Will Social Security benefits stop if I don't create a Login.gov account by end of 2025?

This is EXACTLY why I still get paper checks!!! The government FORCING us to use these complicated online systems is ridiculous when half of us seniors aren't comfortable with this technology. My neighbor had the SAME PROBLEM with Login.gov identity verification and ended up having to take a bus 22 miles to the nearest SSA office!! And that was after THREE WEEKS of trying to get through on the phone. I don't trust any of it. First they pushed us to direct deposit, now this login.gov nonsense. What happens to elderly people who don't have computers or smartphones??? Do they just lose benefits they EARNED??? The whole system is designed to frustrate people until they give up!!!

You don't need to worry about losing your benefits. This is a common misunderstanding circulating right now. Login.gov is becoming an alternative way to access your my Social Security account online, but it will NOT be required to continue receiving your monthly Social Security payments. Your benefits are established independently from how you access your account information. The SSA is gradually adding Login.gov as an option for online access, not as a requirement for benefit eligibility. Direct deposits and paper checks will continue regardless of whether you use the online portal. If you're having technical difficulties, you could try: 1. Using a different browser 2. Trying from a different device (like a tablet or different computer) 3. Having a trusted family member help with the technical steps But again, your monthly benefits will continue regardless of whether you successfully create a Login.gov account.

i heard about this too but i think they keep pushing back the deadline. first it was 2023, then 2024, now 2025? who knows if it will ever actually happen. ssa can barely keep their regular systems working

To add some factual clarity here: The Login.gov transition is primarily about online account access security, not benefit eligibility. SSA is indeed moving toward using Login.gov as the authentication method for the my Social Security portal, but this only affects how you access your information online. Your monthly Social Security retirement benefits are established by law and continue based on your eligibility, not your ability to access an online account. Many beneficiaries have never created online accounts at all and receive their benefits without issue. That said, if you need to resolve your Login.gov verification issues, there's a faster way to reach SSA than waiting on hold for hours. I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get through to an agent in about 20 minutes instead of waiting for hours. You can see how it works in their video demo: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU Once you reach an agent, ask specifically about scheduling an in-person appointment to verify your identity for Login.gov purposes. Bring multiple forms of ID to that appointment including your Social Security card, driver's license, passport (if you have one), and a recent utility bill.

@profile5 - Yes, it's legitimate. It doesn't access any of your Social Security information - it just helps you get through to an actual SSA representative on the phone more quickly. They just call SSA for you and then connect you when an agent answers. I was skeptical too, but after spending days trying to get through myself, it was worth it. The SSA representatives themselves often suggest using callback services because they know how overwhelmed their phone systems are.

my grandpa had this same prob with login.gov but he just kept using his regular my social security account and his $$ still comes every month no problem

I work at a senior center and we've been helping many people with exactly this situation. The SSA is transitioning to Login.gov for online account access, but this will NOT affect whether you receive your benefits. I've helped dozens of seniors through this process. Here's what I've found works: 1) Try the Login.gov verification at different times of day - their system gets overloaded 2) Make sure your phone is receiving texts if using that verification method 3) For photo ID verification, use a very well-lit room and place ID on dark background 4) If all else fails, visiting an SSA office in person is unfortunately the most reliable solution But please don't worry about losing benefits - that's simply not accurate information.

I think most of the confusion is coming from that misleading Fox News article from last month that made it sound like benefits would stop without Login.gov access. That's just not true. The article was talking about online account access, not actual benefit payments, but they made the headline super scary to get clicks.