Dear Savvy Senior,
I recently received an email asking me to update my online Social Security account. Is this legitimate or a scam?
Suspicious Susan
Dear Susan,
The Social Security Administration actually sent out a legitimate email last month to inform recipients that changes are being made to the way you access Social Security online services, including your personal My Social Security account.
The changes simplify your sign-in process and align with federal authentication standards while providing you with secure access to your account and other online services.
By Jim Miller
If you created a My Social Security online account before September 18, 2021, you will need to switch to a Login.gov account to continue accessing your account.
My Social Security online accounts allow both beneficiaries and those not yet receiving benefits to access services such as requesting a replacement Social Security card, estimating future benefits, checking the status of benefit claims and managing current benefits.
The online services are designed to save time for both current and future beneficiaries and the Social Security Administration, which has struggled with long wait times for its national 800 phone number. The average speed at which those calls were answered was about 36 minutes in the second quarter, according to the SSA. The agency is working to reduce that average wait time to 12 minutes by the end of September 2025.
Update your account
If you already have a my Social Security account, go to ssa.gov/myaccount and log in with your Social Security username. You will then be guided through the process of creating a new account with Login.gov. Once you have successfully linked your personal my Social Security account to your new Login.gov account, you will see a confirmation screen and have immediate access to online services. Going forward, you will log in to your account with Login.gov, not your Social Security username.
If you already have a Login.gov or ID.me account, you don’t need to do anything.
Beware of fraud
To be sure you are taking the correct steps to update your account, it is important to review any website or link that takes you to the Social Security website. The legitimate link to the Social Security Administration website is ssa.gov and the agency link to my Social Security account is ssa.gov/myaccount.
It is very important to be alert to potential scammers who may send you fraudulent websites claiming to direct you to Social Security. These sites closely mimic the format of the agency’s links and attempt to trick you into entering your personal information.
If you see a suspicious email or link, it’s best not to respond to it or click on it. Instead, you can report it on the SSA’s Office of the Inspector General website or call the fraud hotline at 800-269-0271.
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Send your questions to: Savvy Senior, PO Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today Show and author of The Savvy Senior.
