Important Information About Reaching Social Security During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Reading Time: 1 MinuteLast 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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Tags: COVID-19, online services
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Mike Korbey, Deputy Commissioner for Communications
Mike Korbey, Deputy Commissioner for Communications
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Marcela
I need to apply for a SS number, I have a working permit and a working Visa.
What can I do?
V.V.
Hi Marcela, we assign the vast majority of SSNs and issue SSN cards at birth. We will continue to process new card requests through our automated processes for newborns as part of the hospital registration process (we call that process Enumeration at Birth). We will also continue to process SSNs and issue cards for certain lawful immigrants [we call these processes Enumeration at Entry (EAE) and Enumeration beyond Entry (EBE)].
If these automated processes are not available to you, we will schedule an in-office appointment for a new card request for those with a critical need. Appointment availability is based on available staff and office operating status. Please call your local office to see if an in-office appointment is necessary and possible. To contact your local office, please look for the local office telephone number at Social Security Office Locator under “Social Security Office Information” for the office you select. The toll-free “Office” number is your local office.
Amy R.
Hello,
I’m presently trying to get a SS replacement card. I’ll be in Las Cruces on the morning of Friday, August 28, 2020. Would it be possible to come in and pick up a replacement card?
I have my US passport, New Mexico birth certificate, bank statement and gas bill with me.
Please let me know if that’s a possibility and what procedure I should follow.
Thank you kindly!
Sincerely,
Amy R. Hausermann
V.V.
Hi Amy, thanks for using our blog. None of our Social Security offices can accommodate walk-in visitors until further notice. 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.
Joseph A.
I would like to meet with a rep in person and begin to collect my social security. I was scheduled to meet with someone but then the pandemic hit. I will not do it over the phone because of previous confusion with a relative who has the same name. I will not do it on-line because I cannot ask questions. The closest office to me is the Greece, NY but I will travel to Buffalo or Syracuse if necessary.
V.V.
Hi Joseph, thanks for using our blog. None of our Social Security offices can accommodate walk-in visitors until further notice. 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. Check out our Social Security and Coronavirus web page for more information.
Brenda J.
Keep getting saying my ss# have beensuspended
V.V.
Thanks for letting us know, Brenda. Generally, we will only contact you if you have requested a call or have ongoing business with us. Recently, scams—misleading victims into making cash or gift card payments to avoid arrest for Social Security number problems—have skyrocketed. Our employees will never threaten you for information or promise a benefit in exchange for personal information or money.
If you receive a suspicious call like this: 1) Hang up. 2) Do not provide personal information, money, or retail gift cards. 3) Report suspicious calls here. For more information on how to protect yourself, check out our Frequently Asked Questions. We hope this helps.
jaimelle j.
Social security very important through pandmic and much information ease the people about rules for us to follow so we received stimulus and other details
Neil
Hi, My wife is on a L2 visa and needs to apply for a new SSN number to be able to work. We’ve been waiting for SSA offices to open. How can we get a SSN for her? Thanks
V.V.
Hi Neil, thanks for using our blog. We assign the vast majority of SSNs and issue SSN cards at birth. We will continue to process new card requests through our automated processes for newborns as part of the hospital registration process (we call that process Enumeration at Birth). We will also continue to process SSNs and issue cards for certain lawful immigrants [we call these processes Enumeration at Entry (EAE) and Enumeration beyond Entry (EBE)].
If these automated processes are not available to your wife, we will schedule an in-office appointment for a new card request for those with a critical need. Appointment availability is based on available staff and office operating status. Please call your local office to see if an in-office appointment is necessary and possible. To contact your local office, please look for the local office telephone number at the Social Security Office Locator under “Social Security Office Information” for the office you select. The toll-free “Office” number is your local office.
Kim S.
I’ve called and gotten through quite quickly. Yet I still haven’t received answers to why I was approved for disability this past May. I applied for surviving spouse disability March 2, 2020. I am 58, was married for over 20 years, and I signed up before the 7th year anniversary of my husbands death. My husband passed before he received social security at 55. I received back pay on my wages and my 1st two checks I’ve received are on my life time earnings. I just saw my check for September and it looks like it will be on my earnings not my husbands again. When I log in to my Social Security it said it is still processing for the surviving spouse disability. Why was my disabilty approved in May and back pay put into my account the next week and my husbabds has taken so long?
V.V.
Hi Kim, 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.
Louise C.
I do not want to manage my adult sons SSI he needs a new representative I no longer want any part of it
V.V.
Hi Louise, thanks for using our blog. Please contact your local Social Security office. 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.
NA
Hi, My wife is on a L2 visa and needs to apply for a new SSN number to be able to work. We’ve been waiting for SSA offices to open. How can we get a SSN for her? Thanks
Connie C.
Very disappointed! I have been on hold for 2 hours kept receiving a recorded message about wait time. Then it quit giving me the message and i thought I would be helped. The phone just kept ringing and ringing and no one ever answered. I am still on the phone listening to it ring and ring and ring.
V.V.
Hi Connie, thanks for using our blog. We are very sorry to hear about the difficulties you are experiencing with Social Security. Remember, many services, including applying for retirement, disability and Medicare benefits, requesting a replacement Medicare card, or reporting a change of address are conveniently available anytime at our website. When you use your personal my Social Security account, you can click on “Ask a Question” or “Talk to an Expert” for a call back.
In addition, there are options for contacting us. You can call us at 1-800-772-1213 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. We hope this helps!