Setting up an Online Social Security Account Outside the U.S.

Now, many people without a U.S. mailing address can create a personal my Social Security account with ID.me

The Social Security Administration (SSA) provides a service for people to create an online my Social Security account. Until now, you needed a U.S. mailing address to access Social Security's my Social Security account and use their online services. Now, many people without a U.S. mailing address can create a personal my Social Security account with an ID.me credential.

Two Options, But SSA Recommends only ID.me

If you go to https://www.ssa.gov/myaccount and click on “Create an Account,” you will see two options to create an account: Login.gov or ID.me.

• Login.gov is the official government account for simple, secure, and private access to participating U.S. government agencies.
• ID.me is a third-party sign-on provider that meets the U.S. government’s online identity proofing and authentication requirements.

According to the Social Security website, if you have an international mailing address, online Social Security services can only be accessed with an ID.me credential, not the login.gov credential. However, one AARO member successfully accesses the Social Security website using a pre-existing login.gov account and “backup codes” as the authentication method.

Setting up a Login.gov account requires an address in one of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, the territories, or U.S. “Minor Outlying Islands.” There are also options for Armed Forces Americas, Armed Forces Pacific or Armed Forces Others, but there is no option for civilians living overseas.

If You Already Have ID.me

If you already have an ID.me account, select "Sign In" from the my Social Security page and then select “Sign in with ID.me.” You will be notified that you are leaving Social Security; you will be redirected to the ID.me page where you can log in.

How to Sign Up for ID.me

If you don't already have an ID.me account, you can create one starting from the my Social Security page and selecting "Create an Account." Then select "Create an account with ID.me." You will be notified you are leaving the Social Security website and are going to the ID.me website. Once there, follow the instructions to create an account. Once the account is active, you can return to the my Social Security webpage.

Notification from the Social Security website: If you had a my Social Security account prior to moving overseas, you will need to create an ID.me credential to use it from an international address.

SS Services You can Access Online

Once you have created your personal my Social Security account, you will be able to:

• Check your earnings.
• Get your benefit estimates.
• Check the status of your application or appeal.
• View, print, or save a benefit verification letter (Social Security is unable to mail to a foreign address).
• Change Special Notice Options (SNO Notices).
• Access some representative payee services.
• View, Print, or save replacement SSA-1099/1042S tax statement (Social Security is unable to mail replacement statements to a foreign address).
• Access online notices.
• Request a replacement Medicare Card.
• Change your address (US Citizen only)

Helpful Websites for Overseas Americans

1. The Social Security’s Earnings & International Operations (EIO) home page is designed to assist persons who live outside the United States or plan to leave the country.
2. If you are planning to live outside the U.S., you should read this publication: Your Payments While You are Outside the United States, Publication No. 05-10137.
3. Social Security's Office of Data Exchange, Policy Publications, and International Negotiations offers information on International Social Security ("Totalization") Agreements and other international aspects of the Social Security program.