Social Security reaches 105 million online accounts, far short of its 200 million goal
Every account now sits behind Login.gov or ID.me identity checks, making the agency one of the biggest tests of digital identity in public services.
The US Social Security Administration (SSA) has reached 105 million "my Social Security" online accounts, an agency spokesperson told Nextgov/FCW. That matches the projection in its 2026-2030 strategic plan, which sets a goal of 110 million by the end of September 2027.
It is well short of the target Commissioner Frank Bisignano announced in November 2025: 200 million account holders by the end of 2026. The agency says it is still striving for that number but gave no new date.
A front door with an identity check
Since June 2025 the agency no longer accepts its old username and password. People must sign in with Login.gov or ID.me, and anyone without an existing credential has to verify their identity first, according to SSA's guidance. SSA recommends Login.gov for most people in the US and directs people with foreign addresses to ID.me. That makes the agency, as Biometric Update put it, one of the largest tests of whether identity proofing can become a routine gateway without shutting people out.
Why people do not sign up
Only 44 per cent of adults report having an account, including 66 per cent of people aged 65 and over and 29 per cent of those aged 18 to 49, according to an AARP survey. More than 75 million Americans received Social Security or Supplemental Security Income in August 2026.
Arabella Crawford, a civic technology consultant, told Nextgov/FCW that people deal with the agency at specific moments: turning 65, a disability diagnosis, a change of name. "I do not understand why you would expect the majority of Americans to create an account," she said.
The lesson for other agencies is that account numbers measure reach, not service. An identity check that works for a confident smartphone user can still stop a disability claimant, and the real test is whether the people who most need the agency can get through the door.
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