What you need to log in to check your disability benefits
To view your Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) information online, you log in through My Social Security, which is Social Security's official account portal. You will need a username and password, or you can use a third-party login like Google or Apple ID if you have already set that up.
Once you are logged in, you can see your benefit payment amount, view your payment history, change your direct deposit information, and read a benefit verification letter. You cannot start a new disability claim through My Social Security — that still requires contacting Social Security directly — but you can track the status of a claim you have already started.
The login page is at ssa.gov/myaccount. You do not need to call or visit an office to create an account; you can set it up from home on a computer or phone.
Key Takeaways
- My Social Security is the official Social Security website where you log in with a username and password to view your disability benefit information.
- You can see your monthly payment amount, payment dates, and direct deposit details once you are logged in.
- Creating an account is free and takes about 10 minutes; you will need an email address and a phone number to verify your identity.
- If you forget your password, you can reset it on the login page without calling Social Security.
- You cannot start a new disability claim online, but you can check the status of a claim you have already filed.
How to create a My Social Security account
Start at ssa.gov/myaccount and click "Create an account." You will be asked for your email address, a password you create, and your Social Security number. Social Security will then send a verification code to your email — check your inbox and spam folder, and enter that code on the next screen.
Next, you will verify your phone number the same way: Social Security texts a code to the phone number you provide, and you enter it to confirm. This two-step verification (email and phone) is required and takes a few minutes.
After that, Social Security asks you to answer security questions based on your credit history — questions like "Which of these addresses have you lived at?" or "Which car have you owned?" These are pulled from your credit file to confirm your identity. Answer as accurately as you can; if you get too many wrong, you will be asked to verify your identity another way, such as uploading a photo of your ID.
Once you complete these steps, your account is active and you can log in when ready.
What you can see and do after logging in
Inside My Social Security, you will find a dashboard showing your current monthly benefit amount and the date of your next payment. You can also see a full history of payments received — usually the last 12 months, though you can request older statements.
You can change your direct deposit information if you want payments sent to a different bank account. You can also read a benefit verification letter, which some people need for housing, loans, or other programs that ask for proof of income. The letter shows your monthly benefit amount and is dated the day you read it.
If you have already filed a disability claim with Social Security, you can check its status by logging in. The status will show whether Social Security is still reviewing your claim, whether they have made a decision, or whether they need more information from you. If they need documents or answers, the status page will tell you what is missing and the important date to send it.
You cannot file a new disability claim through My Social Security. To start a claim, you must contact Social Security by phone at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), visit a local Social Security office, or go to ssa.gov/applyfordisability to begin an online process.
If you forget your password or cannot log in
On the My Social Security login page, click "Forgot username or password?" and follow the prompts. Social Security will send a reset link to the email address on file, and you can create a new password without calling anyone.
If you cannot receive the verification code by email or text — for example, if you no longer have access to the phone number you registered — you will need to verify your identity another way. Social Security offers an option to upload a photo of your ID (driver's license, passport, or state ID) and take a photo of yourself to confirm you are the account holder. This usually takes a few minutes and works from a phone or computer.
If you still cannot regain access, you can call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) during business hours, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Have your Social Security number and a form of ID ready.
Security and privacy when logging in
My Social Security uses encryption to protect your information, which means your data is scrambled as it travels between your device and Social Security's servers. Never share your username or password with anyone, including Social Security employees — Social Security will never ask for your password.
If you use a shared computer, always log out when you are finished. You can log out by clicking your name in the top right corner and selecting "Sign out." If you think someone else has accessed your account, change your password when ready and call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 to report it.
Be cautious of emails or texts claiming to be from Social Security and asking you to log in or verify information. Social Security does not send unsolicited emails asking you to click links. If you receive a suspicious message, do not click any links — instead, go directly to ssa.gov/myaccount by typing the address into your browser yourself.
Using third-party login options
Instead of creating a My Social Security username and password, you can log in using Google, Apple ID, or Microsoft account credentials if you already have one of those. This can be simpler if you already remember those passwords well.
To set up a third-party login, go to ssa.gov/myaccount, click "Create an account," and look for the option to sign in with Google, Apple, or Microsoft. You will still need to verify your email and phone number, and answer the security questions, just as you would with a Social Security username. After that, you can log in using whichever third-party account you chose.
If you switch devices or forget which third-party account you used, you can still reset your password using the "Forgot username or password?" link on the login page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I check my disability claim status without creating a My Social Security account?
No, you need to log in to My Social Security to check your claim status online. If you do not have an account and do not want to create one, you can call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) and a representative can tell you the status over the phone.
What if I do not have a phone number to verify my identity?
During account creation, you can choose to verify by uploading a photo of your ID instead of receiving a text code. You will take a photo of your ID and a selfie, and Social Security will review them to confirm your identity. This usually takes a few minutes.
Can I update my address or contact information through My Social Security?
You can change your direct deposit bank account and phone number through My Social Security. To change your mailing address, you will need to contact Social Security directly by phone at 1-800-772-1213, visit a local office, or use the online form at ssa.gov.
Is My Social Security the same as creating a my.ssa.gov account?
Yes, they are the same thing. My Social Security and my.ssa.gov both refer to the official Social Security account portal. The login page is at ssa.gov/myaccount.
What should I do if I see a payment in my history that I did not receive?
Contact Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) to report a missing payment. Have your account information and the payment date ready. A representative can investigate where the payment went and help you resolve the issue.