Can I still go in person to Social Security office? What to know to make an appointment
As of Tuesday, Social Security reported two California offices that closed: One in Hemet and one in Glendale. Those offices can only provide phone help, according to the Social Security Administration.
Regardless if you want to start retirement benefits, apply for disability or survivor benefits, or replace your worn-out or lost Social Security card, here's how to plan ahead to make that visit to a Social Security office count.
Note to readers: If you appreciate the work we do here at the Redding Record Searchlight, please consider subscribing yourself or giving the gift of a subscription to someone you know.
Social Security offers 24-hour automated service, but to talk to a real person — to get a call back from an agent — you need to call 800-772-1213 between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. local time on weekdays.
Have your Social Security number ready. You'll need to enter it to speak with someone.
Tell the AI operator you'd like to "speak with an agent." Before you're put on hold, you'll likely hear there's a long wait time: 90 minutes or longer. For some services, you may get a prompt to request a call back instead of waiting on hold.
Call as soon as the Social Security call center opens at 8 a.m. Times are busiest later in the day.
Wait times are usually longer on Mondays and Tuesdays, and during the first half of the month; so try calling Wednesday through Friday, and/or during the last week of the month.
To find your closest Social Security office and its open hours, go to secure.ssa.gov/ICON/main.jsp and enter your ZIP code. Results will give you that office's hours and a local phone number you can call to make an appointment.
You can also call the general number (above) and make an appointment through the call center.
To get updates on Social Security office closures, go to ssa.gov/agency/emergency. You can see closures — temporary and otherwise — alphabetically by state.
Californian's can also sign up to get email updates about closures using a link on the emergency web page, or at public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USSSA/subscriber/new?topic_id=USSSA_160
Jessica Skropanic is a features reporter for the Record Searchlight/USA Today Network. She covers science, arts, social issues and news stories. Follow her on Twitter @RS_JSkropanic and on Facebook. Join Jessica in the Get Out! Nor Cal recreation Facebook group. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today. Thank you.
This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Social Security: Scheduling an office visit amid job cuts, closures
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