How to Recover Your Social Security Account When You Are Locked Out

You go to sign in to your my Social Security account, and you cannot get in. Maybe your old username no longer works, maybe a code never arrives, or maybe the screen says your account is locked. Whatever the message, the goal is the same: get back to your benefits, statements, and SSN tools without starting over.

The single most important thing to know first is that, as of June 7, 2025, the Social Security Administration removed its own username and password sign-in. You now sign in through one of two outside credentials: Login.gov or ID.me. That means almost every lockout is really a problem with one of those two providers, and that is where you fix it. SSA itself only handles benefits, your Social Security number, and identity proofing; it cannot reset your sign-in.

Work the steps below in order. The quickest, most common fixes come first.

Before troubleshooting, confirm which provider holds your login. Recovery happens on that provider, not on ssa.gov.

1.Go to www.ssa.gov/myaccount and select Sign In.
2.SSA shows a chooser with two options: Sign in with Login.gov and Sign in with ID.me. These are the only two options now.
3.Pick the provider whose credential you originally created.

Keep the split straight throughout. Login.gov and ID.me fix sign-in and identity proofing; SSA fixes benefits, SSN, and card questions. Login.gov has no access to your Social Security information.

If Login.gov says your account is locked, the fix is usually just time. The cause determines the wait.

Locked during sign-in (too many wrong passwords, or too many code requests or entries): wait 10 minutes, then sign in again.
Locked during identity verification (too many tries on your ID photo, personal info, or phone): wait 6 hours.

After the wait, return to the SSA site and sign in with your email, password, and authentication method. Do not create a new account. Rapid retries are self-defeating; each failed attempt can extend or restart the lockout. When you retry verification, make sure the name and address on your ID photo are easily readable, confirm every field on the personal-information screen (update your address or SSN if it changed), and use an accepted phone type. Getting it right on the first retry avoids a repeat lock.

If you simply forgot your password, reset it directly.

1.Go to secure.login.gov.
2.Select Forgot your password? near the bottom of the page.
3.Enter your email address and click Continue.
4.Open the email from Login.gov and click Reset your password.
5.Enter a new password (at least 12 characters; avoid common phrases, repeated characters like "abc" or "111", and anything reused elsewhere), then click Change password.

One critical warning: your personal key is the only way to keep access if you reset the password. If you reset without it, the account can be temporarily deactivated and you will have to verify your identity again. If that happens, select Reactivate your profile now, then I have my key, enter your most recent personal key, re-enter your password, and save the new key it gives you.

A lost phone, new SIM, or lost personal key blocks the second step, not the whole account. Use a different method you already set up.

1.Sign in at secure.login.gov with your email and password.
2.At the security-code prompt, select Choose another security option.
3.Select any other method you set up before (authentication app, security key, backup codes, another phone, or face/touch unlock) and finish signing in.

If you can get your original phone number back on a replacement SIM, do that first; a one-time code will arrive even on a new device with the same number. Once you are in, add a second authentication method so one lost device cannot lock you out again.

Login.gov deactivates an account when you reset the password without your personal key, or when it detects suspected fraud or a Rules-of-Use violation.

1.Sign in normally; you will be told the account is deactivated.
2.Follow the Verify your identity flow Login.gov presents to re-establish access.
3.If you still have your personal key, use the reactivation path instead (Reactivate your profile now > I have my key > enter key), then save the new key afterward.

Unlock an ID.me Wallet

Too many failed sign-in attempts trigger a "Your wallet has been locked" message on ID.me. Unlock it by email.

1.On the lock message, select the here link.
2.Enter the email on your ID.me Wallet and select Continue.
3.Open the unlock email from ID.me (check spam) and click Unlock your wallet, then confirm your email address.

Act fast: the unlock link expires after 15 minutes. If it expires, return to the screen and request a new one. If it still will not unlock, wait 24 hours before trying again. If you also forgot your password, run the password reset below first.

Recover ID.me Multi-Factor Authentication

If you changed your phone or number, or codes will not arrive, recover your MFA method. You must still know your email and password.

1.Sign in at the ID.me sign-in page with your email and password.
2.On the Complete Your Sign In screen, select MFA recovery process.
3.Confirm wallet ownership by one method: a live selfie, a video call, confirming your email, verifying personal information, or uploading your identity document.
4.Set up a new MFA method within 30 minutes of confirming ownership. Miss that window and you must restart and re-confirm ownership.

If a step fails, check spam for the confirmation email, follow selfie best practices, ensure your ID document is clear, or use a previous address if your details recently changed.

Reset an ID.me Password

For a forgotten ID.me password, reset it from the sign-in page.

1.Go to the ID.me sign-in page, enter your email, and select Continue.
2.Select Forgot password?, re-enter your email, and select Continue.
3.Open the email titled "ID.me - Your password reset link" (sender hello@id.me; it can take up to 10 minutes; check spam).
4.Either click Reset your password or copy the 6-digit code into the browser and select Confirm.
5.Enter your new password twice, select Continue, then sign in and complete MFA.

Reset links expire after 15 minutes, so always use the most recent email; use Resend my verification if needed. Note that ID.me no longer accepts Google, Apple, Facebook, or DS Logon logins; if you set up that way before, sign in with the email tied to it.

If your SSA username was created more than three years ago, it no longer works and must be moved to a Login.gov or ID.me credential. This feels like a lockout but is really a one-time transition.

1.Go to www.ssa.gov/myaccount and choose to sign in or create an account with Login.gov or ID.me.
2.If you already have one of those accounts, sign in with it to link and access services.
3.If you do not, create one (you must be 18 or older and have an SSN).

If you lost all your authentication methods and have no backup, there is no manual recovery. Login.gov cannot unlock your account or sign in on your behalf. The only path is deletion and recreation.

1.Sign in at the SSA sign-in page or secure.login.gov with your email and password.
2.At the authentication page, click Choose another security option.
3.Scroll down and click the deleting your account link.
4.Review the warnings, then click Yes, continue deletion.
5.Wait 24 hours. You get a first email confirming the request (not yet deleted) and a second email 24 hours later with final instructions; follow the second email to finish.

Deletion permanently removes your email, password, and phone number from Login.gov. Your SSA data is retained, but you must create a new Login.gov account and re-link and re-verify with SSA. (If you can still sign in, delete instead via your account page > Delete account in the left menu > confirm with your password.)

Reach a Human or Prove Identity Another Way

When self-service fails, match the problem to the right channel.

For getting back into the SSA account, call SSA at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) and say "Help Desk" at the prompt, Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. local time.
For a Login.gov sign-in problem, go to Login.gov/help or call 844-875-6446. They cannot unlock your account and have no access to your benefits.
For an ID.me problem, use the ID.me Help Center chat (the blue circle or white chat bubble, lower-right). ID.me support is chat-based.

If you cannot use the online account at all, contact your local Social Security office; an appointment is required. Under the identity-proofing policy effective April 14, 2025, applicants for SSDI, Medicare, or SSI who cannot use the online account can complete the claim entirely by phone, while applicants for Retirement, Survivors, or Auxiliary (Spouse/Child) benefits who cannot verify online must prove identity in person.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my old Social Security username no longer work?
As of June 7, 2025, SSA removed its own username and password sign-in. If your username was created more than three years ago, you must transition to a new or existing Login.gov account to keep continuous access.

How long does a Login.gov lockout last?
A sign-in lockout (too many wrong passwords or code attempts) lasts 10 minutes. An identity-verification lockout (too many tries on your ID photo, personal info, or phone) lasts 6 hours.

Can Login.gov just unlock my account for me?
No. For security, Login.gov cannot unlock your account or sign in on your behalf. If you have lost all authentication methods with no backup, the only path is to delete the account and create a new one.

Why was my Login.gov account deactivated after I reset my password?
Resetting your password without your personal key temporarily deactivates the account, and you must verify your identity again. The personal key is the only way to keep access through a reset, so save the new key every time you reset.

I don't have access to my email anymore. What can I do?
If you cannot reach the registered email and do not remember the password, Login.gov says you must create a new account with an email you can access and re-verify. For ID.me, if you know your password but lost email access, try signing in anyway; if you cannot get past the password or MFA step, contact an ID.me agent through the chat bubble for wallet recovery.

Does ID.me have a phone number I can call?
ID.me does not offer phone support. Help is provided through the chat bubble and the Contact Support page in the ID.me Help Center.