COVID-19, Online Services

Important Information About Reaching Social Security During the COVID-19 Pandemic

July 30, 2020 • By

Reading Time: 1 Minute

Last Updated: March 17, 2021

During the current coronavirus pandemic, we continue to provide help to you and other people in your communities.  While our offices are not providing service to walk-in visitors due to COVID-19, we remain ready and able to help you by phone with most Social Security business.  You can speak with a representative by calling your local Social Security office or our National 800 Number.  You can find local office phone numbers online by using our Social Security Office Locator.

We offer many secure and convenient online services, where you can:

 

  • Apply for Retirement, Disability, and Medicare benefits.
  • Check the status of an application or appeal.
  • Request a replacement Social Security card (in most areas).
  • Print a benefit verification letter and much more.

Although you can do most of your business with us online, we know that service channel isn’t right for everyone.  You can still count on us by phone.  If you have a critical situation and we cannot help you with by phone or online, we may be able to schedule an appointment for you.

If you need help, please don’t wait until we can see you in person.  Call us now and get the help you need.  We also understand that getting medical and other documentation can be difficult due to the pandemic, so we are continuing to extend certain deadlines wherever possible.

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About the Author

Mike Korbey, Deputy Commissioner for Communications

Mike Korbey, Deputy Commissioner for Communications

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Comments

  1. victor a.

    Dear Sir or Madam My name is Victor A Osborne I live in British Columbia Canada. On the 15 th July 2020 I posted off an application for my Daughter Suzanne Lynne King to obtain and register her for Soc Sec when we left California she was age 12 ,on her birth in Montbello California 20th March 1958 we failed to register her for Soc Sec in that letter we included her Birth Certificate copy also a picture of her BC Driving Licence and I think we included a picture of her US Passport ,Suzanne is now in her 66th year of age so her application may need to be backdated.I phoned three times yesterday Tuesday 11th August to the Bellingham Office of Soc Sec the last time I phoned was at 330 pm and was asked to leave a phone number which is 250-585-3457 so far it has been 28 days since I posted off the application to your office to confirm that I am a US citizen my Soc Sec is XXXXXXXXX my date of birth is 11-11-1918 my address is 5224 Sherbourne Drive Nanaimo BC Canada V9T 2J8 please send my daughters Soc Sec Card as soon as possible I remain Yours Sincerely Victor A Osborne.

    • V.V.

      Hi Victor, thanks for using our blog. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. We ask that members in our Blog community work with our offices with specific questions. You can call us at 1-800-772-1213 for assistance or you can contact your local Social Security office. Please look for the general inquiry telephone number at the Social Security Office Locator. The number may appear under Show Additional Office Information. Please be aware that our call wait times are longer than normal.

      If you’re in Canada, use the Canadian Service Area Directory to determine which Resident Office is near you.

  2. David C.

    I need a replacement Social Security Card and live in Arizona. It is listed as a state where this can be done online. When I go to my online account it says this cannot be done online. Why?

    • V.V.

      Hi David, thank you for using our blog. First, realize you may not need a replacement card. You will rarely need to show it. Knowing your Social Security number is what is important. However, if you must get a replacement card, you may be able to apply online. Visit our Social Security Number and Card page to learn how. If you cannot request a replacement card online, call your local office and request that we mail you an SSN printout instead of a replacement Social Security card. Unfortunately, we are unable to process replacement Social Security card requests by phone at this time.

  3. Kathleen A.

    How do we schedule an appointment? Is that done through the 800 number only?

  4. jennifer j.

    I need to obtain a social security card for my 15 year old son. I am unable to create an online account for him since he is under age 18. I would like to schedule an appointment, how do I do that? Mailing the request is not an option for me. I also need to know if I need more than just his birth certificate to obtain the duplicate card. The closest office to me is Manteca, CA.

  5. IAN E.

    I just need to ask a few questions about having SSI and applying for Unemployment Benefit at the same time:
    a) can an individual have both, receiving SSI and apply for UI at the same time?
    b) is it taxable? how much?
    Friends and family members wants to know what is the best to do during this pandemic where we are being hit, the most.
    Thank you.

    • V.V.

      Hi Ian, thanks for the question. Unemployment benefits do not affect or reduce Social Security retirement and disability benefits. State unemployment compensation payments are not wages because they are paid due to unemployment rather than employment. However, income from Social Security may reduce your unemployment compensation. Contact your state unemployment office for information on how your state applies the reduction.

      If you’re receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI), unemployment insurance benefits are considered unearned income. If you, your spouse, or a child living in your household have any income other than your Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payment, including unemployment insurance benefits, you must tell us.

      To learn more about SSI and how income affects your payment, check out What You Need to Know When You Get Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

      As for your other questions related to unemployment, we are unable to answer as each state administers its own program. Learn more here.

  6. Amanda

    I got married in June and need to change my name. I am extremely reluctant to mail in my driver’s license, especially since they said I would not get it back for 1 or 2 months. Is there any idea when in person appointments in the South Bend, IN office will resume so I can take care if this?

    • V.V.

      Hi Amanda, thank you for using our blog. Check out our Frequently Asked Questions web page on how to change your name. If you do not want to mail in your documents, which will be returned, you may need to wait for the offices to reopen. Use our Social Security Office Locator to find your local office address. We hope this helps.

  7. Lenette

    I have been trying to get correct information about informing social security in regards to my direct deposit and all four times I’ve been given the wait 3 to 5 days before calling back, it’s going on a month now why is it that they are now in their comfort zone working from home and still give out the wrong information needless to say with my problem never being solved? I have also requested a supervisor, they said they can only send them an email which takes 3 weeks for myself to get a response? And so perhaps the supervisor hovering over them in the office actually works in comparison with their comfort zone working from home? I’m so disappointed that regardless of resolving their complaints in making their environment a better work place, was perhaps a cry wolf of just down right being lazy, I’m truly disappointed that social security really has good workers some where in there that can truly resolve the problem, nonetheless.

    • V.V.

      We are sorry to hear about your experience, Lenette. You can submit feedback by visiting our Contact Social Security page. Once there, select the “Email Us” link. This will take you to the “Email A Question to our Support Team” form, where you can complete and submit a compliment, complaint, or suggestion. We hope this helps.

  8. Barry J.

    Attempting to setup ‘my Social Security account’ and after several shutdowns, was informed that my birthdates did not match. Was told I could setup a virtual meeting to correct that. I do not see a link for that to happen. How do I go about doing that and what documents will I need?

    • V.V.

      Hi Barry, thanks for using our blog. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. We ask that members in our Blog community work with our offices with specific questions. You can call us at 1-800-772-1213 for assistance or you can contact your local Social Security office. Please look for the general inquiry telephone number at the Social Security Office Locator. The number may appear under Show Additional Office Information. Please be aware that our call wait times are longer than normal. We hope this information helps.

  9. Justine C.

    Why aren’t we able to request a replacement card in Oklahoma?

    • V.V.

      Thanks for your question, Justine. In an effort to meet the changing needs of the public, and improve our service delivery, we are continuously adding states to the online replacement Social Security card service. We hope to add Oklahoma in the future. Thanks!

  10. Tomasa G.

    Buenos días

    Disculpe yo vivo en Monterrey nuevo León, y recibo pensión, solo para preguntarles si tiene una fecha probable, para las citas del mes.
    Gracias.

    Buen día.

Comments are closed.