Is that Phone Call From Us?
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: August 19, 2021
It’s the morning of a busy day at home and you get a call from an unknown number. You answer only to find yourself on the receiving end of a threatening message saying your Social Security benefits will stop immediately unless you provide your personal information. It happens every day to thousands of Americans. And it’s not Social Security calling.
Scammers have many ways to lure their victims into providing information and then stealing their identities. Sometimes they call under a guise of helping you complete a disability application.
Protecting your information is an important part of Social Security’s mission to secure today and tomorrow. SSA employees occasionally contact citizens by telephone for customer-service purposes. In only a few special situations, usually already known to the citizen, an SSA employee may request the citizen confirm personal information over the phone. If you do receive a call from one of our representatives, they will provide you with a telephone number and extension.
The Acting Inspector General for Social Security, Gail Stallworth Stone, urges everyone to stay vigilant of impersonation schemes and to not be afraid to hang up.
You must always remember that you’re in control. Also remember that Social Security will never do any of the following:
- Call you to demand an immediate payment.
- Demand that you pay a debt without the ability to appeal the amount you owe.
- Require a specific means of payment, such as requiring you to pay with a prepaid debit card.
- Ask you for your personal information or credit or debit card numbers over the phone.
- Threaten you with arrest or deportation.
If you receive one of these scam calls or emails, do not provide them with any information. You should:
- Hang up immediately.
- For Social Security impersonations, contact Social Security’s Office of Inspector General at https://oig.ssa.gov/report.
If you receive a notice from Social Security, please use the telephone numbers provided in the notice sent to you. You can also call 1-800-772-1213 or visit ssa.gov for how to contact Social Security. Remember that scammers try to stay a step ahead of the curve. You can do the same by protecting your information.
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Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
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LENORE H.
please confirm
Ray F.
Hello Lenore. You cannot report a death or apply for survivors’ benefits online. Usually, the funeral director notifies us of an individual’s passing by contacting the local Social Security office. To verify this information was reported, you need to talk to one of our representatives. You can call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Just a reminder – Please be cautious about posting personal information on social media and communicating personal information via email. Thanks!
LENORE H.
died 12 4 2017
LENORE H.
*** – ** – *** DIED 12 4 2017
Marianne H.
Can you schedule a callback instead of holding on phone for an hour? Most large corp offer the callback option. The wait to contact SSA is ridiculous, please let me know you have a callback option vs. holding an hour or more…
Ray F.
Hi Marianne. We’re sorry that you had difficulty reaching someone by phone. We may have been experiencing higher than normal call volume. Generally, when calling our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213, you will have a shorter wait time if you call later during the day or later in the week. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
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. We hope this helps!
Aaron S.
the system will not send me back a security code
Ray F.
Hi Aaron, please call 1-800-772-1213 for assistance. After you hear “Briefly tell me why you are calling,” say “Help Desk” for help with a my Social Security account. Thanks!
Joan T.
My x husband never paid his court ordered child support or alimony Told me he would kill me if I tried to get it This was in the 1970’s Anything I can do He is getting a pension from Norway and SS We were married in 1968 divorced in 1976 I think
Ray F.
Hello Joan, according to our rules, at age 62, an individual may be eligible for Divorced Spouse Benefits if he or she was legally married to the worker for at least 10 years before the date the divorce became final. We hope this information helps.
Ray
I received a letter saying I wanted to discontinue my social security payments. I never asked for my social security to be stopped. I am 91 years old and was in hospital and then a rehab and now back in Alf. I am so troubled by this. It says to write a letter if you want to cancel the cancellation. But how was someone able to stop my payments. By the way my daughter is typing this for me. Can she as power of attorney go down to social security to fix this
Cao N.
I see your welfare system very well
http://phamsang.com.vn
Dennis
I would like to get social security for my 45 year old son. How do I start the process?
Ray F.
Hi Dennis. A child’s benefits normally stop at age 18 unless he or she is a full-time student in an elementary or high school (benefits can continue until age 19) or is disabled.
For a child with a disability to receive benefits on your record after age 18, the disabling impairment must have started before age 22. See our Disability Planner: Benefits For A Disabled Child web page for more information. Thanks!
Rosario G.
Thank you so much for having this site, so that people can make their questions to you. I have been on the phone on hold literally for hours and blogging is a technological way to communicate with you. I just hope I get an answer.
My question is the following one:
If an elderly person receiving Social Security benefits for a disability along with other state benefits, suddenly gets information that this person will receive a lump sum of a housing settlement. How will this settlement affect her social security benefits? Can some of those funds be used to pay off bank loans? Would a special needs trust fund allow for this person to access funds for things not covered by any of the benefits the person gets? Will the person need to disclose and lose benefits equating the amount of the settlement? Thanks for your response
Ray F.
Hi Rosario. We are sorry to hear that you are having difficulty reaching someone by phone. We are experiencing higher than normal call volume.
For a person receiving regular Social Security retirement or disability (SSDI) benefits, this income does not affect his or her benefit. These benefits are based on earnings and are not subject to income and resource limits.
For a person receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI), this type of income could affect his or her benefit. This is because the amount of the SSI benefit is based, in part, on the income and the resources available to the individual receiving SSI benefits.
Representatives at our toll free number (1-800-772-1213) are available Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Generally, you will have a shorter wait time if you call late during the day or late in the week. Or you can contact your local office directly.
miguel a.
me gustaria saber de cuanto sera mi cheque mensual para el año 2018 mi s/s*** – ** – ****
Ray F.
For information in Spanish, please visit us at http://www.segurosocial.gov or http://www.facebook.com/segurosocial. For Social Security information in other languages, please visit us at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/multilanguage. Thanks!