SSA now requiring login.gov account - mandatory change?

Yes, this is legitimate. SSA has switched to login.gov for account security. They started this transition in 2023 but now it's mandatory for most users. You'll need to create the login.gov account and link it to your existing MySocialSecurity account. It's an extra step but provides better security protection for your personal information. Once you set it up, you'll use login.gov credentials for all future SSA online access.

happened to me last month!!! super annoying to have to create ANOTHER account. took me like 30 mins to get everything setup and verify my email. why cant the govt just leave things alone when they work fine??

Im in the same boat, tried to check my SS benefits and got redirected. Is login.gov actually from the government or some third party? Not comfortable giving my info to random websites.

I had to deal with this change too. The most annoying part was having to verify my identity all over again. If you have trouble with the online verification process (which I did because my phone number had changed), you might need to call SSA directly, which is a nightmare these days. I spent 3 hours on hold last week trying to get help with my account. I found a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually got me through to an agent in about 20 minutes instead of waiting for hours. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU - basically they hold your place in line and call you when an agent is available. Was super helpful for getting my account issue resolved when I couldn't verify online.

i made a login.gov account last year for something completely different (i think it was USA jobs?) and was surprised when it worked for social security too! actually made it easier for me since i didnt have to remember another password lol

Just to clarify some misinformation in this thread: The transition to login.gov for MySocialSecurity accounts is happening in phases. While many users are being migrated now, some accounts haven't been required to switch yet. The SSA began this process in 2023 but has been gradually implementing it across their user base. When setting up your login.gov account, you'll need: - Email address - Social Security Number - A way to receive authentication codes (phone or authentication app) - State-issued ID (for some verification methods) After creating the login.gov account, you'll link it to your existing MySocialSecurity account. All your benefit information, application status, and personal records will remain intact after the transition.

my sister couldnt get her login.gov to work AT ALL and ended up going to the social security office in person. said it was actually faster than dealing with the website lol

I work with seniors on technology issues, and this login.gov transition has been challenging for many of them. If you're having trouble, here are some tips: 1. Use a current browser (Chrome, Edge, Firefox) - older browsers may not support all the security features 2. Have your cell phone handy for verification codes 3. Use a personal email you can access easily, not a work email 4. Write down your new login information securely 5. Take it one step at a time - the prompts will guide you through each part The most common issue I see is confusion during the identity verification step. Some users need to upload ID documents if the automated verification doesn't work. Don't give up if that happens - it's normal for some people to need additional verification.

Just finished setting up my login.gov account. Wasn't as bad as I thought! Took about 15 minutes total. Make sure you have your phone nearby because they text a code.

I just went through this transition last week and wanted to share my experience. The login.gov setup was actually pretty straightforward once I understood what was happening. The key thing is to make sure you're going directly to the official SSA website (ssa.gov) and letting it redirect you to login.gov - don't try to create the account separately first. One thing that helped me was having all my info ready beforehand: current email, phone number, and SSN. The verification process took about 10 minutes, and once it was done, all my old Social Security account information was still there. I was worried I'd lose access to my benefit statements, but everything transferred over seamlessly. For anyone still hesitant - this really is legitimate and much more secure than the old system. The two-factor authentication gives me peace of mind knowing my personal info is better protected.

I just completed my login.gov transition yesterday after putting it off for weeks! For anyone still on the fence, here's what made the process smoother for me: I cleared my browser cache first, made sure I was logged out of any other government sites, and had my driver's license handy just in case. The whole thing took about 12 minutes from start to finish. One tip I wish I'd known earlier - if you get an error message during setup, don't immediately try again. Wait a few minutes because sometimes the system needs time to process your information. I panicked the first time and kept refreshing, which actually made things worse. The new system feels much more secure, and I like that I can now use the same login for other government services too. My only complaint is that I wish SSA had sent clearer communication about this change beforehand - I was completely caught off guard when my old login stopped working!

I'm going through this exact same situation right now! I've been putting off creating the login.gov account for weeks because I wasn't sure if it was legitimate or not. Reading through everyone's experiences here is really reassuring - it sounds like the process isn't as complicated as I feared. I'm particularly glad to hear from multiple people that all the old account information transfers over seamlessly. That was my biggest worry since I have years of benefit statements and documents saved in my MySocialSecurity account. I think I'll finally bite the bullet and set it up this weekend. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and tips!

I just went through this transition myself about two weeks ago and wanted to add my perspective for anyone still dealing with this. The login.gov setup really is legitimate - I was skeptical at first too, especially since there wasn't much advance warning from SSA about the change. One thing I haven't seen mentioned here is that if you're over 65 or have accessibility needs, there are alternative verification methods available. My elderly neighbor couldn't complete the phone verification step, but she was able to verify her identity by answering personal questions instead. The system has several backup options if the standard verification doesn't work for you. Also, for those worried about security - login.gov actually exceeds the old MySocialSecurity security standards. It uses modern authentication protocols and the multi-factor authentication really does make a difference. I feel much more confident about my personal information being protected now. The transition preserves everything from your old account, and once you're set up, accessing your benefits is actually faster than before. Don't let the initial inconvenience discourage you - it's worth making the switch!

I just successfully completed my login.gov transition this morning after reading through all the helpful advice in this thread! The process took me about 20 minutes total, including a brief moment of panic when I couldn't find the verification text (it was in my spam folder). A few additional tips for anyone still working on this: - Make sure your phone has good signal before starting - the verification codes come pretty quickly but you don't want to miss them - If you wear reading glasses, have them handy for reading the verification codes - Don't stress if the identity verification takes a few extra steps - I had to upload a photo of my driver's license, but it was accepted within minutes The relief of having it done is huge! All my old benefit statements, payment history, and saved documents are exactly where they were before. The new login screen looks different but once you're in, everything is familiar. For anyone still hesitating - I completely understand the reluctance, but this really is a legitimate change that improves security. The hardest part was just getting started, and now I'm glad I finally took care of it instead of continuing to put it off.

I just completed my login.gov setup this afternoon after being inspired by everyone's experiences shared here! I have to say, all the detailed tips and reassurances from this community made such a difference in my confidence level going into it. The process took me about 15 minutes, and I'm happy to report that like everyone else, all my historical data transferred perfectly - benefit statements, payment records, everything is exactly as it was before. I particularly appreciated the advice about starting from ssa.gov and letting it guide me through the process rather than trying to navigate login.gov directly. One small thing I'd add for future readers: if you use a password manager, make sure to save your new login.gov credentials there right away. The system generates some specific requirements and it's easy to forget the exact format you used if you don't save it immediately. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences here - it really helped turn what seemed like a daunting task into something manageable. For anyone still on the fence, the collective wisdom in this thread shows this is definitely legitimate and worth doing sooner rather than later!

I went through this transition about a month ago and can confirm it's completely legitimate! I was initially suspicious too when I got redirected to login.gov, but it's the official government authentication system. The process was smoother than I expected - took about 10-15 minutes total. Make sure you have your phone handy for the verification codes and start from the official ssa.gov website. All my old account information, benefit statements, and documents transferred over perfectly. The enhanced security features actually make me feel more confident about protecting my personal information online. Don't let the initial confusion discourage you - once it's set up, accessing your Social Security information is just as easy as before, if not easier!

I'm dealing with this exact same situation right now! Just tried to log into my Social Security account this morning and got completely confused when it redirected me to login.gov. I thought maybe I had clicked on a phishing link or something, so I'm really glad I found this thread. Reading through everyone's experiences has been incredibly helpful - it sounds like this is a legitimate change that SSA has been rolling out, even though they didn't do a great job communicating it to users beforehand. I'm feeling much more confident about setting up the login.gov account after seeing so many successful experiences here. The tips about starting from ssa.gov, having your phone ready for verification codes, and making sure all your old information transfers over are exactly what I needed to know. I was worried about losing access to years of benefit statements, but it sounds like everyone has had their data preserved perfectly. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share their experiences and tips - this community discussion has turned what seemed like a potentially sketchy situation into something I can tackle with confidence!

I just went through this transition yesterday and wanted to share a few things that might help others who are still working on it. First, yes this is completely legitimate - login.gov is the official authentication system for federal government services. I was skeptical at first too, especially since I got no advance warning from SSA about the change. The setup process was actually pretty straightforward once I got started. A few things that helped me: I used a desktop computer rather than my phone (easier to see everything clearly), made sure I had a strong internet connection, and gathered all my info beforehand - email, phone number, and SSN. The identity verification step took a couple extra minutes for me since I had to upload a photo of my driver's license, but it was approved quickly. Like everyone else has mentioned, all my old account information transferred over perfectly - benefit statements going back years, payment history, saved documents, everything. The new login process feels much more secure with the two-factor authentication, and I like knowing that I can now use the same credentials for other government services if needed. My advice: don't put it off like I did. Start from ssa.gov, follow the prompts, and have patience with the verification steps. Once it's done, you'll wonder why you waited so long!

I'm going through this exact same transition right now and finding all these experiences really helpful! I was completely caught off guard when my regular MySocialSecurity login suddenly stopped working and I got redirected to login.gov. Like many others here, my first thought was that it might be some kind of scam or phishing attempt. After reading through everyone's detailed experiences, I'm much more confident about moving forward with the setup. It's particularly reassuring to see that literally everyone who's completed the transition has had their historical data - benefit statements, payment records, saved documents - transfer over perfectly. That was my biggest concern since I've been using my Social Security account for years and have important information saved there. The tips about starting from ssa.gov rather than going directly to login.gov, having your phone ready for verification codes, and using a desktop computer for better visibility all make perfect sense. I appreciate everyone taking the time to share their step-by-step experiences and practical advice. This thread has transformed what initially seemed like a potentially suspicious situation into something I can approach with confidence. Planning to tackle the setup this weekend - thanks to this community for all the guidance!

I just completed my login.gov transition this morning after reading through all the helpful advice in this thread! Like many others, I was initially suspicious when I got redirected from my usual MySocialSecurity login, but everyone's detailed experiences here gave me the confidence to move forward. The setup took me about 18 minutes total. I followed the advice to start from ssa.gov and use my desktop computer rather than my phone - definitely recommend that approach for better visibility. Had to upload my driver's license for identity verification, but it was approved within minutes. The two-factor authentication setup was straightforward once I had my phone ready for the verification codes. I'm happy to confirm what everyone else has reported - all my historical data transferred over perfectly. Years of benefit statements, payment history, saved documents, everything is exactly where it was before. The interface looks slightly different but all the functionality is the same once you're logged in. For anyone still hesitating: this really is a legitimate security improvement, not a scam. The enhanced protection gives me much more confidence about my personal information being secure. Thanks to everyone in this thread for sharing your experiences and tips - this community discussion made all the difference in helping me understand what was happening and feel confident about making the transition!