The Social Security Administration (SSA) has announced that all beneficiaries who created a My Social Security account before September 18, 2021, must now transition to Login.gov, a new federal authentication platform. This change is mandatory, and those who do not complete the process risk losing access to essential online services and having their monthly benefits suspended until the issue is resolved. The switch to Login.gov is part of a federal initiative to enhance the security of online services, particularly those used by older adults and people with disabilities.
The key goals of this shift include strengthening account protection against identity theft and cyberattacks, reducing wait times for online services, and unifying access to federal services through a single, secure login. SSA officials warn that accounts not updated to Login.gov will be deactivated, and beneficiaries will no longer be able to view or manage their monthly payments, request a replacement Social Security card, estimate future benefits, check the status of applications, or update personal information. Most importantly, Social Security payments may be suspended until the account is brought into compliance.
New access for Social Security accounts
You are required to make the switch if you created your My Social Security account before September 18, 2021, have not yet linked your account with Login.gov, and received an official notification from the SSA about this change. To complete the update, select the option to sign in or link your account with Login.gov, create your new Login.gov credentials or connect your existing My Social Security account, verify your identity using the required documentation, wait for a confirmation email from a legitimate “.gov” domain, and log in again to confirm that the process worked correctly.
The SSA strongly advises users to watch for phishing attempts, ensuring all links start with “https://” and come from official government domains. In addition to the login transition, the SSA confirmed the final Social Security payment for April will be issued on April 23. This payment will go to retirees and beneficiaries born between the 21st and 31st of any month.
Those eligible are encouraged to double-check their account access before the payment date to avoid any disruptions caused by the ongoing Login.gov migration.
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