I have flunked MySocial Security identity test 5 times

[kdonnel]

Maybe open a tab to your credit history before next taking the test; the answer will be there.
What I want to know is how does the SS office know what credit cards I had- not like I use cards to pay my taxes and the interest rate deduction was abolished before the 21st century began I think. Big Brother knows way too much.

They pull a copy of your credit report from one of the big three agencies and craft questions based on the data contained.

The IRS does the same if you create an account there.

I can’t create an account at either automatically. I have to follow their manual process since I have an extended fraud alert placed on my credit reports. Everyone else follows the instructions and calls me to verify my identity but the government reverts to a manual process through the mail.

 

[amcnj]

Ohh ok so being 33 I wouldn't have any idea about this yet. Well I hope they work there stuff out it seems stupid right now.

Even when younger, they recommend checking your account periodically to see if the income they have listed for you each year is correct. You might be able to prove a discrepancy easier early on instead of 30 years later when you might not have the figures on hand or a company you worked for has gone out of business.

They used to mail everyone a statement periodically, so I think people were more aware of all this than now, when they are trying to go paperless. Now I believe statements only go to those who are over age 60 and have not yet created an online social security account. I know I have not received one in years.

 

[Meglen]

Even when younger, they recommend checking your account periodically to see if the income they have listed for you each year is correct. You might be able to prove a discrepancy easier early on instead of 30 years later when you might not have the figures on hand or a company you worked for has gone out of business.

They used to mail everyone a statement periodically, so I think people were more aware of all this than now, when they are trying to go paperless. Now I believe statements only go to those who are over age 60 and have not yet created an online social security account. I know I have not received one in years.

I made the account since some said I should. A few questions were iffy but I got them right. No info yet for me but the hardest part was making a username.

 

[kaytieeldr]

How did you all know you need to do this?

It's the security questions you have to answer when you want to access your SSA.gov account. They're not questions or answers you chose, they're things the government "knows" about you.

 

[lynxstch]

Maybe open a tab to your credit history before next taking the test; the answer will be there.
What I want to know is how does the SS office know what credit cards I had- not like I use cards to pay my taxes and the interest rate deduction was abolished before the 21st century began I think. Big Brother knows way too much.

Its not SS who does the security questions, it's one of the credit companies. I believe they told me it was Equifax. NONE of the security questions were right when I tried to sign up for my online SS account. And I had already checked my credit history. And NONE of the answers were there. There were questions like what bank I used for a student loan (I never had one), what department store credit card did I open in 2000 (none), literally the answers to all of them were NONE. (which they say isn't possible, lol). I called the SS toll free #, it said there was like a 2 hour wait, so I left my # on the 'if you want us to call you back' thing, and hung up. Not 10 min later, the phone rang and it was SS. The girl I talked to said she had the same issue, but it's not something they control, so advised me to go to my local SS office and have them do it. They don't have to do any 'credit or security' questions since you are sitting right there in front of them. All they do is give you an 'activation' number, which you enter when filling out everything else to create a log on. They do not take appointments for that though, just for regular SS stuff. I came home and in 30 seconds had my online account created. It's very helpful, as I can see exactly when the next check will come and what the amount will be.

 

[lynxstch]

It's the security questions you have to answer when you want to access your SSA.gov account. They're not questions or answers you chose, they're things the government "knows" about you.

That is not exactly true. They are questions you have to ask when trying to set up your SSA account. Once you have it set up, you don't have to answer security questions again, you just get a one time code everytime you sign in that you have to enter. You can have them send it thru email or text.

 

[smmco]

Maybe open a tab to your credit history before next taking the test; the answer will be there.
What I want to know is how does the SS office know what credit cards I had- not like I use cards to pay my taxes and the interest rate deduction was abolished before the 21st century began I think. Big Brother knows way too much.

Because you use your social security number to open credit cards. It seems pretty obvious.

 

[mrodgers]

It's the security questions you have to answer when you want to access your SSA.gov account. They're not questions or answers you chose, they're things the government "knows" about you.

Reading the thread, it read to me that people are needing to access the site and I didn't understand why one would need to access that site unless of age. Then people were saying about statements we all got just saying what you should expect from SS because they aren't mailing it any more. I just didn't know how one would come across that info that you have to do this. I understand needing the site if you were collecting.

 

[Allison]

Reading the thread, it read to me that people are needing to access the site and I didn't understand why one would need to access that site unless of age. Then people were saying about statements we all got just saying what you should expect from SS because they aren't mailing it any more. I just didn't know how one would come across that info that you have to do this. I understand needing the site if you were collecting.

It doesn't have anything to do with being "of age" or collecting. It is an electronic version of the paper statement you used to get in the mail showing your earnings each year since you started paying into social security and then an estimate of your future benefits. People should be paying attention to this well before they retire.

 

[AlohaNow]

I'm far from collecting SS yet, but I went ahead and claimed my account based on advice that I read in Kiplinger's. You should claim your account early simply so that no one else can! I know, I know, if we ourselves cannot seem to answer the questions and get in to the system, how will a scammer? But you never know....

 

[DisneyWorldMimi]

There are things that come up from my husband's first marriage and have nothing to do with him when he checks on different things. Addresses that she lived at, but he never did. He ends up failing the questions because of those things. When we were applying for FEMA after Hurricane Michael, it was such a hassle. Especially since we had to go to like one spot to get wifi and that was accessible for only a little while if more than a couple cars were there. Even being right under the Verizon portable towers, we weren't getting wifi.

 

[Skippy918]

The questions are from a link with lexisnexis, so if the company or government need to verify your identity before you do something online, the lexisnexis company is the one who uses those analytics to create the questions. Many financial institutions use this too as a way of verifying that you are the right individual to sign documents especially if you are doing it via DocuSign and you are not at the branch in person.

 

[Lilsia]

Well you think that is bad, after reading this post, I decided to go make and account. Guess what? I already had one and forgot. LOL

 

[rwdavis2]

And people want the government to run our healthcare.

 

[Kellydelly]

Ohh ok so being 33 I wouldn't have any idea about this yet. Well I hope they work there stuff out it seems stupid right now.

Yes, actually everyone who has worked in the US and paid SS taxes would possibly want to access their income report. It shows you how much you earned EVERY year and how much your dependents can expect if you die and information like that. You are not too young to need or want access to this website.

 

[mrodgers]

It doesn't have anything to do with being "of age" or collecting. It is an electronic version of the paper statement you used to get in the mail showing your earnings each year since you started paying into social security and then an estimate of your future benefits. People should be paying attention to this well before they retire.

Why do I need to pay attention to the SS statement? I know it won't be enough to live on, I doubt it will even be there, and there isn't anything I can do to change it.

 

[Allison]

Why do I need to pay attention to the SS statement? I know it won't be enough to live on, I doubt it will even be there, and there isn't anything I can do to change it.

If you really don't get it then there is no reason to go into any detail.