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Most Older Adults Have My Social Security Accounts, but Sign-Ups Lag Among Younger Americans
Social Security’s online platform is an easy way for current and future beneficiaries to check their benefits and access services
Signing up for an online Social Security account allows current and prospective recipients to review their benefit information, check their earnings record and access services.
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Key takeaways
- Fewer than half of U.S. adults say they have a My Social Security account, according to a new AARP survey.
- Account ownership rises with age, with about two-thirds of adults 65-plus reporting they have one.
- Most people without an account have never tried to create one.
A significant majority of older adults say they have an online My Social Security account, but those under 50 are far less likely to use the tool, which allows current and prospective recipients to review their benefit information, check their earnings record and access Social Security services.
In an AARP survey published a few days before Social Security’s 91st anniversary on August 14, 44 percent of respondents reported having a My Social Security account, 37 percent did not have one, and 18 percent said they weren’t sure.
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But signing up for the online option increases significantly as people claim their benefits or prepare to, the poll shows. Sixty-six percent of adults age 65-plus and 56 percent of those in the 50-to-64 demographic said they have a My Social Security account, compared with 29 percent of respondents 18 to 49.
Among those who said they had an account, 70 percent said they had logged in within the past year — including 55 percent of those 18 to 49.
Join My Social Security Day!
On Aug. 14, Social Security’s 91st birthday, we’re looking back on its history as a bedrock of American retirement security — and looking forward to its place in your financial future.
My Social Security Day is about the money you earn with every paycheck. Take a few minutes to check your account at SSA.gov, review your Social Security statement and see your personalized payment estimates.
Take the pledge to check your Social Security statement on Aug. 14, because you've earned it and you should know what to expect.
“Whether you’re 25 or 65, you should know what you’ve earned and what Social Security means for your financial future,” says John Hishta, AARP’s senior vice president for campaigns.
“Creating a free My Social Security account is one of the easiest ways to do that. You can review your earnings record, see personalized estimates of your future payments and help protect your identity.”
100 million accounts and counting
You must be at least 18 years old and have a Social Security number and a valid email address to create an account. To get started, go to the My Social Security sign-up page, click on “Create an Account” and follow the prompts. (AARP has a step-by-step guide.)
Once you have an account, you can log in anytime to see your Social Security statement, which lists your yearly earnings and estimates your monthly retirement benefit if you claim it at age 62, your full retirement age or age 70.
Under Social Security Commissioner Frank Bisignano, the SSA has encouraged more Americans to sign up for My Social Security accounts, part of the agency’s “digital-first” push to expand access to online services.
The total number of My Social Security accounts surpassed 104 million earlier this year, up from about 80 million in 2023.
“We are enhancing technology to increase accessibility, expand service and improve the overall customer experience for America’s seniors and the public,” an SSA spokesman said in an email to AARP.
‘You don’t have to wait until retirement’
The SSA spokesman noted that services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week via My Social Security, and that users can do everything from requesting a replacement card to checking the status of a pending application.
The SSA “continues to promote the benefits of having a personal My Social Security account when Americans visit a field office or call the national 800 number” and through other avenues, he said.
“You don’t have to wait until retirement is around the corner to start paying attention to Social Security,” says Hishta. “You can take a few minutes now to create an account, then check it regularly and get to know the money you’re working hard to earn.”
The AARP poll suggests the low adoption of My Social Security accounts is not because it’s difficult to set one up. Among respondents who don’t have an account or are unsure if they do, 9 in 10 said they’ve never tried to create one. Only 3 percent said they tried to create an account but were unable to do so.
The survey of 1,390 adults age 18-plus, conducted in June, also asked respondents if they would use a Social Security mobile app to check benefits on their smartphone, if the agency develops one. Nearly 60 percent said yes. Interest was especially strong among adults ages 50 to 61, 71 percent of whom say they would be likely to use such an app.
The key takeaways were created with the assistance of generative AI. An AARP editor reviewed and refined the content for accuracy and clarity.
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