Social Security to Require Login.gov

[Ellecram]

So, you’re saying you can’t log into your “My Social Security” account on the SSA web site using your login.gov user id ?

Try deleting your browser history, cookies, and clearing cache. Then shut down the computer and reboot.

I deleted cache/cookies and even used a browser I never used before (Edge). The main SS office had no idea how to help. It appears I need a mysterious activation code which no one seems to be able to cough up.
For now I will just plan on using the phone to sign up for my social security as I plan on retiring early next year.

 

[Ellecram]

Take a deep breath. I think everyone’s SS user name is being phased out, so you’re not losing anything. No one will be able to log in using their old SS user id, everyone now needs to login with login.gov or id.me. Even if you don’t get this fixed today nothing bad will happen and you won’t lose anything.

Yes I plan on being an absolute luddite and using the phone lol!

I wanted to get it taken care of as I am leaving for a trip to Ireland at the end of September and didn't want to have to deal with this when I return. Had no idea I would descend into a vortex of confusing entities.

 

[Tadpole]

Trying to link my SS account with Login.gov....

I am beyond frustrated.

Stepwise setup for SSA link to login.gov

The link above is step by step instructions for people who need to setup a login.gov account. Apparently, if you do it by logging in with the old method and then initiating the setup the link is automatically established. You may have done it this way and it failed to link for some reason, but the video might help others. After viewing the video, it seems to me that if you were to delete an account, it should be sufficient to only delete the login.gov account since, for a while, you could still use the legacy login and you could establish a new login.gov account as in the video. If you have another government site that uses login.gov and it works flawlessly, I cannot imagine what is causing your problem with SSA. I setup login.gov for another website first and, when I used it at SSA, I had no issues.

 

[Ellecram]

Stepwise setup for SSA link to login.gov

The link above is step by step instructions for people who need to setup a login.gov account. Apparently, if you do it by logging in with the old method and then initiating the setup the link is automatically established. You may have done it this way and it failed to link for some reason, but the video might help others. After viewing the video, it seems to me that if you were to delete an account, it should be sufficient to only delete the login.gov account since, for a while, you could still use the legacy login and you could establish a new login.gov account as in the video. If you have another government site that uses login.gov and it works flawlessly, I cannot imagine what is causing your problem with SSA. I setup login.gov for another website first and, when I used it at SSA, I had no issues.

That sounds like a logical next step. I guess I will try deleting the login.gov account and set up a new one. If that doesn't work I guess I will have SS delete my online account and start over at some point.

Thank you.

 

[ERD50]

I have tried to do this on 2 different computers and three different browsers over the last 2 days and no one can help me link my SS account to my login.gov account.

What do you mean by "link" the accounts? Once you have established a login.gov account, you just use it to sign in to SSA. There is no 'linking', at least for me, it appeared just as it always did once I logged in using the login.gov credentials. IIRC, I could actually sign in using either method, it was just a different way in (soon to be the only way in).

Take a deep breath. I think everyone’s SS user name is being phased out, so you’re not losing anything. No one will be able to log in using their old SS user id, everyone now needs to login with login.gov or id.me. Even if you don’t get this fixed today nothing bad will happen and you won’t lose anything.

Try deleting your browser history, cookies, and clearing cache. Then shut down the computer and reboot.

+1 - I forget the details, I did have some problems along the way, maybe after I set up my wife's login.gov account, but I did have to clear the cache of everything ".gov" related, and it worked.

It still doesn't "remember my browser". I check the box each time, supposedly it won't ask for 2FA for 30 days, but it still asks every time.

 

[Ellecram]

What do you mean by "link" the accounts? Once you have established a login.gov account, you just use it to sign in to SSA. There is no 'linking', at least for me, it appeared just as it always did once I logged in using the login.gov credentials. IIRC, I could actually sign in using either method, it was just a different way in (soon to be the only way in).






+1 - I forget the details, I did have some problems along the way, maybe after I set up my wife's login.gov account, but I did have to clear the cache of everything ".gov" related, and it worked.

It still doesn't "remember my browser". I check the box each time, supposedly it won't ask for 2FA for 30 days, but it still asks every time.

I cleared the cookies/cache in my browsers at work and home and even used the Edge browser which I never use anyways.

The SS person said that there was some extra layer of security on my account that requires an activation code from my local SS office which makes no sense. Why does the local office have to provide it? (And they have no idea about it anyways...)

I've never frozen credit or had any financial issues - ever.

This is quite the loop.

 

[camfused]

^^^ I had a similar problem and the SS people were unable to help me, and told me to call the login.gov help desk at 844.875.6446. I did, and the person there said there is an alternative way to get this SS login link working via a link they send to your email. They sent it to me, I followed the steps, and it finally worked.

 

[Ellecram]

^^^ I had a similar problem and the SS people were unable to help me, and told me to call the login.gov help desk at 844.875.6446. I did, and the person there said there is an alternative way to get this SS login link working via a link they send to your email. They sent it to me, I followed the steps, and it finally worked.

It amazes me how many different responses people have received from various agencies. I was finally able to get help by calling my local SS office for the second time and I got a different person who immediately told me he will send an activation code by mail within a week. I have no idea why this was so difficult. Such a loop of frustration. Glad your situation worked out.

 

[FlaMariner]

I'm on my second request waiting for that magical "activation code" being sent via snail mail to arrive.....I've got 1.5 years to get signed up to start social security. So far, it's working as I would expect a government login to work. I should have enough time. LOL.

Drama continues.....Never received the 2nd magical "activation code" in snail mail but did receive a reminder email that I must log in w/the magical "activation code" soon or it would no longer work.

(Yes, my mailing address is correct and I get other mail)

I went thru the steps again to login and the response was that I would be able to login again after 9/24.

Calendar is marked. The drama continues. Remaining calm as I have 1.5 years before I need to hit the "apply" button!

 

[Ellecram]

Drama continues.....Never received the 2nd magical "activation code" in snail mail but did receive a reminder email that I must log in w/the magical "activation code" soon or it would no longer work.

(Yes, my mailing address is correct and I get other mail)

I went thru the steps again to login and the response was that I would be able to login again after 9/24.

Calendar is marked. The drama continues. Remaining calm as I have 1.5 years before I need to hit the "apply" button!

Oh that sucks. Why is there such drama? I hope it works for you!

Mine is supposed to come by the end of this week, however, I am going to wait until mid October to sign up with it. I am leaving for Ireland for 2 weeks and I don't want to dive into this pit of frustration again right before I go.

I was looking through my crazy, barely organized password list and saw a password listed for ID Me lol. I must have either tired and aborted to get on that website or I have an account. I think I aborted the attempt.

I don't know if I try to sign up again it will think it is a fraud attempt and lock me out forever. This actually happened to me with a Walmart account and I had to use an entirely different email to reconnect with Walmart again. Really?

I am retiring in about 6 - 9 months so I will have to sign up relatively soon. My anxiety is somewhat alleviated by knowing I can do everything via phone should it come to that.