General, Online Services

We Remain Committed to Serving You

August 30, 2022 • By

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Last Updated: August 30, 2022

Social Security Administration LogoSince early April, our local offices have resumed in-person services nationwide for people with and without appointments. However, you can access many services securely and conveniently online or by telephone – and often do not need to visit an office in person. Before you visit a Social Security office, check to see if you can complete your business online or call us.

 

Need a Social Security Number card?

Please note that for many situations you only need your number and not a card. If you do need a card, you may be able to request it online.

Visit www.ssa.gov/ssnumber to submit your request for a replacement card, start your application for an updated card, or to request a Social Security number for the first time. You may never need to visit an office and, if you do need to visit an office to complete the application, you will save yourself a lot of time by starting online.

Want to apply for benefits?

You can apply online for most benefits. In many cases, there are no forms to sign. We will review your application and contact you if we have questions or need more information. Visit www.ssa.gov/onlineservices to apply for retirement, disability, or Medicare.

Need proof you receive benefits, want to check the status of your application or appeal, need general information, or curious about what else you can do online?

Visit www.ssa.gov/myaccount or www.ssa.gov/onlineservices today.

If you are able, we strongly encourage you to use our online services.

If you cannot use our online services, call us before coming to an office. We may be able to assist you over the phone, schedule a future phone appointment, or schedule an appointment for you to visit an office in person.

If you do need to visit an office, whether with or without an appointment, please read What You Should Know Before You Visit at www.ssa.gov/coronavirus/gethelp.

We continue to require certain safety measures including masking, physical distancing, and self-health checks for COVID-19 symptoms.

Local offices are working hard to help people who need our services. Most offices have drop boxes to drop off documents. Less busy offices are helping busier offices. Some offices work with people who are waiting in line to help them be served as quickly as possible like making sure that someone waiting has the information or documentation they need.

To improve service for visitors who are waiting outside, when possible, we are adding outdoor canopies and fans, we are reconfiguring our waiting areas to allow more people to enter the office, we are expanding use of mobile check-in to notify customers on their cell phones when it’s their turn, and we provide access to our bathrooms and water fountains.

We are unwavering in our commitment to serve you.

Thank you.

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Comments

  1. Lena M.

    I submitted an application on line 5 days ago making the wrong selection as “will retire earliest month full age retirement with full amount” this was an error, since I was having problems with the system selecting “will accept reductions, will retire now” my application was not going through. I called to revise it to option of my choice “will accept reductions, will retire now” as the website did not offer revisions, corrections options. I was told someone will call me, the representative I was talking to could not change the selection. Status shows in review, I have not received any calls. Do I need to go to a local office with an appointment to change the selection to will retire now and accept the reduction in amount since no one has reached out to me?

    • Ann C.

      Hi, Lena. Thanks for visiting our blog. We encourage you to continue to work with your local Social Security office for assistance. We hope this is resolved soon. 

  2. Sonia K.

    I am 62 receiving social security. How much can I earn from working so that my benefits aren’t cut? What about the taxes I pay now to S.S.? Will my benefit ever go up? Am I paying taxes into something I’ll never get credit for? Also waiting for ex spouse benefits. If he doesn’t collect at 65, can I getting his benefits?

    • Ann C.

      Hi, Sonia. Thanks for your questions. First, If you are under full retirement age for the entire year, we deduct $1 from your benefit payments for every $2 you earn above the annual limit. For 2022, that limit is $19,560. Second, each year, we review the records for all working Social Security recipients to see if additional earnings may increase their monthly benefits. If your earnings for the prior year are higher than one of the years we used to figure your retirement benefit, we will recalculate your benefit amount. Finally, to be eligible for divorced spouse benefits, you had to be married to your former spouse for at least 10 years, and you cannot be eligible for a higher benefit on your own record. For more information on how to qualify for divorced spouse benefits, visit our Benefits Planner. We hope this helps.

       

  3. John K.

    By Serafina Lees and John Kroner
    Words. That is what a newspaper is primarily made of. This month, March, 2020 we are using a lot of new words, such as Coronavirus, COVID-19, self-quarantine, government/state lockdown, the kind of words that make some of us take pause and shake in our shoes. However, don’t be afraid or think you are alone, because you aren’t.
    https://www.taxuni.com/socialsecurity/
    You have The Review Newspapers and Publisher, John Kroner with you, along with our long-time contributors and staff members putting the paper together once a week to get the free newspapers into your hands. We are a constant in your life. Nothing will change, even if we have to move strictly to the web and social media for a while, it still won’t impact you, our public.

  4. Tim S.

    I have been having ongoing issues with social security disability I have been having ongoing severe health problems since the early 2000s every time I spoke to someone they have told me that I would not qualify because my information didn’t match My birthday 1977 social security had it listed has 1975 and this is happened on numerous occasions in the early and mid 2000s when I would inquire about applying for disability no one was able to help me get the date of birth issue resolved finally after many many years of trying to get the birthday corrected I spoke to someone in December of 2021 who told me what I needed to do to correct it I sent the information in in January they failed to correct it even though my documents that I sent in had the correct information on it they sent me a new social security card I had to resubmit the information finally on June 10th of 2022 they got it corrected I have done the math and I did have the work credits as of the end of 2006 I had 26 lifetime work credits at the age 29 Even though your system said I was 31 years old because of this incorrect information it put me at a 2-year disadvantage on work credits I have medical records proving my health problems I was also denied the death benefit of $255 when my wife passed away on December 2013 because of this issue

    What is it going to take to get this problem fixed I have reached out to everyone I even emailed the acting commissioner I got a generic letter in the mail why is it so hard to have someone to call and let straighten this out I guess the social security administration has a admit no wrong policy I got one guy to call me back set it up appointment for SSI supplemental I have over $2,000 worth of asset so I would not have qualified I was told this problem can’t be fixed and I will never get it The way I see it y’all owe me 15 plus years back pay this is y’all’s problem y’all don’t care about no one I am a victim of social security’s incompetence misinformation the local office in Spartanburg is absolutely horrible they’re the reason this problem is ongoing numerous emails have been sent to the Atlanta office who is over this area no one has reached out I don’t know what it’s going to take a lawsuit that drags out for years or maybe should I reach out to every media outlet and social media outlet and make it known of how y’all have done me this is ridiculous I’m sure I’m not the only one who’s getting treated this way I guess y’all think if y’all wait long enough the people will die trying to get their disability and I won’t have to worry about it I even reapplied for disability and was denied before I could even finish the application

    • Ann C.

      Hi, Tim. We are sorry to hear about your experience and your situation. 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. 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. Finally, you may be eligible to receive social services from the state in which you live. These services include free meals, housekeeping help, transportation, or help with other problems. To get information about services in your area and find out if you qualify, you will need to contact your state or local social services or welfare office. We hope this helps.

       

  5. Kari R.

    Why is it so hard to get survivor benefits for my child ? My husband passed away long before retirement age . I’ve called 2x and on hold for over an hour each time . On second call they said someone would call me back in 7 to 10 business days because there is no appointments in my area. I needed the survivor benefits letter for my daughter to mail back with my husband’s benefits packet because he was also a federal employee for the post office.

    Nobody called so I decided to go in in person. I went in around 2o’clock waited two hours just to be told there is nobody there that day that could help me because of Covid most people are working from home. They said to come back earlier.
    Second day I came back around 11 am waiting for another two hours just to be told the same thing!!!!
    Third day I got there standing in the rain outside for 20 minutes and was number 10 . Waited 2.5 hours just to be told there is nobody there that could help me today and I could just keep coming back or he would start paperwork for an online appointment for October 17! My husband passed away July 19 so that’s three months after he passed way to even start this process! And I have now talked to five different people before they even started the paperwork. This is so frustrating . I’m told they’re back up because of Covid and they are working from home . This has all been very depressing .

    • Ann C.

      Hi, Kari. We are sorry to hear about your loss and experience. We encourage you to continue to work with your local Social Security office. You can ask to speak to a manager on your next call or visit. 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. 

      • bettyg, i.

        this woman was treated HORRIBLY!! no excuses.

        i’m so sorry for the loss of your husband and the lack of courtesy your local SS office has given you.

        bettyg, iowa

      • Shawn

        Lol. You send an email through those links and you get an auto reply telling you to contact your local office. These people belong in prison.

    • Amy

      If you go to the forms section here you will find the form SSA-10 which is the survivor paper application. It’s terrible that the office is so backlogged you cannot get an appointment, but there is at least that route. Print it, complete and take it in.

      • Richard S.

        actually I think for children it might be different hmm, search the forms

  6. Reza s.

    To whom it may concern;
    I am a retired and receiving social security benefit .i traveling and i am in IRAN ;to VISIT My relatives. I have changed my address to IRAN ; BUT HAVE NOT RECEIVED MY BENEFITS FOR 5 MONTHS. Whom should i contact to resolve this issue.
    THANK YOU IN ADVANCE.
    REZA .
    A

    • Ann C.

      Hi, Reza. Thanks for visiting our blog. Since you are living outside of the U.S., please contact your local  Federal Benefits Unit for any assistance related to Social Security benefits. Also, our Office of International Operations home page provides more information to assist our customers living abroad. We hope this helps.

  7. Richard R.

    This me be irrelevant, but be careful when you discuss anything on the phone from social security. You never know who is listening? Plus I suggest when talking about your part D , go to the office instead of telling them all of your medications and history. This is just a little reminder to whom has been a victim of my reputation on the dark web.

  8. BETTY G.

    please have a detailed article about the amount of money attorneys receive when their clients are approved for SSDI, social security disability insurance, or SSI, supplemental social insurnance, benefits.

    last night i was reading facebook.

    someone posted they had to pay lawyer $33,000 vs. $6,000 which is the maximum allowable.

    what are the specific situations where lawyers can receive MORE than the maximum amounts??

    how long do they have to CHALLENGE the amount SS is giving lawyer/s?

    thank you for addressing this issue and other important issues.

    please ANSWER my questions and do NOT leave a form answer of no information.

    that defeats the purpose of everyone asking a legitimate question and your NOT answering these good questions.

    thank you.

    • John S.

      This is something you can search by using the search bar and the words “attorney fee” it could be that her lawyer filed a petition. In some cases attorneys do get paid more than 25% or 6000. it depends.

  9. Farah S.

    do you offer any class, work shop , seminar to educate about Medicare, how to apply, when to apply, what options to choose.

    • Teofilo U.

      Hola mi Social Security Administracion Teofilo Uchupaille ***-**-**** my birthey 12-16-1894 the single the Ecuador x favor ayudeme

      • Ann C.

        Hi, Teofilo. 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. Just a reminder – please be cautious about posting personal information on social media. We hope this helps.

      • John S.

        Por favor nunca ponga su información en paginas publicos. Llama 1-800-772-1213 y los ayudamos.

    • Ann C.

      Hi, Farah. Thanks for visiting our blog. You may wish to contact your local Medicare SHIP (State Health Insurance Program Coordinator)  to discuss your questions. We hope this helps.

    • John S.

      no, go to Medicare.Gov for that information. SSA simply enrolls into basic medicare A and B, if you want information on Medicare as a whole you should look for their services.

  10. Cathy H.

    If I want to switch from receiving Survivors benefits to receiving benefits on my own record – do I have to appear in person? Over the phone? I don’t see anywhere to do that on line.

    • Ann C.

      Hi, Cathy. Thanks for visiting our blog. Please contact your local Social Security office for assistance. We hope this helps. 

      • betty, i.

        ann,
        you did NOT answer her question; you just passed the buck like almost all replies are from ss employees who write these daily blurbs.

        please do what you are paid to do … answer questions providing ACCURATE info vs. passing the buck.

        • John S.

          They’re not passing the buck. If you research on the website you will find that in order to apply for survivor benefits one must call to schedule an appointment as it cannot be done online.

Comments are closed.