Social Security access is changing — and millions of Americans are affected. Make sure you know what’s coming

Millions of Americans must transition their Social Security account

A mySocialSecurity account enables workers and retirees to complete essential tasks, including the following:

• Receiving a personalized estimate of your retirement benefit or your spouse's retirement benefits
• Checking the status of your Social Security application
• Confirming your earnings record, which will determine the amount of your benefits
• Setting up or changing your direct deposit form if you're currently receiving benefits
• Printing a benefits verification
• Updating your address

According to the SSA, more than 46 million people created a mySocialSecurity account before September 18, 2021. This involved setting up a username and password to log into the site. However, the SSA has announced it is transitioning away from those user names and passwords. Instead, you’ll need to sign in with a Login.gov account or with ID.me.

At the moment, the mySocialSecurity username and password still work, but that won't be the case for long. In a guide published July 30, the SSA announced that the option to sign in with your existing credentials will soon be going away. You'll no longer have any access to your account if you don't implement a new login method.

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Kept on top of Social Security changes

The good news is that maintaining access to your online Social Security account isn’t hard. However, you do need to move quickly.

If you already have a Login.gov or an ID.me account, you can sign in with your existing credentials. However, if you don't have either of these accounts yet, you must create one to continue managing your benefits.

If you visit the site now and sign in with your existing mySocialSecurity password, the website will guide you through the process of creating your new ID. If you must create a new Login.gov account, you'll be prompted to proceed through the process, which includes providing your contact details and setting up two-factor authentication (2FA).

Setting up 2FA involves providing a phone number or another secondary way of reaching you that the SSA can use to verify your identity when you try to sign into the site.

If you’ve already created a Login.gov account for any business you’ve conducted with the federal government — including signing up for Global Entry — you should already have this account and be able to log in easily to maintain access to your important Social Security information.

The SSA recommends beginning this transition to Login.gov soon to avoid disruptions in accessing your online account. Just visit your MySocialSecurity site today and get started.

With files from William Koblensky Varela