The Social Security Administration has an online system, my Social Security, where people can log on and see information about their Social Security cards, applications or benefits.
VERIFY readers Mary and Joan reached out to ask if notifications they received about setting up an account with a different website, Login.gov, to access their Social Security information online were real and whether it’s safe to create an account.
THE QUESTION
Is it safe to use Login.gov to access online Social Security accounts?
THE SOURCES
THE ANSWER
Yes, it’s safe to use Login.gov to access online Social Security accounts.
WHAT WE FOUND
Login.gov is a legitimate website run by the federal government to authenticate the identity of online account holders. Users who aren’t using it or another government-approved authenticator will be required to do so in the coming months.
The Social Security Administration is making updates to its online account system, according to a July 12 press release published by the agency. Starting in September, Social Security recipients will be required to use verification tools Login.gov or ID.me in order to access Social Security information online.
“The agency is making the changes to simplify the sign-in experience and align with federal authentication standards while providing safe and secure access to online services,” the Social Security Administration says.
The Social Security Administration has an update regarding the change pinned to the top of its website, ssa.gov. The email notice VERIFY reader Mary sent to us came from subscription.service@subscriptions.ssa.gov, a legitimate Social Security email address, according to the administration’s website.
A pop up on Login.gov also confirms the website is an “official website of the United States government.” The .gov domain is also specifically reserved for government agencies.
The other option for authentication, ID.me, is also legitimate. The company has partnered with 16 federal agencies to facilitate a login service “that meets the U.S. government's online identity proofing and authentication requirements,” the Social Security administration says.
Both provide users the ability to use just one username and password across multiple websites with two-factor authentication.
The big difference between the two is that Login.gov is operated and run by the government, while ID.me is a third-party login system that can be used for government agencies, as well as non-government businesses. The Social Security Administration recommends ID.me for people living outside the United States.
The systems offer additional protection from scammers who may “obtain your Social Security number and other personal information phishing, data breaches or other means may be able to go online and set up a My Social Security account in your name,” AARP says.
Users already have the option to log in to their my Social Security accounts using Login.gov or ID.me, and people who have previously set up accounts through one of the authentication sites won’t need to take any action.
Users who created my Social Security accounts before Sept. 18, 2021, and who have not created a login on one of the new authentication websites have just a few more months before their account is phased out. The Social Security Administration says “over five million of these account holders have already transitioned to Login.gov.”
“Starting September 2024, these accounts will be retired,” the my Social Security login page says.
For users who do not currently use Login.gov, switching over an account can be done when logging into my Social Security. After logging in on the my Social Security website with their username and password as usual, users with soon-to-be outdated accounts will be given an option to transfer over to the Login.gov system. They will then need to set up a second authentication method.
Once the user links their account, a confirmation message will be shown, and Login.gov can be used to sign in to my Social Security in the future.
The Social Security Administration recommends switching to a Login.gov account as soon as possible.
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