COVID-19, General, Online Services

Social Security Administration to Resume In-Person Services at Local Social Security Offices

April 4, 2022 • By

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Last Updated: November 2, 2023

Social Security Administration LogoI 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, 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. Before coming to an office, we encourage you to visit our Emergency page to check the office status. 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 (regardless of local guidance), physical distancing, and self-health checks for COVID-19 symptoms. We will provide masks to the public and employees if they need them.

Online Services and telephone remain the most convenient ways to contact the agency.

Most Social Security services are available to the public online and with a my Social Security account, or by telephone. And most Social Security services do not require the public to take time to visit an office. People may create their my Social Security account, a personalized online service, on our website. Many Social Security services are also conveniently available by dialing toll-free, 1‑800‑772‑1213. People who are deaf or hard of hearing may call Social Security’s TTY number, 1‑800‑325‑0778.

As we transition to a new modern phone system, some people may experience a busy signal or be unintentionally disconnected from their call. We sincerely regret this disruption and recommend people call when our National 800 Number may be less busy, such as before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m. local time or later in the week. Like our offices, our waits are generally shorter later in the month.

To learn more, please visit our Online Services page.

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About the Author

Kilolo Kijakazi, Ph.D., M.S.W. Principal Senior Advisor to the Commissioner

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Comments

  1. Parise B.

    I had an appt for my son 6/24; i reside in rochester ny and somehow they made the appt for NC….. so now i am still without the assistance for my son and his passed 1/6/2022…. I am calling and not getting through. The NC SSI Rep said that the NY office would call me to clear up this mix up and still nothing…. on the phone finally with a Rep from NY and she see this terrible mix up and 45min in the call we lose connection…. can i get a REP to finish the process especially if this error was not made on my end but there’s… truly sad

    • A.C.

      Hi, Parise. We are sorry to hear about your experience and understand your frustration. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. We encourage you to continue to work with your local Social Security office. You can ask to speak to a manager on your next visit or call. You can also 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.

  2. Carol

    I’ve been trying to get qualified for Medicare through my husband who has already qualified. I was a stay at home Mom so don’t have enough “points” to qualify myself. I applied April 4,2022 and have talked to 4 different people after holding 45 minutes each time. They say they don’t see a problem with my application and I should hear something soon. I turned 65 in March. Im at a loss as what to do.

    • A.C.

      Hi, Carol. We are sorry to hear that. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. We encourage you to continue to work with your local Social Security office. You can ask to speak to a supervisor on your next call or visit. We hope this is resolved soon. 

  3. Judy

    I Had Quinton The Fake Verizon Staled My SSN And It Under a Dark Web Now. I Have The Feds. Stayed Far Away From Infinity And Fake Verizon Had a Fake Vna That Cause All This. a Fake Company Too.

  4. Paola R.

    Please
    1) provide a telephone number for the Minneapolis SS Card Center (Chicago Ave) that WORKS
    2) let me know if the above office does NOT take in-person appointments.

    Nobody answers your offices phones. When they do they give me a run-around. Please help by responding to the two requests above. Thank you.

  5. Paola R.

    You encourage citizens to make in person appointments. However you are NOT providing service either online or over the phone to schedule appointments. After waiting one hour of waiting, one of your representatives instead of helping me he gave me another telephone # to call and stated that this is the telephone # of the SS Card Center in Minneapolis (Chicago Ave) that would give me an appointment- 888- 847 0392. I have called this number and after 28 minutes nobody has picked up the phone. Will anybody in your offices read this request for help ?

    • A.C.

      Hi, Paola. We apologize for the inconvenience. Our move to a more modern telephone system has affected our ability to help you when calling our offices.  Thank you for your patience as we continue to upgrade our telephone system. For other ways to contact us, please visit our How To Get Help From Social Security page. You can also 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.

  6. Denise

    You have a TTY number that is not in working order. Your walk-ins are for “new SS applicants only” at our local SS office. You do not answer the phone for hours and hours so that I may make an appointment for my sister to get an update on her application status because you cannot verify her identity by phone. You do not have a working system to accommodate the deaf and this is illegal.
    She has been trying for one year to apply. GET IT RIGHT…incompetent government agency.

    • A.C.

      Hi, Denise. We certainly understand your frustration. 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.

  7. Robert B.

    in the year 2020 we had an exception windfall making more than 4 times our normal income, this year 2021 was a decent year and slightly higher than the previous years but still 3.5 times lower than the windfall year of 2020. Bad news is that our income that decides how much the base pay would be is set on thew windfall year of 2020. We now have just pad and filed income e tax for 2021 and that is like the normal income we’ve been receiving the past 20 years, so who do we need to put the right amount to be reset back to what we really make, the sun money has been reduced about 20 percent because of the once in a lifetime 2020windfall year?

    • A.C.

      Hi, Robert. Thanks for visiting 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, Monday through Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., for assistance. You can also contact your local Social Security office. We hope this helps.

  8. Richard C.

    Why in God’s name are you still only allowing three people in the local SS buildings at a time? Today, I witnessed senior citizens and one 87 year old veteran waiting outside in 90 plus degree temperatures with air quality alerts issues by our local meteorologists. You are the only federal agency that is still doing this that I know of. Get out of your AC office and demonstrate some leadership and get this changed ASAP. If you are reading this and care about the elderly and those who fought in wars to preserve our freedom please forward this email to someone who can make a decision or has the guts to make a decision to get this changed! They deserve better than this. Yes I know Covid is more deadly for the elderly but they can have an isolated area inside or even in the lobby area away from others. They can’t be standing out in this heat!

  9. Richard C.

    Why in God’s name are you still only allowing three people in the local SS buildings at a time? Today, I witnessed senior citizens and one 87 year old veteran waiting outside in 90 plus degree temperatures with air quality alerts issues by our local meteorologists. You are the only federal agency that is still doing this that I know of. Get out of your AC office and demonstrate some leadership and get this changed ASAP. If you are reading this and care about the elderly and those who fought in wars to preserve our freedom please forward this email to someone who can make a decision or has the guts to make a decision to get this changed! They deserve better than this.

    • A.C.

      Hi, Richard. We are sorry to hear about your experience. Please be aware our call volume is higher than normal. We encourage you to continue to work with your local office. You can also 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.

  10. Irasema B.

    Hi I been applying for espouse benefits since last September appt was very difficult to get for the pandemic they ask me for some paper work and I send it 5-9 22
    And they refuse my envelope now my paper work is lost according to the tracking number the problem is they ask for originals and that was I send now what to do now

    • A.C.

      Hi, Irasema. We are sorry to hear about your situation. 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, Monday through Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., for assistance. You can also contact your local Social Security office. We hope this helps.

Comments are closed.