Getting An Appointment At Your Local Social Security Office
While Social Security is heavily pushing people to use their online services currently, there are still limited situations under which you can request an in-person appointment. Social Security limits those to what they call limited, critical situations that cannot be resolved online, over the phone, or through the mail. These situations usually involve help with benefits or help with your Social Security number. Here are more details about each.
Closures Or Delays Affecting In
Local Social Security offices are offering more in-person appointments and have resumed in-person service for people without an appointment. As we expand in-person service, we strongly encourage you to continue to go online, call us for help, and schedule appointments in advance.
This webpage lists the small number of offices that temporarily:
- may provide service only by appointment due to construction, inability to permit people to wait outside the office, or other reasons.
- may be closed to the public.
To confirm the address of the office listed, enter the zip code provided below in our office locator at .
To learn more about the three topics below, visit .
- How to Get Help from Social Security
- Know Before You Go
- What to Know About Hearings
All offices are open at this time.
Although Some Components Reported A More Collaborative Labor
After two years of most of the agencys offices being closed to the publicexcept by appointmentdue to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Social Security Administration reopened its traditional worksites last week.
But labor groups, who in January reached an agreement with the agency to negotiate further on the component level about how reentry would occur, reported that process was a mixed bag, with employees at teleservice centers and the agencys around 1,200 field offices getting the short end of the stick.
Rich Couture, president of the American Federation of Government Employees Council 215, which represents employees in the Office of Hearing Operations, and chief negotiator for the union on reentry, said that although some offices, like his own, were successful in reaching agreement ahead of offices reopening last week, the majority were not.
“I can say that generally, with few exceptions, the component council meetings did not achieve their purpose, he said. There were whole issues that were not considered appropriate for discussion by the agency. It was primarily telework, but proposals to address process reform, workload management and those types of proposals were given a full hearing, much less discussed.
The level of engagement we had between Council 215 and OHO was not shared across the board, Couture said. From my perspective, it was an opportunity for cooperation that was squandered by the rest of the agency.
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How To Prepare For A Social Security Appointment
The Social Security Administration is committed to providing the best possible service to the public. To that end, they offer a variety of ways to communicate with them, including in-person appointments.
Whether you are seeking new benefits or have questions about your current benefits, you may need to visit a Social Security office. Here is what you need to know about making an appointment and what to expect when you visit.
What You Need to Know About Making a Social Security Office AppointmentThe first thing you should know is that appointments are not always necessary. Many transactions can be completed online or over the phone. However, there are some circumstances in which an in-person appointment may be required, such as:
-Appealing a denial of benefits-Filing for disability benefits-Applying for Extra Help with Medicare prescription drug costs-Applying for Supplemental Security Income
If you do need to make an appointment, you can do so by calling your local office or by using the SSAs online appointment scheduler. When making an appointment, be sure to have the following information handy:-Your Social Security Number
How To Prepare For Your Visit To A Social Security Office
The Social Security office is open from Monday to Friday, with the exception of federal holidays. You can visit the office in person or call 1-800-772-1213 to make an appointment.
When you visit a Social Security office, you will need to bring proof of your identity, such as a drivers license, passport or state-issued ID card. You will also need to bring any relevant documents, such as your Social Security card, birth certificate or tax return.
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One Pager: Social Security Administration Reopening Most Offices To Public Today
for a printable version of this one-pager.
SSA Resuming In-Office Services
Today, April 7, the Social Security Administration resumed in-office services by both walk-in and appointment for the first time since March 2020 at approximately 98 percent of its more than 1,200 field offices.
The SSA strongly encourages the public to schedule an appointment before heading to an office and visitors should be cautioned that the SSA expects large crowds and has warned walk-in visitors to expect delays and long waits.
Scheduling an Appointment
You can schedule or modify an appointment by calling the SSAs National 800 number at 1-800-772-1213 between 8:00 am 7:00 pm, Monday through Friday, or by contacting their local field office using the SSAs online field office locator application.
Additional Information
Additional, up to date information on the SSAs reopening and how the public can get help from Social Security, is available here.
Additional information can be found in the SSAs reopening press release and blog post.
for a printable version of this one-pager.
Social Security Offices To Reopen Today After Staying Shut For Two Years
- 10:23 ET, Apr 7 2022
FOR the first time in two years, Social Security offices nationwide are set to fully open their doors on Thursday, April 7.
Many people are hoping this will help resolve the agency’s backlog issues.
Like many other government agencies and private organizations, the agency closed its offices across the country in March 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The agency’s decision to close its doors was intended to protect the agencys employees as well as claimants from the unknown virus.
However, when the SSA shut its doors, it did not close completely.
People could still make in-person appointments for Social Security benefits but only if they had limited means and a critical situation.
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What Services Are Available At Social Security Offices
Social Security offices provide a variety of services to those who qualify. The most common service provided is assistance with retirement benefits. Other services offered include help with disability claims, Medicare enrollment, and questions about Social Security taxes.
As of March 18, 2020, most Social Security offices are closed to the public due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, some staff are still working remotely to provide services. If you need assistance, you can call the Social Security helpline at 1-800-772-1213 . You can also visit the Social Security website at www.socialsecurity.gov.
What Happens To My Scheduled Social Security Disability Hearing In A Government Shutdown
Most likely, hearing offices will continue to hold Social Security Disability and SSI hearings if a shutdown occurs.
During the 2013 government shutdown, the Office of Disability Adjudication and Review still held previously scheduled hearings, but staffing was limited to Administrative Law Judges , medical experts, vocational experts, and security personnel.
New hearings were not scheduled.
Lack of support personnel caused delays in exhibiting files and decisions were not written during the shutdown.
So, if a claimant was waiting for an already scheduled hearing, it in most cases proceeded and was decided.
But, the writing of the decision did not take place, so if benefits were granted, there was a further delay before benefits were paid since the decision was not actually formally written until the shutdown ended.
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Help With Social Security Number
Just like with benefit issues, getting an appointment for help with your Social Security number has a priority system as well. These appointments are reserved for people age 12 and over who are getting their first Social Security card or need to update information related to their Social Security number such as a name change or citizenship status change. These people may also be unwilling or unable to mail original documents. For example, you might not want to mail your original birth certificate or drivers license to prove your identity on your application. So, you could make an appointment to accomplish this. Simply requesting a replacement card is not enough to warrant an appointment in most cases. Replacement Social Security cards can be requested online as well as replacement Medicare cards.
Column: What To Expect When Us Social Security Field Offices Reopen In April
The good news: The sprawling network of more than 1,200 Social Security field offices around the United States will reopen to the public in early April after a two-year COVID-19 shutdown. During that time, nearly all public service has been available only online, and by phone and mail. Millions of Americans who need in-person help from the agency can now start to get it.
The bad news: The Social Security Administration is bracing for a crush of office visitors. Along with the pent-up demand created by the long shutdown, the agencys national toll-free number has been experiencing problems, with some callers getting busy signals or abrupt disconnections, which an SSA spokesman confirmed. The phone system problems are expected to increase demand further in the initial weeks of the reopening.
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The return to office comes at a time when the SSA was working to replace staff lost during the pandemic. But hiring has been frozen due to a lower-than-expected operating budget signed into law last week as part of a $1.5 trillion U.S. government spending bill for 2022. The SSA budget rose by $411 million to a total of $13.3 billion – less than half of what the Biden administration had requested.
Our 2022 funding level will complicate our efforts to improve services to the public, although we remain committed to doing so, said Mark Hinkle, the agencys press officer, via email.
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How To Get Help If Your Local Office Is Closed
The best way to get help if your Social Security Administration office is closed is by utilizing the online services available through your Social Security account online. Services available online have greatly expanded in recent months in response to office closures. You can perform many functions online such as viewing your Social Security statement, signing up for spousal benefits, applying for retirement benefits, applying for Medicare benefits, applying for disability benefits like SSDI or Supplemental Security Income , and many other things. Your first stop for trying to do something should be MyAccount through the Social Security website.
If, however, you are unable to find what you need online, you can also call the Social Security Administration on their toll-free phone number at 800-772-1213. This line has some automated services that are available 24 hours per day. If you wish to speak to a live agent, then you should call between 8:00 AM and 5:30 PM on weekdays. Remember that all offices are closed on Federal holidays, so you will not get a live agent on those days.
How To Make A Social Security Appointment
With the recent closure of many Social Security offices across the country, you may be wondering how to make a Social Security appointment. The good news is that you can still make appointments online or by telephone.
If you need to visit a Social Security office for any reason, it is important to first check the offices status. Some offices are closed to the public, while others are only open for appointments. You can find this information on the Social Security Administrations website.
If the office you need to visit is open, you will need to make an appointment. Appointments can be made online or by calling 1-800-772-1213 . When making an appointment, you will need to provide your Social Security number and have a specific reason for your visit. You will also be asked to choose a day and time for your appointment.
Please note that due to the current situation with COVID-19, there may be some changes to how appointments are conducted. For example, some appointments may be conducted by telephone rather than in person.
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Social Security Administration To Resume In
~ Statement of Kilolo Kijakazi, Acting Commissioner:
I am pleased to announce that local Social Security offices will restore in-person services, including for people without an appointment, on April 7, 2022.
To avoid waiting in line, I strongly encourage people, who can, to use our online services at www.socialsecurity.gov, call us, and schedule appointments in advance rather than walking in without an appointment. Phone appointments can save you a trip to a busy office. I thank the public for your patience as we work to increase service.
Customers who walk in without appointments may encounter delays and longer waits at our offices. Be aware that our offices tend to be the busiest first thing in the morning, early in the week, and during the early part of the month, so people may want to plan to visit at other times.
Given that many of the people we serve have health vulnerabilities, and consistent with our union agreements, we are continuing to require certain safety measures including masking, physical distancing, and self-health checks for COVID-19 symptoms. We will provide masks to the public and employees if they need them.
Throughout the pandemic, millions of people have used our secure and convenient online services and received help by phone. People who have access to the internet should first try our online services before calling us or visiting an office.
Additional Information
To get more Social Security news, follow the Press Office on Twitter @SSAPress.
Plan Ahead To Avoid Long Lines
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Like many businesses and organizations, Social Security had turned to options like online and telephone services to conduct its operations during the pandemic. Those options are still available. Nevertheless, people in rural areas and those without access to transportation or technology have struggled for help with Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income .
To avoid waiting in line, I strongly encourage people who can, to use our online services at www.socialsecurity.gov, call us and schedule appointments in advance rather than walking in without an appointment, said Kilolo Kijakazi, Social Securitys acting commissioner, in a statement. Social Security warns that it is currently having problems with its phone systems. You may experience service issues, including poor call quality, dropped calls and long wait times.
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What Do You Think Of Proposals To Permanently Close Ssa Offices
So now Id like to hear from you. Do you think closing most of the Social Security offices is a good idea? Id like to hear your thoughts in the comments below.
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Are Social Security Offices Open
Some business must be conducted in person, and that is certainly the case when it comes to the Social Security Administration. Many people visit their local SSA office for various reasons each day. However, nothing is more frustrating than arriving at your local Social Security office only to find that it is closed. With the current pandemic, more and more offices are closing or operating on reduced hours. So, is the Social Security office open? We will answer that question and give you all the details about visiting your local office, so just keep reading.
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Social Security Offices To Open For In
Social security offices will soon be opening for in-person appointments. This is welcome news for those who have been waiting to resolve their social security issues in person. The agency has been closed to the public since March, due to the coronavirus pandemic.
While the agency is planning to open its doors again, there are still some restrictions in place. Visitors will need to wear a face mask and maintain social distancing while in the office. Appointments will also be limited to 10 people at a time.
If you need to resolve a social security issue, you can either schedule an appointment or wait until the office opens to the public again.
Still A Good Idea To Make An Appointment For In
Social Security field offices, closed since March 17, 2020, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, reopened Thursday, April 7.
During the pandemic, in-person appointments at Social Security field offices were limited to critical situations, such as for people who were without food, medicine or shelter. While most offices can help you without an appointment, a few offices are closed or open by appointment only. Find out which offices are closed or open by appointment only, by visiting ssa.gov/emergency. SSA encourages you to make an appointment as this will help them plan for you.
You can do many things online at ssa.gov, such as apply for benefits. Also, with a personal my Social Security account, you can get an instant benefit verification letter or check the status of your application most people can request a replacement Social Security card.
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