This Email from Social Security Is Legit

Category: Social Security

July 31, 2024 — Ordinarily Social Security or the IRS will not contact you by email or phone – unless it is from the mail, consider it spam or some kind of ripoff. But if you got an email recently from the Social Security Administration titled “Important Changes to Access Your Social Security Account!” it is legit. The reason is that soon you will no longer be able to sign in to your online Social Security account using your Social Security username and password. To access Social Security online services, including my Social Security, you will need to create a Login.gov or ID.me account.

This change aligns with federal authentication standards such as Login.gov while providing safe and secure access to their online services. If you are one of the millions of account holders who already use Login.gov or ID.me account to sign in, you do not need to take any action. For example, if you have a Global Entry account you already have a Login.gov username and password.

If you don’t have a Login.gov or ID.me account already

The SSA advises that to transition your account, please go to “Sign in” at the top of ssa.gov website. If you don’t have a Login.gov or ID.me account, select “Sign in with Social Security Username.” After successfully signing in you will be asked to create an account with Login.gov., which has 24/7 customer phone and chat support to answer your questions. If needed, they can help you with creating your account.

After you successfully link your Social Security username with your new Login.gov account, you will see a confirmation screen and be directed to the service you were attempting to access. You can start using your new Login.gov account to access Social Security online services immediately. Your old Social Security username will no longer be available.

SSA.gov is a great website.

Once you are logged in you can access a wealth of information. That includes your current benefit as well as your Medicare deduction. It is always interesting to check out your earning history too – you can reminisce over the highs and lows of your working career.

Just to be sure, don’t use the link in the SSA email. Instead, go directly to the SSA.gov website.