COVID-19, General

Update on Social Security Offices

April 24, 2020 • By

Reading Time: 1 Minute

Last Updated: February 21, 2023

Earlier this week, The White House issued national guidance regarding Opening Up America Again. We are evaluating this information as it relates to our agency and are continuing to closely monitor the COVID-19 situation across the nation. In fulfilling Social Security’s mission, when we reopen offices to the public, we will provide a safe environment for both the people we serve and our employees.

As we continue to develop our plans, our offices will remain closed to the public for face-to-face service, and our employees will continue to work remotely and provide services to the public. We will provide updates moving forward and post updated information on the status of our offices, by state, at our website. Our agency will provide these updates directly, and please disregard other sources of information regarding the status of our offices.

We will continue to provide the vital service the public relies on. Please visit our website for more information about our services during the pandemic.

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About the Author

Andrew Saul, Commissioner, Social Security Administration

Commissioner of Social Security Administration (June 17, 2019 - July 9, 2021)

Comments

  1. Sarah P.

    Could you let us know when the office reopens? Otherwise could you accept the Registered letter? I do not feel comfortable to mail my passport to you by regular mail.
    Thank you for your understanding.

    • K.O.

      Hi, Sarah. Our offices remain closed to the public for face-to-face service. During the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic, we are dedicating available staff to serve people in most critical need of our services. For certain transactions, we must see all required original documents. If you do not wish to mail in those documents, you may need to wait until the offices reopen. For more information and to subscribe for updates, visit here.

  2. Mary B.

    My husband has tried to sign up for Medicare and social security. His parents were US citizens all their life and all my husbands life but had to be delivered in Crystle City, Canda due to emergency delivery. He has his his Birth certificate and Citizen paperwork originals but unable to sign up for Medicare unless we mail these very! Important! papers in the mail–will not accept anything certified or other due to SS offices close down. With current COVID-19 we are fearful to send our only paperwork in the mail and are concerned he will be penalized if we get him signed up for Medicare by Sept. His birthday is 9/28/20. The papers that we would take a chance to send in mail, if lost, would be many months or year to replace. Please help us find a way to resolve this during these already difficult times. Sincerely, Mary Sweeney ( husband’s name: Perry Allen Sweeney

    • K.O.

      Hi, Mary. Our offices remain closed to the public for face-to-face service. During the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic, we are dedicating available staff to serve people in most critical need of our services. To sign up for Social Security and Medicare, we must verify all of your husband’s required original documents. If he does not wish to mail in those documents, he may need to wait until the offices reopen. For more information and to subscribe for updates, visit here. We hope this helps.

      • Mary S.

        That was not helpful! These documents are extremely important and not replaceable at this time. His immigration papers are not replaceable and he has always lived in the United States but was born, due to birth complications and had to be delivered in Crystal City, Canada. Will we be penalized for his Medicare B if the offices do not open up soon–not our fault that COVID-19 happened. It concerns me that SS is not essential enough to help people that are very concerned about the mail service vs unreplaceable documents when we actually only live 15 minutes away. How about helping people, by allowing to send certified copies in the mail. I see we are NOT the only people with this problem and seems like we help pay for Social Security payroll–there has to be a way in this difficult time to assist the citizens of this great country. Seems like we should all be helping each other. I work with Oncology patients and even our office staff assists them with schedules and billing. There is plexi glass, all wearing masks, temp. checks and questions asked prior to appt. We limit people in the building–seems like that would help our government offices to better serve the people!!l

  3. Sandra D.

    When will Social Security offices reopen for the public

    • V.V.

      Hi Sandra, thanks for using our blog. Our offices remain closed to the public for face-to-face service, but we are still able to provide critical services via phone, fax and online. For more information and to subscribe for updates, visit here. Thanks!

  4. Patty A.

    Good morning commissioner Saul,
    I really appreciate if you consider assigning computers to VHRs across the country because most are ready to go back to work .
    I UNDERSTAND most people in our country working from home on Zoom network .

    The reason I am reaching out to you Sir because most of the VHRs really enjoy working with all Judge’s. Claimants an attorneys along with Vocational experts and interpreters with staff at OHO .

  5. Nancy W.

    It has now been two months. Please provide an update.
    I turned. 70 in April and am waiting for you to open an office near me so I can claim my full retirement benefit.
    Thank you.

    • V.V.

      Hi Nancy, thanks for using our blog. Our system is set up to take retirement applications four months in advance, and you can apply for your retirement benefits online. If you need assistance, you can call us at 1-800-772-1213 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. Please be aware that our call wait times are longer than normal. We hope this information helps.

  6. Felicia C.

    Every other government office is open except the Social Security Administration. The public you serve are very likely not able to use the phone service or online service because of their economic, medical, or physical circumstances. Many do not have computer devices. The offices need to reopen, at least by appointment. Right now.

    • Christine

      I’m wondering what you are doing about name changes? I need to be face to face to change the name of my adopted son. I can’t complete my tax return due to not being able to complete his social security card. When I originally called I was told that there was nothing that could be done, that I couldn’t even email documents because email wasn’t available. When you call the 1800 number, you wait hours and then when someone does answer they hang up on you. Why are all the other government offices in Florida making themselves available even in restricted access circumstances except our social security office? Other states have their social security offices open and available for the public. Why are there so many questions above not being answered? The Melbourne office has bulletproof glass installed in a newly renovated office, which makes social distancing more then possible, yet it remains closed to the public for vital reasons to brevard county residents, But I can safely buy a coffee in a drive through? I really want to know what the real plan is to serve the people. How can we get the things done we need to get done so our families are not suffering?

  7. Annette R.

    I was wondering when office opened back up I had applied for soc sec and I was waiting to see results and when I go in front of judge when it would take place .. I have alawyer seems he doesn’t anything either … my name is Annette Resendiz 719 e Woodlawn st Philadelphia pa 19144 social security number *** – ** – *** ….birthday 6-3-75

    • V.V.

      Hi Annette, thanks for using 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 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. Please be aware that our call wait times are longer than normal. We hope this information helps.

  8. Cynthia C.

    We are paying back an overpayment monthly ( that we don’t feel we owe) and we are sending a check per the payment plan every month, none of which are being cashed. last month we got a statement that said we owed $150.00 and if we didn’t pay it was going to be sent to collections, since I had already sent in $50.00 I sent another $100.00. This month we didn’t even get a statement. We pay every month and keep records of when we send the payment and the check number. I would like to know what is going on. This has all been happening since the announcement of the coronavirus.

    • V.V.

      Hi Cynthia, thanks for using 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 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. Please be aware that our call wait times are longer than normal. We hope this information helps.

  9. Randy S.

    You need to open face to face . Need SSCard for wife with green card. Can’t send original because she is required to have in possession.

  10. docpolyfemis

    Let’s go Andrew! Get your shit together and reopen your offices!!!!!

    What are you waiting for? Going to stay shut for a year?

Comments are closed.