Numerous users on social media have reported issues with the Social Security Administration (SSA) website. They mentioned encountering a ‘server outage’ and seeing a ‘service not available’ message. However, the SSA has yet to confirm any outages, and Downdetector also showed no signs of downtime.
The issues with the SSA website arise just days before the agency is set to distribute the April 2025 stimulus checks to millions of residents. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients are scheduled to receive their payments, including a 2.5% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), on April 1. Two days later, on Thursday, those who began receiving Social Security before May 1997 or those receiving both Social Security and SSI will get their payments.
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Reporting an outage, one user on social media commented: “Why has the Social Security website been down for days? You can log in but you end up with an error message. Today’s notification says: “There has been an unexpected system error. Your login session has been terminated. For security reasons, please close all your internet browser windows.”
“The whole sign-in function of the Social Security website is non-functional. No explanation given, no service outage noted,” another individual remarked on X, the platform previously known as Twitter.
As we are unable to directly assess the SSA website’s status at the moment, here are some troubleshooting steps you can follow:
Check Website Status:
Visit websites like Downdetector.com or IsItDownRightNow.com to see if others are experiencing outages. If many users are reporting the issue, it is likely on the SSA’s end, and you will need to await a resolution from their IT department.
Clear Browser Cache and Cookies:
Errors such as ‘Bad Request’ or ‘unexpected system error’ might be due to corrupted browser data. Navigate to your browser settings, clear the cache and cookies, and try again.
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Try a Different Browser or Device:
Some users found success by switching from one browser, like Safari, to another, such as Chrome, or by using an incognito window.
Verify Login Credentials:
Make sure you are entering the correct username/password via Login.gov or ID.me (the SSA’s current authentication partners). If you receive a security code but still cannot proceed, the problem may be server-related, not with your credentials.
Avoid Peak Times:
The website may limit access during peak hours or maintenance periods. Attempt to access it during standard business hours, such as 9 AM–5 PM EDT.
Contact SSA Support:
If the above steps do not work, call 1-800-772-1213 (available from 7 AM–7 PM EDT, Monday–Friday) or visit a local SSA office (appointments recommended).
