How to Set Up Your my Social Security Account, Step by Step
A my Social Security account is a free online account from the Social Security Administration (SSA). It puts your Social Security information in one place, so you can check things yourself instead of waiting on the phone.
It’s useful whether you already get benefits or are still a few years away.
What You Can Do With It
According to SSA, your account lets you:
- See your Social Security Statement and estimates of your benefit at different ages
- Review your earnings history and spot mistakes early
- Change your address or direct deposit
- Print proof of your benefits or your tax form
- Request a replacement Social Security card
- Watch for unusual activity on your record
Checking your earnings history matters. Your benefit is based on it, and an error is easier to fix sooner rather than later.
What You’ll Need
- To be 18 or older, with a Social Security number
- An email address you check
- A government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license
- A phone number (for Login.gov) or a device with a camera (for ID.me)
Since June 2025, SSA uses two sign-in services: Login.gov, which is for most people in the United States, and ID.me, which works inside or outside the United States. If you already have an account with either one, you can use it.
How to Set It Up
- Type ssa.gov/myaccount into your web browser yourself. Don’t follow a link in a text or email.
- Choose the option to create an account, then pick Login.gov or ID.me.
- Follow the steps to verify who you are. SSA says this one-time step takes about 5 to 20 minutes.
- Once you’re verified, sign in and look around your account.
- Turn on any extra sign-in protection the service offers, and write your password down somewhere safe at home.
If you get stuck, a trusted family member can sit with you, but the account should be in your own name and only you should sign in.
Stay Safe
Only enter your information on official sites. Look for “.gov” and “https://” in the address bar. SSA says it will never ask for sensitive information through social media, email or text message.
If someone contacts you claiming to be from Social Security and asks for money, gift cards or your account details, hang up and report it to the SSA Office of the Inspector General at oig.ssa.gov/report.
More on Seniors Tips
- Two-Step Verification Explained: A Simple Guide to Protecting Your Accounts
- Medicare Open Enrollment 2026: A Step-by-Step Guide to Reviewing Your Coverage
