Call The Social Security Administration

Contacting Social Security In Person

When Social Security offices are fully reopened, if you cant resolve your problem or find the information you need on the website or over the phone, you can go to one of the field offices . In some casesif you need to request a Social Security card or update certain kinds of personal informationyou may have to visit an office.

But be forewarned: It probably wont be fun. You can schedule an appointment, though it could take weeks or more than a month to get one. Just heading to the office is an option, but youll probably wait more than a couple of hours to be seen. Some offices report lines out the door.

Staffing is an issue. Due to budget cuts to the SSA, there are fewer workers for an increasing number of applicants. And dont expect them to take an in-depth look at your situation. SSA employees don’t have the training or expertise to help you maximize your benefits the way a financial planner can. If you don’t have a financial planner or other professional who can help you make the right claiming choices, there are Social Security calculators that can help. The SSA also offers a number of online tools.

Some Social Security experts advise visiting multiple field offices in order to ensure that youre getting the most out of your benefits. One worker may misinterpret the rules and deny you benefits or other privileges for which youre eligible, so seeking multiple benefit estimates can help you find the best dealkind of like shopping for a new car.

Contact Social Security By Mail

American Rescue Plan Act of 2021www.irs.gov/coronavirusIf you have a problem,contact your local office

If you still need additional help, you may write to the Office of Public Inquiries and Communications Support. Please include your Social Security number or claim number whenever you write to us.

Social Security Administration Office of Public Inquiries and Communications Support 1100 West High Rise 6401 Security Blvd. Baltimore, MD 21235

do not send

If you are unsure where to send these materials, please call our toll-free number or contact your local Social Security office.

Social Security Scam Call: How It Works

There is a new SSA scam going around nationwide. Watch out for a Social Security scam call, perpetrated by criminals claiming to be from the Office of the Inspector General , mostly using the Social Security Number Suspended scare. Well show you below what the scammers say precisely on the phone to protect yourself if you receive the call.

However, rest assured that these crooks are not from the Social Security Administration. Lets dive into the SSA Call scam with its variations and expose how they work. You can report the fraudsters at the end of the article if you experienced any suspicious activity.

Scammers call from random numbers but use technology that we assume you are aware of. They make the name of the Security Security Administration appear on your smartphone display. As people believe the call is from SSA, they pick up and respond with honest intent.

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A Message From Regional Commissioner Linda Kerr

Welcome to the Social Security Administration’s Kansas City Region. You can use the Contact Us link to access several options for contacting SSA, including online access at socialsecurity.gov, and our toll-free numbers, 1-800-772-1213 and TTY number 1-800-325-0778. Through our online portal you can learn more about us, the services we provide, the rich diversity of our employees and our Agency mission.

Our Region consists of four states in Americas Heartland: Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska. We have 68 field offices, a Program Service Center, a Teleservice Center, a Workload Support Unit, and 8 Disability Determination Service offices that deliver Social Security Services to meet the changing needs of our customersyou!

We have a proud history of protecting the integrity of our programs and providing superior customer service. We are honored to serve you and are committed to providing the highest standard of innovative, considerate, and thoughtful customer service.

How To Make An Office Appointment With Social Security

In this community resources guide, you will learn how to schedule an appointment with Social Security Administration.

Making a Social Security appointment can be a huge time saver. Calling SSA to make an appointment gives them the opportunity to get ready for your visit and allows you to learn about any documents that may be needed.

If you are uncomfortable applying for benefits online or using the Social Security website, continue reading to see how you can schedule a visit at a Social Security office near you.

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Contacting Social Security By Phone

The website is a great place to start, but sometimes the information provided may not seem to address your situation or answer your particular question. So your next step might be to call. Since Social Security doesnt publish the phone numbers of most local offices, you likely have to call the main number at 1-800-772-1213. Even if you have the number of your local office, you’ll probably want to start with the SSAs automated system.

If you call, you can perform many services through the automated system, including requesting a benefit verification letter and/or statement of your benefits, inquiring about the status of a claim, applying for a replacement card, finding the address of your local office, and conducting some business related to Medicare.

If the automated system isnt enough, you can speak to a representative between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

The Social Security Administration provides interpreters free of charge. You can call 800-772-1213 to speak with an interpreter who speaks Arabic, Armenian, Chinese, Farsi, French, Greek, Haitian Creole, Hmong, Italian, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog, or Vietnamese. You can also schedule in-person appointments, during which time the Social Security Administration office will arrange for an interpreter.

Speak To A Live Worker And Request Your Appointment

The last step is to speak to a live worker and request a Social Security visit. You will need to provide the location and time of day that you would like for your Social Security office visit.

The worker will also provide you with a list of documents that you will need for your Social Security office visit. For instance, if you need to change your name, you will need to provide proof of your name change such as a marriage certificate or divorce decree. The service that you need will determine the additional documents that you will need to provide.

Again the phone worker can provide you with a list of items that you will need to bring to your Social Security office visit.

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Protect Yourself From Identity Theft

The OIG provides 10 tips on Protecting Personal Information and details several actions to take if you suspect identity theft.

If someone uses your SSN to obtain credit, loans, telephone accounts, or other goods and services, contact the Federal Trade Commission . The FTC collects complaints about identity theft from those whose identities have been stolen. You may reach the FTCs identity theft hotline toll free at 1-877-IDTHEFT or visit their website at www.ftc.gov/idtheft.

Additional Resources:

Its helpful to know facts about the alleged fraud, such as:

• Description of the fraud.
• Location where the fraud took place.
• When the fraud took place.
• How the fraud was committed.
• Why the person committed the fraud .
• Anyone else who has knowledge of the potential violation.

The OIG will carefully review your allegation and take appropriate action. However, they cannot provide information regarding the actions taken on any reported allegation. Federal regulations prohibit the disclosure of information contained in law enforcement records, even to the individual making the allegation.

To learn more about reporting fraud, visit the OIGs Reporting Other Issues page. You will find information about Misuse of SSNs, Elder Abuse, Direct Express Account Fraud, and more. Also, watch their video How to Report Social Security Fraud for more details about the fraud referral process.

How Can I Change My Address

If you get Social Security benefits or are enrolled in Medicare, you can change your address online by signing into your mySocial Security account. Go to the My Profile Tab and slect the contact link.

This service is not currently available to people who receive Supplemental Security Income or do not have a U.S. mailing address. However, if you do receive SSI, you can still check your address we have on record and update your telephone number via the My Profile tab on your mySocial Security.

• Call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, 8:00 am 7:00 pm.

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Call The Social Security Phone Number

The first thing you need to do is call Social Security at their national telephone number, 800.772.1213. This is the best way to make a Social Security office appointment.

When calling Social Security be sure to have your SS number and any mail that the administration may have mailed you. You can reference this during your call.

Social Security Combats Fraud

Social Security has zero tolerance for fraud. We diligently work at the national, regional, and local levels to combat fraud that undermines our mission to serve the American public.

To meet this challenge, we work closely with the Office of the Inspector General which investigates allegations of fraud and seeks to bring offenders to justice. The OIG refers cases to U.S. attorneys within the Department of Justice, and other state and local prosecuting authorities, for prosecution as a federal crimes.

Visit our OIGs Investigations page to view a list of recent fraud investigations.

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It Starts With A Call Out Of The Blue

The vast majority of imposter scams take place over the phone. Sometimes, they start with robocall, but not always. These phone bandits know how to high-pressure and bully people, sometimes threatening them with arrest.

People are scared and theyre not thinking clearly, so they do what the crooks want in order to relieve the pressure, said Steve Baker, international investigations specialist with the Better Business Bureau.

You’re so scared in that moment, said Stafford, a Massachusetts teacher. They’re saying you’re going to go to federal prison. You’re like, Oh my God no. How do I stop this from happening? I will tell you everything.

Most of these calls come from telephone boiler rooms in India, Baker told NBC News BETTER. By spoofing caller ID, they can make the phone display the number of the government agency theyre pretending to be calling from. This hi-tech deception makes their lie seem legit.

Social Security Call: How To Report A Scammer

Make your family and friends aware of the Social Security Scam Call by sharing it on social media using the buttons provided. You can also officially report the scammers and any other suspicious SSA-related activity to the Federal Trade Commission using the link below:

If you want to be the first to find out the most notorious scams every week, feel free to subscribe to the Scam Detector newsletter here. Youll receive periodic emails, and we promise not to spam. Last but not least, use the Comments section below to expose other scammers.

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‘it’s Taken Too Long’

Field offices are slated to reopen to the public in early April.

In the meantime, the Social Security Administration is emphasizing that people who need help start with the agency’s website.

“As we expand in-person availability, we strongly encourage the public to continue to go online at ssa.gov, call us for help if they cannot complete their business online, and schedule appointments in advance,” a spokesperson said.

But for people like Erica Ellis, 43, of Virginia Beach, Virginia, who has been trying to help her sister claim disability benefits, there are no immediate answers.

Her sister, Dorothy Pritchett, 48, a schoolteacher from Newport News, Virginia, has been unable to work since she had a stroke in August. She applied for disability benefits shortly thereafter. While the Social Security Administration website shows that the benefits have been approved, her sister has yet to receive a payment.

“Here we are going into March, and she still doesn’t have her money,” Ellis said. “It’s taken too long.”

The experience, along with Ellis’ own stalled pursuit for her own disability benefits, has made her question the sincerity of the program.

“I really think that they want you to be dead,” Ellis said. “That way, they don’t have to give it at all.”

Foreign Countries Served By Social Security Administration

If you live outside of the United States, there are a number of Social Security Field Offices and American embassies and consulates who have specially trained personnel to assist you in seeking Social Security services.You can access information to contact our Social Security and consular staff bylocating your country in the link below:

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The Best Ways To Contact The Social Security Administration

Did you know that more than 2,700 rules govern your Social Security benefits? Luckily, a significant number of those rules probably dont apply to youbut how do you have a chance of interpreting all these rules on your own when there are thousands of explanations in the agencys Program Operations Manual System ?

The easy answer is to contact the Social Security Administration . Yes, we know what sort of negative connotations the idea of communicating with a government agency conjures up. Thankfully, there are three ways to contact Social Security to get info and solve issuesonline, by phone, and in person.

If You Receive A Suspicious Call Text Or Email:

If you receive a call, text, or email that you believe to be suspicious, about a problem with your Social Security number or account, do not respond or engage with the caller or sender. Report Social Security phone, email, and text scams through our dedicated online form.

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If You Need An Interpreter

We provide free interpreter services to help you conduct your Social Security business. These interpreter services are available whether you talk to us by phone or in the Social Security office.

Call our toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213. If you need service in Spanish, press 7 and wait for a Spanish-speaking representative to help you. For all other languages, stay on the line and remain silent during our English voice automation prompts until a representative answers. The representative will contact an interpreter to help with your call. If your business cannot be completed by phone, we will make an appointment for you at a local Social Security office and arrange for an interpreter to be there at the time of your visit.

Service Around The World

Welcome to SSAs Office of Earnings & International Operations home page. The purpose of this site is to assist Social Security customers who are outside the U.S. or planning to leave the U.S.

OEIO is responsible for administering the Social Security program outside the U.S. and for the implementationof the benefit provisions of international agreements. Since SSA has no offices outside the U.S., OEIO is assisted by the Department of State’s embassies and consulates throughout the world.

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What To Know About Hearings

If you are thinking about appealing a decision, or you have an appeal pending, we want you to know you have options that could help you have your hearing sooner.

• We resumed offering some in-person hearings and we continue to offer hearings by online video and by phone. Online video hearings and telephone hearings are convenient, safe, and secure. .
• We continue to increase the number of in-person hearings. As our capacity grows, we will move to a more normal scheduling process.

Using Our Automated Telephone Services

Services for all beneficiaries

• Request a benefit verification letter
• Ask for a form SSA-1099, Social Security Benefit Statement, to request a replacement tax summary

Services for Medicare beneficiaries only

• Request a replacement Medicare Card
• Request a form SSA-1020 to apply for help with Medicare prescription drug costs

Services for people who have applied for benefits

• Ask to receive a claim status

Services everyone can use

• Find the address of your local Social Security office
• Request a form SS-5,Application for a Social Security Card, to:
• apply for an original Social Security card or a replacement card if yours was lost or stolen,
• request a name change on your card, or
• update or correct other information on your Social Security number record.

Informational Messages

You can listen to informational messages on the following subjects:

• Payment delivery dates
• Best times to call our 800 number
• Social Security Internet address and services
• Supplemental Security Income
• Non-receipt of your Social Security benefit
• Representative payee

Services for Social Security Benefits Only

• Change address and/or phone number

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Measures You Can Take To Prevent Identity Theft

Identity theft happens when a person illegally uses your personal information to commit fraud. Someone illegally using your SSN and assuming your identity can cause a lot of problems. But there are several things you should do to prevent identity theft:

• Do not routinely carry your SSN.
• Never say your SSN aloud in public.
• Beware of phishing scams trying to trick you into revealing personal information.
• Create a personal account to help you keep track of your records and identify any suspicious activity.
• Consider adding these blocks to your account with us:
• The eServices block This prevents anyone, including you, from seeing or changing your personal information on the internet. Once we add the block, you or your representative will need to contact your local office to request removal of the block.
• The Direct Deposit Fraud Prevention block This prevents anyone, including you, from enrolling in direct deposit or changing your address or direct deposit information through or a financial institution . Once we add the block, you or your representative will need to contact your local office to request removal of the block. You will need to do the same to make any future changes to direct deposit or contact information.