll try the Claimyr route before attempting an in-person visit. Thanks for sharing your experience!
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