How to lock your Social Security number for protection beyond credit freezes?

What you're referring to is actually called an Electronic Access Block (EAB). It's not exactly 'locking' your SSN, but it prevents anyone (including yourself) from accessing or changing your Social Security information online through the MySocialSecurity portal. It's an additional layer of protection beyond credit freezes that specifically protects your Social Security benefits and information.To set this up, you need to contact SSA directly at 1-800-772-1213 and request an Electronic Access Block be placed on your record. Just be aware that once you do this, even YOU won't be able to access your information online either - you'll need to handle everything by phone or in person at your local office.

Thank you so much! That's exactly what I was trying to remember. An Electronic Access Block sounds like a good extra layer of security. I don't mind not having online access since I rarely use it anyway. Do you know if there's any downside to doing this?

i think its blocking your my ssa account online, not actually locking ur SSN. nobody can really lock a SSN its just a number lol. but yeah good idea if ur worried about identity theft

Thanks for the clarification! You're right, I was mixing up the terminology. Makes sense that you can't actually

I did this last year after someone tried to claim benefits in my name! It's called an Electronic Access Block and it basically prevents ANYONE from accessing your SS record online. You can still get everything done, but you have to call or visit an office. Huge peace of mind for me after what happened.

That sounds terrifying! Did they actually get any money or benefits before you caught it? I'm considering doing this too but wasn't sure if it was worth the hassle.

@concerned_citizen No they didn't get anything because SSA flagged it as suspicious, but it was still a nightmare to sort out. Had to provide all kinds of ID verification and spent WEEKS trying to get through to someone at SSA who could help. That's actually why I ended up using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to connect with an agent quickly. They have a system that calls SSA for you and gets you through to a real person without the endless hold times. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU that shows how it works. Totally worth it when you're dealing with something urgent like identity theft.

OMG the hold times are THE WORST!!! I tried calling about my dad's survivor benefits last month and gave up after being on hold for 2 hours. Might try that service next time, sounds handy

I work at a financial institution, and I want to clarify some misconceptions here. There are actually THREE different types of protection you should know about:1. Credit Freeze (which you already have) - Prevents new accounts being opened in your name with the credit bureaus2. Electronic Access Block - This is what others mentioned, which prevents online access to your MySocialSecurity account3. Benefit Verification Block - Less known, but this prevents anyone from verifying your SSN benefits via automated systems many institutions useEach provides different protection, so they work best together. For maximum security, I recommend all three plus checking your Social Security Statement annually for suspicious activity.

I've never heard of that third one before - the Benefit Verification Block. How exactly do you set that up? Is that also through the 800 number or do you need to visit an office in person?

@SSA_Helper You request a Benefit Verification Block the same way - by calling 1-800-772-1213. But fair warning: this one can create more practical problems in your day-to-day life. Many legitimate financial processes require benefit verification, so you might find yourself having to make more trips to the SSA office to get verification letters in person. I generally only recommend this extra step for people who've already experienced identity theft or have strong reason to believe they're at high risk.

This is incredibly helpful information! I had no idea there were so many different layers of protection available. I think I'll start with just the Electronic Access Block since I already have my credit frozen. Really appreciate everyone's advice here!

Just wanted to add another security tip that's worked well for me - consider setting up account alerts with the Social Security Administration if you do keep online access, or make sure to regularly check your Social Security Statement (Form SSA-1099) when it comes in the mail each year. I caught a discrepancy in my earnings record this way that turned out to be someone using my SSN for employment. Even with all these blocks in place, it's still good to periodically verify that your actual benefits and earnings history look correct. The earlier you catch these issues, the easier they are to resolve!