Social Security does not assign you an email address

The Social Security Administration (SSA) does not create or maintain an email address for your account. You will not receive official communications from Social Security through email, and there is no "your email" tied to your Social Security number or benefits record.

What does exist is my Social Security account, an online portal where you can view your earnings record, check benefit estimates, and manage certain account settings. To create this account, you provide an email address of your choice — but that email belongs to you, not to Social Security. The SSA uses it only to send you login links and account notifications.

Scams often pose as Social Security emails, which is why understanding what real SSA contact looks like matters. The agency typically reaches out by mail, not email, for official business.

Key Takeaways

  • Social Security does not assign you an email address; you choose one when you create a my Social Security account.
  • Real Social Security communications about benefits, payments, or account changes come by mail, not email.
  • Emails claiming to be from Social Security asking you to verify information or click a link are almost always scams.
  • You can create a my Social Security account at ssa.gov/myaccount using any email address you control.
  • If you receive a suspicious email claiming to be from Social Security, report it to the SSA's Office of Inspector General.

Creating a my Social Security account and choosing your email

To set up a my Social Security account, go to ssa.gov/myaccount and select "Create an account." You will be asked to provide an email address. This can be any email you own and check regularly — a Gmail account, work email, personal email, or any other provider. Social Security will use this address only to send you password reset links and notifications about your account.

You do not need to use your primary email. Some people create a separate email just for government accounts to keep them organized. The choice is yours. Once your account is created, you can change the email address in your account settings if you later want to use a different one.

You will also set up a password and, if you choose, a second form of verification such as a phone number or authenticator app. These security steps protect your account from unauthorized access.

What you can do in a my Social Security account

Once you are logged in, you can view your Social Security earnings record, which shows the wages and self-employment income reported to your account each year. You can also see an estimate of your retirement, disability, or survivor benefits at different ages, and check the status of any process you have submitted.

You cannot change your benefits, request a payment, or file a new claim through the online account. Those actions still require you to contact Social Security by phone, mail, or in person at a local office. The account is for viewing information and managing your login credentials.

If your address or phone number changes, you can update it in your account settings. These changes help Social Security reach you if they need to contact you about your benefits.

How Social Security actually contacts you

The SSA sends official notices by mail to your address on file. These letters cover topics like benefit approval, payment changes, requests for information, and annual updates. You will receive them in a physical envelope with the Social Security Administration's return address.

Social Security does not ask you to confirm personal information, verify your identity, or click links in emails. If you receive an email claiming to be from Social Security and asking you to do any of these things, it is a scam. Do not click the link or reply with any information.

The only emails you should expect from Social Security are login notifications and password reset links sent to the email address you chose when you created your my Social Security account. These emails will say things like "Someone requested a password reset for your my Social Security account" or "You have signed in to your my Social Security account from a new device."

Recognizing and reporting Social Security email scams

Scammers send emails that look like they come from Social Security, often with urgent language about your account being locked, a payment problem, or a security issue. They ask you to click a link, log in, or provide your Social Security number, date of birth, or bank details. These are all red flags.

Real Social Security emails will never ask you to click a link to verify information or log in to your account. If you receive a suspicious email, do not click anything in it. Instead, go directly to ssa.gov in your browser and log in to your account to check if there is a real message waiting for you.

You can report a fake Social Security email to the SSA's Office of Inspector General by forwarding it to oig.ssa.gov/report. Include the full email header if possible. You can also report it to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov.

If you cannot remember your email or lose access to it

If you created a my Social Security account but cannot remember which email address you used, you can start the password reset process at ssa.gov/myaccount. Enter your Social Security number and date of birth, and the system will tell you the first and last letter of the email address on file. This may help you remember which account you used.

If you no longer have access to that email address — for example, if it was a work email and you no longer work there — you can contact Social Security by phone at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) or visit a local Social Security office. An employee can help you update your email address in your account or information you with viewing your information another way.

You will need to provide your Social Security number, date of birth, and proof of identity. Bring a government-issued ID such as a driver's license or passport.

Protecting your my Social Security account

Use a strong, unique password for your my Social Security account — one you do not use for other websites. If you use the same password everywhere and one site gets hacked, scammers can try that password on your Social Security account.

Enable two-factor verification if Social Security offers it. This means that even if someone learns your password, they cannot log in without also having access to your phone or authenticator app. You set this up during account creation or later in your account settings.

Do not share your password or login link with anyone, including Social Security employees. Real SSA staff will never ask for your password. If someone calls or emails claiming to be from Social Security and asks for your password, it is a scam.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a temporary or fake email to create a my Social Security account?

No. You need to use an email address you actually control and can access. Social Security will send you login links and account notifications to this address, so you need to be able to receive messages there. If you use a temporary email service, you may lose access to your account when that email expires.

Will Social Security ever email me about my benefits?

Social Security will only email you login notifications and password reset links related to your my Social Security account. All official notices about your benefits, payments, or account status come by mail. If an email claims to be about your benefits, it is not from Social Security.

What should I do if I think my my Social Security account was hacked?

Change your password when ready by going to ssa.gov/myaccount and using the password reset option. If you cannot log in, call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213. Also check your Social Security earnings record to make sure no unauthorized changes were made. You can report the incident to the SSA's Office of Inspector General at oig.ssa.gov/report.

Can I use my my Social Security account to file for benefits?

No. You can view benefit estimates and check the status of an process you have already filed, but you cannot submit a new claim or file for benefits through the online account. To file, contact Social Security by phone at 1-800-772-1213, visit a local office, or use the online process at ssa.gov/benefits-may be able to access-status-tool.

Is my email address visible to other people on my Social Security account?

No. Your email address is private and used only by Social Security to send you account notifications. It does not appear on any documents Social Security sends you or shares with other agencies.