Yeah, that was me, but I had the pass word down to a copy/paste on my computer. It is the changing of the phone number that messed me up. They send the code to the original number and I can't get into my account to change it to the new number.
From what you have stated is sounds like your wife hasn't been employed. The requirement for Social Security benefits is to have worked at least 10 years, if not then she would be eligible for other benefits under the program as your spouse. My I suggest you research the other programs as well.
I don't believe they care what a person's credit score is, they just use the data to confirm a person's identity. With so much fraud and ID theft nowadays, I guess they must take every precaution.
Evidently in my case it is the day of my birth. They have Jan.17 and it is Jan. 11. No matter that I've corrected this, it is still a problem for those dunderheads.
Have you thought about using a TTY - A TTY is a special device that lets people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech-impaired use the telephone to communicate, by allowing them to type text messages. A TTY is required at both ends of the conversation in order to communicate. It can be used with both land lines and cell phones.
No I don't need extra expense. I wanted to set it up so I could get her new benefit. I'll just wait and go to local office if need be.
Just as a followup to the "access to the credit report" thing. Last night my husband attempted to set up his My Social Security account online again, and was presented with a series of questions to answer as proof of identity. Some of the questions were obscure mysteries, such as a "which retail credit account applied for in 1983." REALLY???? Who on earth remembers WHEN they applied for a department store credit card? So he made his best guess and was incorrect, so he was locked out. To say this has been an exasperating experience is putting it mildly. He has had to go to ridiculous extremes (at least to our way of thinking) and still no account. He provided all the documentation, W-2 information, employer info, etc. -- and one stupid question about a credit application from 36 YEARS AGO sinks the entire thing??? What a colossal waste of time. (Oh, and it costs $10 to activate/deactivate the credit reporting lock, so that time and money wasted.) So he gathered every piece of identification he owns (driver's license, W-2s, social security card, passport, utility bills showing our address, etc.) and headed for the SS Office today. I hope things go smoothly because this is absurd.
Hopefully closing out this mini-drama. He was able to set up his SS and Medicare at the SS office, and the agent gave him a code to use to log on to My Social Security website. Supposedly all he'll have to do then is change his password.