US My Social Security transitioning to new login. I don't have a US mobile phone

[Galong]

When I logged in to My Social Security this evening I was told that I need to eventually transition from the user name and password to either ID.me or Login.gov   Has anyone made this transition WITHOUT a US mobile phone number?  If so, what's the process?

It appears that Google Authenticator is an option with Login.gov   Geez, I wish they'd just leave things that work alone. 🤦‍♂️

Edited June 3 by Galong

[Galong]

Social Security Username

This applies if you created an account with Social Security prior to September 18, 2021, and sign in with a username versus your email address. Starting September 2024, these accounts will be retired, so we encourage you to consider setting up an account with Login.gov or ID.me.

[thesetat]

When i opened mine with SSA i did not have a US number. I used ID ME. They will give you an option to get some codes to use for log in. At first i thought it would be a pain and difficult but after several times using it I feel it is convenient. Just make sure you store codes in a hidden folder if keeping them in your PC. You can copy and paste them easily enough.

[Captain Flack]

Moved to US and Canada Topics

[Galong]

8 hours ago, thesetat said:

When i opened mine with SSA i did not have a US number. I used ID ME. They will give you an option to get some codes to use for log in. At first i thought it would be a pain and difficult but after several times using it I feel it is convenient. Just make sure you store codes in a hidden folder if keeping them in your PC. You can copy and paste them easily enough.

Thanks for your reply. 🙏 I saw that there were two options and one involved a video interview with a representative. The other was self-service. I'll get my documents in order, photograph them and give it a go.

The user name and pw was already a two-factor authentication as I had to get a code sent to my email. This is not a security improvement from my perspective... it's merely an additional hoop to jump through.  🤷‍♂️
 

[G_Money]

I maintain my USA phone number with T-Mobile.  $70.00 USD per month.  I see it as an expense for wanting to be a long term tourist/ resident .

 

Prefer to keep the same phone number that I’ve had for many years and already in the database of many accounts that requires phone verification.  To include login.gov and I.D me.

 

eSIM make it easy to switch back and forth between my T-Mobile and DTAC when time to verify.

Recommend anyone coming to Thailand for long stay or expat mode to maintain one's USA phone number, a digital mailbox and a bank or credit union account.

 

Makes life easier IMO.

 

While I’ve heard positive and negative reviews about Google voice I would rather not take the chance when needing to verify immediately.
 

Edited June 4 by G_Money

[BKKKevin]

I have this T Mobile US number that works/roams in Thailand (And over 200 other countries)

It cost $3 a month to maintain 

I get SMS here in Thailand no problem 

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/114395204612?itmmeta=01HZGDJC9MQNYJZX0VFMDQHPMY&hash=item1aa27c4c04:g:1UMAAOSwzZplB6Js&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA4CQnM8HYPMr4OFP%2FU6oljzpvBqGTW9DuWJTJ8hetounIFUPqNkuZFwqmisx2oD3XwFWGHGdEogOSOMRERJIURCM%2FJdJRjxMqBOYb1nZMXy2u%2BGoilISstlwMnICtGUNL%2BKwkNXDfZp5Jgcek7ikrcNnpXKr7jX7RvDS05wEf9pD4Aw5ozUn5lH1EK%2Bhi8Nb6Do1jAv2pB2kQ6I5MHlcR5KEAiH8X88j4%2Fk5eKntWkF%2BzLNED%2BuUgIda7t7ewGYsTi4KPxhb01a8gIgQQvqKpFiRojc<deleted>Gp%2FEjfZpUFEhf6|tkp%3ABFBMiMXJjfxj

 

[eddyod]

I ditched my ATT phone account 2 years ago and moved the number to Google voice to receive SMS messages and it has been working really well. And there is only the initial cost of 20 dollars (from what I remember)

[John Drake]

Just tried the login at My Social Security and saw the transition announcement. I have both ID.me and a Login.gov account.

 

FWIW I was able to use the ID.me and login directly to my account. But when I tried to use the Login.gov account I have, I was sent to a page asking for personal information. It required a US address and a US telephone number. There were no options for foreign addresses or telephones. ID.me allows for foreign addresses. 

[Galong]

38 minutes ago, eddyod said:

I ditched my ATT phone account 2 years ago and moved the number to Google voice to receive SMS messages and it has been working really well. And there is only the initial cost of 20 dollars (from what I remember)

I read that VOIP numbers aren't allowed. I have a Skype US VOIP and it works for a lot of US services, but it didn't work for one bank account that I had. They did some sort of security revamping and it stopped offering them sending VOIP SMS codes.  Luckily, I was going on vacation in the US shortly thereafter. I walked into the bank and closed the account... moved money to Schwalb, but checked with them first about me living in Thailand. They had zero issues and I can get codes on my Thai number. 

This current issue looks tedious at best. 

[Galong]

7 minutes ago, John Drake said:

Just tried the login at My Social Security and saw the transition announcement. I have both ID.me and a Login.gov account.

 

FWIW I was able to use the ID.me and login directly to my account. But when I tried to use the Login.gov account I have, I was sent to a page asking for personal information. It required a US address and a US telephone number. There were no options for foreign addresses or telephones. ID.me allows for foreign addresses. 

What was the process like creating a ID.me account? Did you use your Thai address and Thai phone number?  Did you have to do the video chat with an ID.me representative?  

How long did it take to get verified?

[Galong]

1 hour ago, BKKKevin said:

I have this T Mobile US number that works/roams in Thailand (And over 200 other countries)

It cost $3 a month to maintain 

I get SMS here in Thailand no problem 

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/114395204612?itmmeta=01HZGDJC9MQNYJZX0VFMDQHPMY&hash=item1aa27c4c04:g:1UMAAOSwzZplB6Js&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA4CQnM8HYPMr4OFP%2FU6oljzpvBqGTW9DuWJTJ8hetounIFUPqNkuZFwqmisx2oD3XwFWGHGdEogOSOMRERJIURCM%2FJdJRjxMqBOYb1nZMXy2u%2BGoilISstlwMnICtGUNL%2BKwkNXDfZp5Jgcek7ikrcNnpXKr7jX7RvDS05wEf9pD4Aw5ozUn5lH1EK%2Bhi8Nb6Do1jAv2pB2kQ6I5MHlcR5KEAiH8X88j4%2Fk5eKntWkF%2BzLNED%2BuUgIda7t7ewGYsTi4KPxhb01a8gIgQQvqKpFiRojc<deleted>Gp%2FEjfZpUFEhf6|tkp%3ABFBMiMXJjfxj

 

Great, thanks!  I've heard that you can't get a phone here in Thailand that will accept US SIM cards. It's that true to your knowledge?

[John Drake]

19 minutes ago, Galong said:

What was the process like creating a ID.me account? Did you use your Thai address and Thai phone number?  Did you have to do the video chat with an ID.me representative?  

How long did it take to get verified?

 

I got the ID.me account about a year ago. It requires a submission and then you arrange an appointment online. Once in the appointment, you wait in line again until someone comes on live and in person. They double check your info and ask for live submission of photo and social security card and one other form of acceptable ID. Took about a week to get the online appointment.

[Galong]

9 minutes ago, John Drake said:

 

I got the ID.me account about a year ago. It requires a submission and then you arrange an appointment online. Once in the appointment, you wait in line again until someone comes on live and in person. They double check your info and ask for live submission of photo and social security card and one other form of acceptable ID. Took about a week to get the online appointment.

Thanks for the detailed info, John. That's exactly what I needed... much appreciated as this is sort of what I was expecting.   

It sounds like I'm in for some time sitting around at some point in the near future. 🫥

[John Drake]

1 minute ago, Galong said:

Thanks for the detailed info, John. That's exactly what I needed... much appreciated as this is sort of what I was expecting.   

It sounds like I'm in for some time sitting around at some point in the near future. 🫥

 

All I can say is the ID.me at least works, although it's a lengthy process. I have a login.gov account because it's required to login to grants.gov. So I've actually been using it for a longer period of time. But it was a complete deadend when I tried to use it for social security.

[John Drake]

5 minutes ago, Galong said:

Thanks for the detailed info, John. That's exactly what I needed... much appreciated as this is sort of what I was expecting.   

It sounds like I'm in for some time sitting around at some point in the near future. 🫥

 

One more thing. I was able to use my Thai phone and number to go through the ID.me registration.

[Galong]

2 minutes ago, John Drake said:

 

All I can say is the ID.me at least works, although it's a lengthy process. I have a login.gov account because it's required to login to grants.gov. So I've actually been using it for a longer period of time. But it was a complete deadend when I tried to use it for social security.

Great insight! 🙏  At least I know about it now.

I only login to My Soc Sec every few months. I did it last night because my BKK Bank SS deposit was late. The site said it was paid on time... so BKK was the delay. It arrived a few minute ago... whew. 

I'll start getting my stuff together for ID.me   

[jimmyjam12]

I was able to transition from user name to I’d.gov.   However when I just checked my SSA.Gov account my address was updated to reflect a US mailing address not Thailand. 
 

I am now worried about my 7162 letter and my direct deposit if they will be affected.  I sent an email to Manila so I am hopeful they will correct the address .

 

[Galong]

2 hours ago, jimmyjam12 said:

I was able to transition from user name to I’d.gov.   However when I just checked my SSA.Gov account my address was updated to reflect a US mailing address not Thailand. 
 

I am now worried about my 7162 letter and my direct deposit if they will be affected.  I sent an email to Manila so I am hopeful they will correct the address .

 

Hi Jimmy, did you mean ID.me or Login.gov  If it was ID.me, did you have to do an online video with a representative?   Yeah, I do direct deposit through BKK Bank, so I'd be interested in how it turns out for you if I run into the same issue.  Good luck! 🤞

[jimmyjam12]

It was login.gov.   When I was transitioning it said they verified information on your credit bureau so I used my old Arizona address.   Apparently by doing that they updated my profile from my Thailand address to the Arizona address.  
 

I am hoping Manila will be able to correct the address before it causes problems.  I never receive the 7162 form anyway so that will not be impacted.  Lol

[Galong]

16 minutes ago, jimmyjam12 said:

It was login.gov.   When I was transitioning it said they verified information on your credit bureau so I used my old Arizona address.   Apparently by doing that they updated my profile from my Thailand address to the Arizona address.  
 

I am hoping Manila will be able to correct the address before it causes problems.  I never receive the 7162 form anyway so that will not be impacted.  Lol

Thanks for the info. It's strange that your login system would change information on the site... that's scary!

I was thinking about doing Login.gov AND ID.me so I would have both. Everything I read about Login.gov says US address and US phone. I was going to use my brother's address which is my US mailing address and perhaps his mobile for the code, though I am concerned that it might look stretchy as that phone is not in my name. This is stressful. I'm trying to the right thing the right way and they're not making it easy. 😞 

You have direct deposit, so you should get form 7162 each year. It's odd that you don't. I do. I haven't gotten one this year yet. I recall it usually coming in June.

[jimmyjam12]

I am supposed to get form 7162 but since I live in the sticks in Issan I never get mail.

I also had a I’d.me account previous I should have just added ss.gov on the profile but I was not thinking straight 

 

[John Drake]

3 minutes ago, Galong said:

Thanks for the info. It's strange that your login system would change information on the site... that's scary!

I was thinking about doing Login.gov AND ID.me so I would have both. Everything I read about Login.gov says US address and US phone. I was going to use my brother's address which is my US mailing address and perhaps his mobile for the code, though I am concerned that it might look stretchy as that phone is not in my name. This is stressful. I'm trying to the right thing the right way and they're not making it easy. 😞 

You have direct deposit, so you should get form 7162 each year. It's odd that you don't. I do. I haven't gotten one this year yet. I recall it usually coming in June.

 

Just be assured you can use your Thai address for ID.ME.  In fact, it accepted my Thai P.O. Box address.  As I said, I use login.gov for my management applications at grants.gov. Those grant applications allow you to fill in 000 for US Zip codes, which then takes you to a separate entry for foreign addresses. This is what troubled me when I tried to use it for Social Security this morning. There was no way around the US address and telephone requirement. 

[Galong]

1 minute ago, John Drake said:

 

Just be assured you can use your Thai address for ID.ME.  In fact, it accepted my Thai P.O. Box address.  As I said, I use login.gov for my management applications at grants.gov. Those grant applications allow you to fill in 000 for US Zip codes, which then takes you to a separate entry for foreign addresses. This is what troubled me when I tried to use it for Social Security this morning. There was no way around the US address and telephone requirement. 

What sort of primary and secondary documents did you use for verification?  I've got my pink ID card with my photo and address in Thai. I've got a Tabian Baan that I could use, but it only has my name, no photo. I've got drivers license. I can get a bank statement with my name and address.  My goal is to give them enough to where I don't need to wait for a video chat.

For my US-side docs I've, of course, got my passport and Va drivers license. 

[John Drake]

4 minutes ago, Galong said:

What sort of primary and secondary documents did you use for verification?  I've got my pink ID card with my photo and address in Thai. I've got a Tabian Baan that I could use, but it only has my name, no photo. I've got drivers license. I can get a bank statement with my name and address.  My goal is to give them enough to where I don't need to wait for a video chat.

For my US-side docs I've, of course, got my passport and Va drivers license. 

 

ID.ME will ask you to upload a picture from your passport, your social security card picture, and a third one from a list of items. I selected my yearly Social Security statement for the third one. Then, when you have the live interview, they ask you to position your face in phone camera and use the camera to show the two other documents you used. Don't worry. They will tell you ahead of time and while you're waiting in line for your online appointment (took me about 30 minutes) what you will need to have prepared for the online live session.

[thesetat]

9 hours ago, Galong said:

Thanks for your reply. 🙏 I saw that there were two options and one involved a video interview with a representative. The other was self-service. I'll get my documents in order, photograph them and give it a go.

The user name and pw was already a two-factor authentication as I had to get a code sent to my email. This is not a security improvement from my perspective... it's merely an additional hoop to jump through.  🤷‍♂️
 

yeah, it does not really make sense adding so much security since you can not obtain money through that website. 

[John Drake]

11 minutes ago, Galong said:

What sort of primary and secondary documents did you use for verification?  I've got my pink ID card with my photo and address in Thai. I've got a Tabian Baan that I could use, but it only has my name, no photo. I've got drivers license. I can get a bank statement with my name and address.  My goal is to give them enough to where I don't need to wait for a video chat.

For my US-side docs I've, of course, got my passport and Va drivers license. 

 

Forgot to mention that the third document you use must have the same address you've entered for registering your ID.ME account. As I have my social security statements and tax forms sent to my PO Box in Thailand, that was not a problem. Just make sure they match.

[Galong]

4 minutes ago, John Drake said:

 

Forgot to mention that the third document you use must have the same address you've entered for registering your ID.ME account. As I have my social security statements and tax forms sent to my PO Box in Thailand, that was not a problem. Just make sure they match.

OK, a potential problem as my address is slightly different depending on the document. In other words, one gives a street name and the other just a Moo 3... but both use the same house number and everything else. Whenever I bring this up to anyone (Thai), they say the standard 'no problem'.  Well, I hope not. 

Does it matter that everything is in Thai?

 

[Galong]

17 minutes ago, John Drake said:

 

ID.ME will ask you to upload a picture from your passport, your social security card picture... while you're waiting in line for your online appointment (took me about 30 minutes) what you will need to have prepared for the online live session.

This an online video chat, not me waiting on my phone I hope. Is this in US time (zone( or Thai time? I'm not clear about the process. 

Sorry for all of the questions. I do appreciate everything you've told me already... very helpful! 🙏

[John Drake]

9 minutes ago, Galong said:

This an online video chat, not me waiting on my phone I hope. Is this in US time (zone( or Thai time? I'm not clear about the process. 

Sorry for all of the questions. I do appreciate everything you've told me already... very helpful! 🙏

 

Yes, it's an online video interview. They will send you an email with a link to it and the appointment time. I think you can choose general appointment hours in advance--don't remember.