Social Security website login loop fix - incognito mode worked when nothing else did

thx for posting this!! been dealing with EXACT same issue for a week. tried edge & firefox with no luck but never thought about incognito mode. gonna try it right now

I had a similar problem but on Firefox. For me the solution was clearing my cookies and cache, then restarting my browser. I think there's something about the way SSA's site handles session cookies that gets messed up. Super frustrating when you're just trying to check your benefits or application status!

This is a known issue with the MySocialSecurity portal that happens periodically, especially during high-traffic periods (like after COLA announcements or tax season). The incognito mode works because it doesn't load any cached cookies or session data that might be corrupted. Alternative solutions include: 1. Clearing browser cache and cookies (as mentioned) 2. Using a different browser entirely 3. Trying at non-peak hours (early morning or late evening) 4. Disabling browser extensions that might interfere with the login process If you absolutely need to speak with someone at SSA about your disability application and can't get through on the phone, remember that you can also schedule appointments online for many services now.

OMG THANK YOU!!!! I've been locked out for TWO WEEKS trying to check my survivors benefits that I need to pay rent. Was going to have to take the bus to the SS office tomorrow but your incognito trick worked perfectly!!!

If anyone is still struggling to get through to a human at Social Security after trying these browser fixes, I recently discovered a service called Claimyr that helped me tremendously. I was trying for days to get through about my SSDI review and kept getting disconnected. Claimyr got me connected to an actual agent in about 15 minutes instead of waiting on hold for hours. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU that shows how it works. Seriously saved me so much frustration when I needed to talk to someone about my disability review.

I appreciate you sharing this solution. As someone who works in IT (not for SSA), I can explain why this happens. The SSA website uses security tokens in cookies that sometimes conflict with existing stored data in your browser. Incognito mode creates a clean session without any existing cookies or cached data. For anyone still having issues, here's a more detailed fix: 1. Clear ALL cookies specifically from ssa.gov domain 2. Delete browser cache completely 3. Restart your browser 4. Try logging in with no other tabs open 5. If still failing, then try the incognito approach The SSA's authentication system was updated in late 2024 with additional security measures, which is why these issues have become more common recently.

ok so I JUST got off the phone with SSA after 3.5 HOURS on hold and the rep told me that they're aware of the login issues and are "working on a fix" which could take WEEKS. she suggested exactly what you did - incognito mode! she said their IT department is recommending this as a workaround. so this is officially SSA approved advice lol

Just wanted to update and say I've been able to log in successfully for 3 days straight using the incognito method. Still annoying to have to use incognito every time, but at least I can check my disability application status now. Currently shows "medical review in process" which I guess means more waiting... 🙄

This is super helpful! I've been having the exact same login loop issue for about a week now. I tried clearing cookies and cache like others mentioned but it didn't work for me. Just tried the incognito mode trick and it worked immediately! It's crazy that such a simple workaround fixes what seems like a major technical issue on their end. Really appreciate you taking the time to share this - saved me from having to drive to the local office too. Hopefully they get this fixed soon because having to use incognito mode every time is pretty annoying for something as important as checking Social Security benefits.