The SSA now requires Login.gov or ID.me to access your Social Security account. EP Wealth explains what changed, how to transition your account, and how Social Security fits into your retirement income and tax plan. 

Navigating Social Security: The Login.gov Mandatory Switch Explained

If you've tried to log into your Social Security account recently and found that your usual username and password no longer work, you're not alone. As of June 2025, the Social Security Administration requires all users to sign in through Login.gov or ID.me. The old SSA-specific login credentials have been permanently retired.

This change affects roughly 46 million people who created their accounts before September 18, 2021. If you're among them, you'll need to set up a new Login.gov or ID.me account before you can access your benefits information, earnings record, or payment details online. The transition is straightforward for most people, but it has also created openings for scammers. Knowing what the process actually looks like can help you spot red flags.

For anyone approaching retirement or already receiving benefits, this is also a useful prompt to check that your earnings record is accurate and to revisit how Social Security fits into your overall retirement income and tax picture.

Topics covered in this guide:

• What changed with the SSA's login system and who needs to act
• How to set up a Login.gov or ID.me account
• Scam activity tied to the transition and how to spot it
• Key factors in deciding when to start taking Social Security
• How Social Security interacts with other retirement income sources and taxes

What Changed and Who is Affected

On June 7, 2025, the SSA removed the option to sign in with a Social Security username and password. The only two login options now are Login.gov and ID.me, both of which use multi-factor authentication and identity verification to meet federal cybersecurity standards.

This is part of a broader federal shift toward centralized login systems. Login.gov, which is operated by the General Services Administration, provides a single set of credentials that can be used across multiple government agencies.

Who needs to take action: Anyone who created a My Social Security account before September 18, 2021, and has not yet transitioned to Login.gov or ID.me. If you've been using your old SSA username and password, that credential no longer works.

Who doesn't need to do anything: If you created your account on or after September 18, 2021, you were already set up with Login.gov or ID.me during the original registration process.

If you're unsure which category you fall into, go to ssa.gov/myaccount and attempt to sign in. The site will prompt you to create a Login.gov or ID.me account if your old credential has been retired.

How to Set Up a Login.gov or ID.me Account

The setup process typically takes 10 to 20 minutes. Here's what you'll need and what to expect:

What to have ready:

• A current email address you check regularly
• A government-issued photo ID (driver's license, state ID, passport, or passport card)
• Your Social Security number
• A phone for multi-factor authentication (though alternatives are available — see below)

The general process:

Go to ssa.gov/myaccount and select Login.gov or ID.me as your sign-in method. You'll create a new account with your email and a password, then go through an identity verification step that involves uploading a photo of your government-issued ID. Depending on the platform, you may also be asked to take a selfie or short video to confirm that the ID belongs to you.

Once your identity is verified, you'll set up multi-factor authentication. Both Login.gov and ID.me offer several options, including text message codes, authentication apps, security keys, and backup codes. A mobile phone is helpful but not required. You can use a landline or a physical security key as an alternative.

If verification fails on the first attempt, that's not uncommon. Retry the steps carefully, and if the issue persists, contact support through Login.gov or ID.me directly. You can also visit your local Social Security office for in-person help.

Setting Up Your New Login 

Avoiding Scams

The mandatory login transition has coincided with a significant increase in Social Security-related scams. In February 2026, the SSA's Office of the Inspector General warned of a surge in fraudulent emails designed to look like official SSA communications, using government-style logos, formatting, and even the names and photos of real SSA employees.

In 2025, the Federal Trade Commission received more than 330,000 government impersonation complaints — a 25% increase from the prior year — with the SSA among the most frequently impersonated agencies.

How to protect yourself:

1. Check the sender's email address. Legitimate SSA emails come from addresses ending in ".gov." If the sender's address uses a personal or commercial email domain, it is not from the SSA.
2. Don't click links in unsolicited emails. If you receive an email claiming to be from Social Security and asking you to update your account, download a statement, or verify personal information, do not click the link. Instead, open your browser and type ssa.gov directly into the address bar.
3. Know what the SSA will never do. The SSA will never ask you to provide your Social Security number, make a payment, or share personal information through email, text, or an unsolicited phone call. They will never demand payment via gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or cash.
4. Report suspicious messages. You can report suspected scams to the SSA's Office of the Inspector General at oig.ssa.gov/report or to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov.

When to Consider Taking Social Security

While you're logging into your account or setting it up for the first time, it's worth reviewing your estimated benefit amounts at different claiming ages. The timing of when you begin taking Social Security is one of the more consequential decisions in retirement planning, and the difference between claiming early and claiming later can be significant.

The basics of claiming age:

You can start receiving Social Security retirement benefits as early as age 62, but doing so permanently reduces your monthly benefit. Your full retirement age (FRA) is between 66 and 67, depending on when you were born. If you delay beyond your full retirement age (FRA), your benefit increases by approximately 8% per year, up to age 70.

For someone with a full retirement age of 67, claiming at 62 would reduce the monthly benefit by about 30%. Waiting until 70 would increase it by about 24% compared to claiming at FRA. 

Factors that may influence the decision:

• Health and life expectancy. Delaying benefits results in higher monthly payments but fewer total years of receiving them. For individuals in good health with a longer expected lifespan, delaying may result in more total income over time. For those with health concerns, earlier claiming may be appropriate.
• Whether you're still working. If you claim before your full retirement age and continue earning above a certain threshold, some of your benefits may be temporarily withheld under the SSA's earnings test. Those withheld amounts are credited back after you reach FRA, but the interim reduction can affect cash flow.
• Spousal benefits. If you're married, your claiming decision may also affect what your spouse can receive, both while you're alive and as a survivor benefit. Coordinating timing between spouses can affect total household income over the course of retirement.
• Other income sources. The right claiming age depends in part on what other resources you have, such as retirement account balances, pensions, investment income, and other savings. If you have sufficient assets to cover expenses in your 60s, delaying Social Security may allow you to lock in a higher monthly benefit later.

There's no universally correct answer. The right choice depends on your specific financial situation, health, and goals.

How Social Security Fits into Your Broader Retirement Income and Tax Picture

Social Security doesn't exist in isolation. For most retirees, it's one of several income sources, alongside withdrawals from pre-tax retirement accounts, Roth distributions, investment income, and possibly pensions or rental income. How these sources interact can affect your tax situation in meaningful ways.

Social Security benefits may be partially taxable. Depending on your combined income (adjusted gross income plus nontaxable interest plus half of your Social Security benefits), up to 85% of your Social Security benefits can be subject to federal income tax. For individuals with significant retirement account balances or investment income, this threshold is often exceeded.

Withdrawal sequencing. The order in which you draw from different accounts — taxable, tax-deferred, and Roth — can influence how much of your Social Security is taxed in a given year. In some cases, taking larger distributions from pre-tax accounts in the years before claiming Social Security may reduce future required minimum distributions and lower your combined income during the years you are receiving benefits.

Roth conversions may play a role. For individuals who retire before their RMD start age, the gap years between retirement and age 73 can present an opportunity to convert traditional IRA assets to Roth accounts while taxable income may be temporarily lower. Doing so is a taxable event in the year of conversion, but it can reduce future RMDs and the portion of Social Security benefits subject to tax.

Medicare premiums can be affected. Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA) surcharges on Medicare Part B and Part D premiums are based on your modified adjusted gross income from two years prior. A spike in income from a large RMD, a poorly timed Roth conversion, or the combination of Social Security with other income sources can push you past an IRMAA threshold, increasing your monthly Medicare costs.

These interactions are specific to each person's income, account structure, and goals. Working with a financial advisor who can model different scenarios — factoring in Social Security timing, withdrawal sequencing, tax planning, and RMD projections — can help identify which combination of decisions may be most appropriate for your circumstances.

How EP Wealth Can Help

Social Security claiming decisions are closely connected to questions about withdrawal strategy, tax management, and income sustainability in retirement. EP Wealth's financial advisors work with clients to evaluate these decisions together, modeling how different claiming ages, withdrawal sequences, and conversion strategies may affect after-tax income over the course of a retirement plan.

If you'd like to discuss how Social Security fits into your broader financial plan, contact EP Wealth to speak with an advisor near you. 

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