COVID-19, General

Update on Our Reentry Plans

December 22, 2021 • By

Reading Time: 1 Minute

Last Updated: December 22, 2021

Social Security Administration LogoWe 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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About the Author

Darlynda Bogle, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications

Darlynda Bogle, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications

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Comments

  1. Pamela l.

    I never signed but filled out entire form for Medicare and social security. Then I timed out of page is it saved.

    • Vonda

      Hi Pamela, thanks for using our blog. You should have received a “Re-entry Number” when you started your application. If you have lost or forgotten your re-entry number, you can get it by creating or logging in to your my Social Security account. Your re-entry number can be retrieved by clicking the “Get Re-entry Number” link found in “Your Benefit Applications” tab.

      If you continue to have difficulties, you can call us at 1-800-772-1213 where we have representatives available from 8:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. business days. You can also 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.

  2. Essence S.

    I have been calling the local St. Louis, MO West County office for days and have been unsuccessful with reaching anyone that will/can help. Today I have been calling and have been hung up on by one male and the next female told me “MA’AM LOOK, I DON’T WORK THE FAX MACHINE SO I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO TELL YOU!” And then hung up on me. I was simply inquiring about a fax I sent 3 days ago and to see if it had been received yet. Now I’m calling and can’t get ahold of anyone to help me at all! This rude service, long holds and hang ups are very unprofessional and annoying. On top of not being able to get ahold of the female who was originally handling my paperwork! How can I get anything done if I am unable to get a live person to help?

    So I went to the local office and even the security guard was rude and told me “CALL THE NUMBER” although I advised I was on hold and had not gotten any help yet and needed to speak with a supervisor…he slammed the door in my face and never returned! Who’s in charge here and where’s the real help?

    • Vonda

      Hi Essence. Thanks for using our blog. We apologize for the difficult time you are experiencing working with Social Security. We have referred your complaint to our Office of Operations to follow up and to take corrective action as necessary.

  3. Valerie

    I would like to make you aware of the horrible service from the Durham NC office. My husband applied for disability 1 year ago this month. We have heard nothing and per the website you haven’t touched his case since June 2021. We called 3 months ago and was told nothing we could do but it looked like they had everything and they only needed it hit the Approved or Denied button? We have been trying to call today to speak to someone or make an appointment, no way to do that on line and we have been holding for 15 min increments to be cut off after wards x 3 attempts. How are tax paying citizens supposed to speak to someone there?

    • Vonda

      Hi Valerie. Thanks for using our blog. We apologize for the difficult time you are experiencing working with Social Security. We have referred your complaint to our Office of Operations to follow up and to take corrective action as necessary.

  4. spring M.

    Good Afternoon, I was trying to check my status on signing up for part B to start April 1st of 2022: I mailed the paperwork out weeks ago and still do not see it being reviewed. Part A is done and SS benefits is being reviewed but nothing on Part B. I dropped that info off at my SS office in my home town. What next?

    thank you
    SM

  5. John

    I would like to advise you about the deplorable customer service and work performance at your Lancaster, California office. We are all dealing with pandemic related issues. I am not able to resolve my issue on line. I must speak with a clerk at office level. I have made multiple attempts to be placed on a ” Waiting list ” for an in person appointment. I was informed by a clerk that once my name is called for an appointment by the manager ” Mrs. Velez ” it would be approximately 2-3 weeks in advance for said appointment. I did receive a voicemail from Mrs. Velez. after waiting over a week. She failed to leave an extension number, date, or time for my requested appointment and forced me to route thru the call system once again. When I was able to communicate with her indirectly thru a clerk I was given an appointment Jan. 10th at 12:30pm. This is not the time frame I was given in advance for an appointment. I explained my current working conditions from the beginning. I asked for a later date at approximately 2 weeks later. Mrs. Velez stated that I needed to call back again when ” I get closer to that date ” . it took almost 2 weeks to get a reply from Mrs. Velez from the start. I was informed that a translator is available. I asked for the original Jan. 10th date and I was told no. I hade to call back and start all over to be placed on the waiting list. I have made multiple calls between 9am and 4pm M-F to get reassigned to the waiting list with no success. When calling, I have been hung up on , or the phone will continually ring for multiple minutes ( Once 17 minutes ) with no answer. Do the employees actually work their scheduled shift or is the information I have read on the news true that employees abandon their work stations and continue to get paid. Please advise me as to what method can be used to obtain an IN person appointment at the Lancaster, California office as the instructions I have been given by Mrs. Velez don’t work and I truly believe Mrs. Velez has the wrong attitude in this manner.

    • Vonda

      Hi John. Thanks for using our blog. We apologize for the difficult time you are experiencing working with Social Security. We have referred your complaint to our Office of Operations to follow up and to take corrective action as necessary.

    • Lora n.

      I am looking to sign up for Social Security benefits…. I’m looking for a little help, I’ve haven’t signed up as of yet , I definitely need too !!

      Thank you for your time
      Lora Niro

  6. J. P.

    Hi, I am trying to update my citizenship status. But I do not want to mail legal documents. The office I am calling does not answer phones for appointments. How do I do this soon?

    • Vonda

      Thank you for your question, J, and for reading our blog. Congratulations on becoming a U.S. citizen. You cannot update citizenship status with Social Security online. You will need to update your Social Security record by showing us your Certificate of Naturalization and completing an application for a corrected Social Security card. All submitted documents must be either originals or certified copies by the issuing agency. We cannot accept photocopies or notarized copies of documents. Please visit our Social Security and Coronavirus web page.

      We offer additional options for submitting documents, including Express Interviews by appointment, and Drop Boxes, where available. Please call your local Social Security office if you would like to drop off your evidence or if you think you may qualify for an in-person appointment. You’ll find your local office contact information by using our online Social Security Office Locator. Please note that appointments may not be immediately available, depending on local health and safety conditions and staffing.

      • Gisela W.

        How can you receive certified copies by the issuing agency when all those offices are closed or even worse, you can’t even reach them on the phone, neither make an appointment?

  7. Michelle M.

    I need to change my name, as I got married. How can I go about doing this if the office remains closed?

    • Vonda

      Hi Michelle, thanks for using our blog. Congratulations on your marriage! Check out our Frequently Asked Questions web page on how to change your name. All submitted documents must be either originals or certified copies by the issuing agency. We cannot accept photocopies or notarized copies of documents. We hope this helps!

  8. Jodi G.

    I was hoping to print my earnings for my entire working time period. It is something for my personal records. I hope I can get help.

    • Vonda

      Hi Jodi, thank you for using our blog. You can view your full earnings record by logging in to your personal my Social Security account and clicking on the Review Your Full Earnings Record link located on the home page.

  9. Roberta L.

    I applied for spouse benefits several days after my husbands passing Oct 11th. Here it is Jan. 8th and still no benefits. First off the worker said she mailed me the forms. I waited several weeks, called and she said she would send again. No show of forms, 3rd time she sent and had my name as the deceased! Then she told me I could print the forms online which she had only sent me one of the required 2 forms. That was December 8th I took them into my home office. Why couldn’t she have told me about printing them in the first place? Here I am waiting for approval and no word from anyone about status. This is a worker who just doesn’t care. I can’t count on this worker what do I do now? Still waiting.

    • Vonda

      Hi Roberta, thanks for using our blog. We are very sorry to hear about the difficulties you are experiencing. You can call us at 1-800-772-1213 where we have representatives available from 8:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. business days. You can also 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.

  10. Margaret H.

    I am a US citizen now living in the Republic of Ireland. How do I sign on to http://www.ssa.gov as I am living outside the US (sign on requires an US address)?

    • Vonda

      Hi Margaret, thanks for reaching out. We recommend that individuals living outside the United States contact the nearest Federal Benefit Unit in the area for any assistance related to Social Security programs and benefits. Also, our Office of International Operations home page provides more information to assist our customers living abroad.

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