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

Comments

  1. About C.

    Thank you!

  2. paul b.

    Thanks For Your Reply.,’
    I do live in Mexico,City, I was born here and planned
    to live here,In Mexico, City, I have been here all my
    Life, My Mother is From New Bedford, Mass.
    My Father was born here in Mex.-City, But May Dad,
    is a Home Relative from Veracruz, Mex.,-
    Please let me know, What can I do, if I whant to be
    A US Citizen?.,- I will send you what-ever You
    Need ! Thanks for your Help.,- Thanks.,-
    Paul Bouffier

  3. Juan M.

    Yo able y que no califique por no. Ser Siudadano

  4. Michael E.

    ok I am a retired US Navy i reside in the Philippines with my family and have 2 children ages 1 and 3 they both are US Citizens with SSN”s and US Passports their mother is a PHIlippine national with no ITIN or SSN I intend to file for SS at age 2 in just over a year my question is I know my children are eligible to receive monthly benefits based on my benefit will they receive the 50% based on my total benefit i would receive.if i waited till age 70. or the partial benefit i will receive at age 62 and in the event of my demise that percentage goes to 75% of which amount as well am trying to prepare a “decease folder” for their mother …also being residents here in the Philippines I do understand they still have to go thru the US EMBASSY but with this COVID the US EMBASSY has been closed for any services for the Americans here ie..passports visas, social security VA medical
    any thing required we have been neglected since March 2020 I know i can apply for my benefits online but the kids have to appear in person then even have to still be scrutinized by an official from the SS office to visit our home, question our neighbors etc….just to sign off on their application, so, in the event this COVID is still in place what are the available options for filing for my children??? Thank you

    • Vonda V.

      Thank you for using our blog, Michael. When a parent gets Social Security retirement benefits or disability benefits, his or her children also may get benefits. Within a family, a child can receive up to half of the parent’s full retirement or disability benefit.

      To get benefits, the child must be unmarried and:
      • Younger than age 18;
      • A full-time student (no higher than grade 12) 18 to 19 years old; or
      • Have a disability that started before age 22 and is 18 years or older.

      See our factsheet on Benefits for Children for more information.

  5. Ella E.

    My Social Security does not work
    Have been trying for sometime Last year and this yezr

    • Vonda V.

      Hi Ella, thanks for using our blog. We are sorry to hear about the difficulties you are experiencing with my Social Security. 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.

  6. Ronald M.

    They closed my bank account out and was route was the route that my social security check entered.. they closed it out on the 22nd of July. I called the Mobile office and spoke with Betsey one the 24th of July and had my chest going back into my other account. How late will my check be. Thank you

    • Vonda V.

      Hi Ronald, thanks for using our blog. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. 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.

  7. Guadalupe h.

    I Like to make a phone call apoyment how I can do it, I call and call and no body answer last time wait for 1 1/2 hours and no answer. How I can do this.

    • Vonda V.

      Hi Guadulupe, thanks for using our blog. 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.

  8. José A.

    Han habido algunos avances con relación al SIS para Puerto Rico

  9. Sandra

    How do hard of hearing or deaf communicate with you. You want everyone to go online but entering our ss# is not safe. While you may be secured on your end, many of us are not secure on our pc’s and our private information could be stolen. And what of those who cannot make a physical visit due to health issues like cancer, phobias, severe copd, or other impairments. What solutions for these people? Something to think about and I thank you for doing so.

    • Vonda V.

      Hi Sandra, thanks for using our blog. While our offices are not providing service to walk-in visitors due to COVID-19, we remain committed to providing ongoing benefits and vital services. You can still get our help by using our online services or calling us. If you have a critical situation that we cannot help you with by phone or online, we may be able to schedule an in-office appointment for you. If uncomfortable using our online services, we can help with certain critical issues by phone and mail.

      Social Security is also committed to communicating effectively with the public, which includes providing meaningful access to all SSA activities, programs, facilities, and services to persons who are deaf or hard of hearing. Check out our If You Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing web page for details on how to request a reasonable accommodation. We hope this helps!

  10. Ivanna A.

    Hello,
    What about who doesn’t have SSN ? How to apply for SSN first time (original) ? Specially at this time, they can’t get any health insurance without SSN card !
    Please help us !
    Thanks,

    • Vonda V.

      Hi Ivanna, thanks for using our blog. We continue to process Social Security Numbers 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.

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