Update on Our Reentry Plans
Reading Time: 1 MinuteLast Updated: December 22, 2021
We want to give you an update on our preparations for returning our employees to local Social Security offices, a process called reentry.
You may have seen a proposed reentry date of January 3, 2022 in the draft reentry plan that we provided to our unions, or in the media. While some executives reentered on December 1, we have not set a reentry date for the rest of the agency.
The best way to reach us is online at SSA.gov, or by calling our National 800 Number or a local Social Security office. At this time, please remember that we can only provide in-person service by appointment only for limited, critical issues. And we continue to hold voluntary hearings by online video and phone. We are taking steps to increase in-person help for people unable to complete their business online or by phone.
We will keep you updated on our reentry process.
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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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TinaHarris
I applied for Disability over 9 months ago and I call and call and always get someone will call you. Not one thing from them in the mail. This is horrible service. Time to get an attorney I guess
Alonso W.
I applied for social security and was denied I deal with depression fighting suicidal thoughts I’m H.I.V positive Homeless and can’t even get my medication I had an appointment relocated and called and left messages my phone call was never returned I need help asap
Vonda
Alonso, we are sorry to hear about your disability. If you were recently denied, you may file an appeal within 60 days of receiving the decision and provide additional evidence.
If you need help requesting an appeal, you can call us at 1-800-772-1213 for assistance or 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.
Some individuals may be eligible to receive additional assistance from the state where they live; while they wait for a final determination on their disability claim. These services include Medicaid, free meals, housekeeping help, transportation or help with other problems. You can get information about services in your area from your state or local social services office. You can also visit the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services web page for more information. We hope this information is helpful!
Vonda
Hi Tina, thanks for using our blog. Please call 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.
Terry
You keep telling people to call- NOBODY GIVES US ANY RELIEF- JUST PASS THE BUCK. OPEN YOUR OFFICES!!!!! SUCH BS
Belle
Medical decision are made by the State Department of Disability determinations and they lost ok for specific criteria that matches the code of federal regulations. Most doctors only document what is needed for insurance billing and to prescribe medication. The best you can do is let your doctor know you are filing and request they document what you can and can’t do. Because SSA is a legal process, everyone is entitled to representation if they choose. Representatives usually charge a percentage of your back pay up to the limit SSA will hold and pay them directly. The longer a case takes the more back pay you have.
Bernadine G.
I need to correct my birth date but I cannot do this online. My local office will not open or even have a window. They told me to do it through the mail and include my original birth certificate and Drivers Lic. Just open an office, I need to start my benefits.
Cindy N.
This website needs to be reorganized and updated. It has a usability problem that keeps people going around in a circle. The main problems that need attention are the context links. On some pages you offer clickable buttons, which sets an expectation that all choices will be buttons, but they are not. There are pages where the client needs to read the entire page and look for blue hypertext links. However, not all blue text are hypertext links, adding to the confusion. Take my advice and simplify the organization so that it matches user’s expectations. I do this type of work for a living if you would like to consult on the problem.
Rene P.
I agree they should be open or at least give better service to help the people that pay their salaries
Kim
I just received form today that have to be filled and and returned by the 8th…. How is that even possible??? If the office isn’t even open to drop them off .. and we know mail service is slow…
They didn’t get sent till the 29th…
This is crazy insane…. So how do I return these form in 4 days??
Vonda
For your security, Kim, 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 call 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.
Belle
Most offices go by the postmark date.
connie m.
im just trying to update my info . i tried about two months and still not received a code
Virginia B.
Me too, Connie! I’m just trying to get logged into my SS account and it is a dismal failure. Then I get kicked off every time. You are not alone!!
Cathy
I just logged out of my account. I didn’t have any trouble but I know it’s almost impossible to log in or actually talk to a Real Person anywhere. I’m not pointing fingers at anyone, but things seemed easier and better before all the technology.
Vonda
Hi Virginia. If you created a my Social Security account before September 18, 2021, go to http://www.ssa.gov/myaccount and click on “Sign In” where you enter your username and password. If you created a my Social Security account on September 18, 2021 or later, you sign in using login.gov or id.me because that is what you used to create your account. If you continue to have difficulties, call our dedicated my Social Security Hotline at 1-800-772-1213, and say “helpdesk” at the voice prompt. The help desk is available to callers between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. (Eastern Time). You can also contact your local Social Security office directly. Look for the general inquiry telephone number using our Social Security Office Locator link. We hope this helps.
Vonda
We are sorry to hear about the difficulties you are experiencing, Connie. If you created a my Social Security account before September 18, 2021, go to http://www.ssa.gov/myaccount and click on “Sign In” where you enter your username and password. If you created a my Social Security account on September 18, 2021 or later, you sign in using login.gov or id.me because that is what you used to create your account. If you continue to have difficulties, call our dedicated my Social Security Hotline at 1-800-772-1213, and say “helpdesk” at the voice prompt. The help desk is available to callers between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. (Eastern Time). You can also contact your local Social Security office directly. Look for the general inquiry telephone number using our Social Security Office Locator link. We hope this helps.
Donna R.
Wow. I appreciate the services you offer. Keeping our employees safe is a priority. I’m glad those who comment are alive a well. Let’s make sure the workers are too!!!
Kim
Omg… It isn’t like they are gunna die if they came to work… For Pete’s sake they are behind a thick glass anyway🤦🏼♀️🤦🏼♀️🤦🏼♀️
Belle
Not true Kim. People with communicable diseases come in all the time. Most of the employees have been eligible to retire for several years. Thus due to the complexity of the job the older ones are usually the most productive and knowledgeable. I worked there but retired recently because I am a cancer survivor and was afraid they would reopen before it was safe, due to pressure from people that don’t have a clue how easily passing documents can spread disease.
Joseph G.
There is no excuse for leaving the offices closed this long. I need to come into the office to prove citizenship.
Just follow the CDC guidelines and open the offices. It can be done in a safe and effective manner. Many other establishments have done it. This is not rocket science.
Belle
You are wrong Joseph. Who is going to screen people? Who is going to ask Hippa protected information to prevent TB MRSA Covi Flu open draining wounds? All I have dealt with in my career before retirement. Unfortunately no matter what guidelines you put out someone always thinks they are the exception.
Steve S.
You have nearly two years worth of business to catch up on. It isn’t going away. Open the office and get to work like the rest of the world has already done. Now entering my 19th month of waiting for a reconsideration of an SSA error. Just filed another one for my spouse as SSA can’t even correctly calculate a cost of living increase. 18 months of waiting could be handled in 5 minutes with a face to face meeting with a knowledgeable rep.
Joseph G.
Agreed. This closure for this long is ridiculous.
A. E.
Agreed. There is no reason this office is still closed except to make life complicated for the people who need its services.
Tina B.
Agreed!!! Secretary of States open. Post office is open. Even congress is open. Why are you exempt from opening a business no one can go anywhere else to get their problems addressed? Make this make sense.
Carol A.
Agree – I need to change my deceased brother’s address so I can receive his SS form in order to file his final tax. With no one working in the offices and no human available on the phone, nothing can get done. Where are the former employees…. Did they do some sort of work from home or were they laid off for the last 2 years??? Maybe there are no employees available to come back to work????
Vonda
For your security, Carol, 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 call 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.
Belle
We were doing good at keeping up with business until Congress stepped in and management came to the conclusion that since phones were our public contact they need to be a priority not processing cases. Which only snowballed to more calls. A former employee
Thomas L.
There are multiple health and safety measures that the Social Security Administration can take while keeping offices open. People need to be able to come into the office to take care of business, with or without an appointment. Health and safety such as requiring masks, in addition to proof of a negative COVID test or proof of vaccination. Social Security can reopen their offices, but are failing to do so. Other government buildings are open and Social Security needs to follow the same. People who need new social security cards don’t want to fill out a form and mail it in only to wait even longer to get their card. It’s quicker to walk into the office. I urge you reopen your offices.
Lynn S.
Who should I notify of a death where the Benefit’s will need to be cancelled.
Thank You
Vonda
We are very sorry for your loss, Lynn. Typically, the funeral director notifies us of an individual’s passing by contacting the local Social Security office. To verify this information was reported, 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 Factsheet on How Social Security Can Help When a Family Member Dies.