The Latest on Our Reentry Plans
Reading Time: 1 MinuteLast Updated: February 21, 2023
I’m excited that, starting in early April, we will add more in-person appointments and offer in-person service for people without an appointment.
During the pandemic, millions of people used our secure and convenient online services, and received help by phone and in our offices by appointment. For people who can access our services online or by phone, we ask that they continue to do business with us online or by phone and schedule an appointment, when possible, which will better allow us to timely serve people who cannot use those options.
I invite you to visit our website to learn:
- The best ways to get help from Social Security.
- What you should know before you visit a Social Security office, so we can help you safely.
- Innovative options that could help you have your hearing sooner if you are appealing a decision.
We are committed to helping as many people as possible as safely as possible.
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Tags: COVID-19, General Information
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Darlynda Bogle, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
Darlynda Bogle, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
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Laura F.
Good Morning,
I am putting this comment up because I am frustrated at this point and I do not know what else I can do to get an answer from Allentown Pa local SSA office. I put in my application for a new SS card back at the beginning of Feb. I sent in all the requested documents, came to an appointment, where they mentioned that the documents needed to be verified and that the process was going to take up to 4 weeks. it has been more than a month and I have not received anything back from the SSA office. I’ve been trying to call for the about 2 weeks with no success. I feel like the Allentown SSA office is doing a horrible job on processing documents. I need my SS card for a lot of important documents ( health insurance, taxes, work, among others) Please give me options on how I can get a hold of the office, or who I need to email or contact. In my desperate need to talk to someone, I also called the main SSA national number, where they forward my call to the Allentown local office, where the “Manager” answer and he was simply the most disrespectful, rude, and unpleasant individual to the point where he hung up on me. He did not give me his name to report him, nor did he give me any answers.
A.C.
Hi, Laura. We are sorry to hear about your experience. We have referred your concerns to our Operations Staff. 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 is resolved soon.
Lynn
Only government employees, e.g., public school teachers and SSA, can go into hibernation for two years and get away with it. Sigh!
Stephanie
My SSDI benefits were recently suspended and by recently, I mean, I just found out about 2 weeks ago. I received my last SSD payment on March 3. The only reason I found out that my benefits were suspended is because I had to call the main 800 SSA phone number to report a change in my address bc I recently moved. For starters, when I called to update my new address, I was on hold for over 5 hours. When an agent finally answered the call, I was able to change my address. At this time, the agent informed me that my SSD benefits were suspended because I never returned the Continuing Disability Review form that was supposedly mailed to me. (I didn’t receive any mail from SSA that I needed to complete and mail back) then the agent told me that they sent me another notice in November letting me know that if I didn’t return the CDR report in order for them to review if I am still disabled, my benefits will be suspended. (Once again, I never received the second notice either). Anyway, the agent that I was speaking to sent me the CDR report to my email address for me to print, complete and submit back. But, in the meantime, I am unable to get a hold of anyone at the local office. It is always busy. No one picks up. This really has made me very frustrated, anxious, overwhelmed and angry because I am unable to get anyone on the phone to ask a question about my suspended benefits. How can SSA just suspend my benefits without trying to contact me by phone first and leave a call back number. During a Coronavirus epidemic, they just suspend my benefits and to make matters worse, we can’t get anyone on the phone. Does this seem right? My question is: When will my benefits be reinstated? I mailed the completed form to the local office. But since they don’t answer the phone, how am I to know if they even received it. My benefits haven’t even been suspended for a month yet. So can you tell me what are the regulations/requirements for my benefits to be reinstated.
A.C.
Hi, Stephanie. We are sorry to hear about your experience and 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. 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.
We hope this helps.
Marcia
I have called the 800# to set up an appointment as instructed by the a letter mailed to me by SS. I called three times, waited hours and no one answered. I went to the local office to make a future appointment, the guard screamed at me and said I had leave without an appointment.
If your not answering the phone, won’t set up appointments in person, and the information isn’t on the web site- what do I do?
A.C.
Hi, Marcia. We are sorry to hear about your experience. Keep in mind we are currently having problems with our phone lines. You may experience service issues, including poor call quality, dropped calls, and long wait times. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience and we appreciate your patience. We continue to provide help in our offices by appointment only. In early April, local Social Security offices plan to add more in-person appointments and will again offer in-person service for people without an appointment. We have not set an exact date in April. Visit How to Get Help from Social Security to learn more, including what to know if you need to visit an 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.
Patsy L.
Do I need to make appointment to sign up for survivor benefits from my ex husband that’s desinse for 6 yrs we were married to 14 yrs and have two kids and I just wt resently found out I’m initial to his SS retirement so can i get application to feel out
A.C.
Hi, Patsy. If you are the divorced spouse of a worker who died and you are not married, you may be eligible for benefits just the same as a widow or widower. For more information, please visit our webpage, Survivors Planner. To apply for benefits, please call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778). You can speak to one of our representatives between 8:00 am – 7:00 pm. Monday through Friday. You can also contact your local Social Security office. We hope this information helps.
Ali r.
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Wendi G.
Exactly! I’m glad I’m not the only one that’s about frustrated to tears that the inability to get a hold of anybody at social security for the last four to five months. No one ever answered the phone or just hangs up on you. You can’t go in the office the only one the stairs at guard that’s who you have to make an appointment. There’s no way to make an appointment on the website even though it claims there is. The only way to make an appointment seems to be to talk to an actual person. Which is impossible even after waiting on hold for hours. I can deal with inconvenience but I’m not sure we could afford that four months of social security my son didn’t get because we could never confirm or deny anybody got our paperwork or get a hold of you anyone.
Uzair
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Joshua A.
Yes I really wanna know when the face to face goes down exactly what date, what month bc I would really want to know because I really need to talk to y’all ín person face to face like really bad. I really need y’all help my stuff. Ok
A.C.
Hi, Joshua. Thanks for your question. We continue to provide help in our offices by appointment only. In early April, local Social Security offices plan to add more in-person appointments and will again offer in-person service for people without an appointment. We have not set an exact date in April. Visit How to Get Help from Social Security to learn more, including what to know if you need to visit an office. We hope this helps.
Marco M.
do you have an exact date the face to face service will commence?
Thanks
A.C.
Hi, Marco. Thanks for visiting our blog. We continue to provide help in our offices by appointment only. In early April, local Social Security offices plan to add more in-person appointments and will again offer in-person service for people without an appointment. We have not set an exact date in April. Visit How to Get Help from Social Security to learn more, including what to know if you need to visit an office.
We hope this helps.
Wendi G.
The department of workforce services and other offices had to close in person also. They still work from home. They still return your phone call within a day or two. It’s like nobody even works at social security anymore. Isn’t working from home an option?
JM
Still sitting here with one last name on my Drivers License and another on my Social Security card due to this office’s incompetence. Every agent I spoke to for the last 2 months was flabbergasted by my situation and had no advice for me. I can’t be the only person getting divorced (or married) and needing to change their name in the past 2 years…Do you know how emotionally painful it is to have to legally still keep the last name of your abusive ex husband because of this office’s inability to get its shit together?!
A.C.
Hi, JM. We are sorry to hear about your experience. We encourage you to continue to work with your local office. You can ask to speak to a manager on your next 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.
J. G.
All you have to do is call your local SSA office and request in person appointment. They will have you bring in a Valid ID and name change document (marriage or divorce decree). Our office normally has next day openings!