1800 Number For Social Security

Social Security Offices Within 100 Miles

This website is not associated with the Social Security Administration or any government services and is for general information only. Although we attempt to keep the information up to date, some information may be out of date. Please contact your local Social Security Office to obtain information directly from the SSA.

Who Is Eligible For Social Security

The following people are eligible to receive social security benefits:

What Do I Need To Know About Advance Designation

You should be aware of another type of representation called .

Advance Designation allows capable adult and emancipated minors who are applying for or receiving Social Security benefits, Supplemental Security Income, or Special Veterans Benefits the option to choose up to three people in advance who could serve as their representative payee, if the need arises.

In the event that you can no longer manage your benefits, you and your family will have peace of mind knowing that someone you trust may be appointed to manage your benefits for you. If you need a representative payee to assist with the management of your benefits, we will first consider your advance designees. We must still fully evaluate them and determine their suitability at that time.

You can submit and update your advance designation request when you apply for benefits or after you are already receiving benefits. You may do so through your personal account, contacting us by telephone at 1-800-772-1213 , or at .

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Apply For Benefits Online

You should apply for disability benefits as soon as you develop a disability. Follow these easy steps to apply online for disability:

• To start your application, go to our Apply for Benefits page, and read and agree to the Terms of Service. Click Next.
• On that page, review the Getting Ready section to make sure you have the information you need to apply.
• Select Start A New Application.
• We will ask a few questions about who is filling out the application.
• You will then sign in to your personal mySocial Security account, or you will be prompted to create one.
• Complete the application.

You can use the online application to apply for disability benefits if you:

• Are age 18 or older.
• Are not currently receiving benefits on your own Social Security record.
• Are unable to work because of a medical condition that is expected to last at least 12 months or result in death.
• Have not been denied for disability in the last 60 days.

Note: If your application was recently denied, our application is a starting point to request a review of the determination we made.

You may be able to file online for SSI at the same time that you file for SSDI benefits. Once you complete the online process described above, a Social Security representative will contact you if we need additional information.

Getting Help By Phone

If you are unable to use online services or want to speak directly to a Social Security representative, call the SSAs national customer service number at 800-772-1213 or call your local field office. You can apply for any type of benefit by phone, including survivor benefits and SSI.

The national phone line is staffed by live agents from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time on weekdays except for federal holidays. Outside those hours, you may be able to find what youre looking for using the SSAs automated phone service.

Field offices are open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays. Enter your zip code into the SSAs field office locator to find the phone number for your nearest facility.

Wait times on calls to the national 800 number have fluctuated widely during the pandemic, rising sharply in the early weeks of the outbreak as field offices closed to visitors, then declining as the SSA outfitted more call center staff with tools to handle calls remotely. Hold times have spiked again in recent months as the agency implements an upgrade to the phone system, with waits averaging 32 minutes in February.

The SSA says customers may also experience busy signals or unintentional disconnects as it works through the technical issues and recommends calling when they system is typically less busy:

• Between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m.
• Between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.
• Later in the week .
• Toward the end of the month.

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What Is A Medically Determinable Impairment

A medically determinable physical or mental impairment is an impairment that results from anatomical, physiological, or psychological abnormalities which can be shown by medically acceptable clinical and laboratory diagnostic techniques. A physical or mental impairment must be established by medical evidence consisting of signs, symptoms, and laboratory findings not only by the individuals statement of symptoms.

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How Do I Talk To A Real Person At The Social Security Office

To speak to a Social Security Representative either in person or on the phone, you can do any of the following:

• Go to your local Social Security office in person
• TTY 1-800-325-0778 8:00 a.m. â 7:00 p.m. local time

Medicare information is everywhere. What is hard is knowing which information to trust. Because eHealthâs Medicare related content is compliant with CMS regulations, you can rest assured youâre getting accurate information so you can make the right decisions for your coverage.Read more to learn about our Compliance Program.

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Other Ways You Can Apply

Apply With Your Local Office

You can do most of your business with Social Security online. If you cannot use these online services, your local Social Security office can help you apply. You can find the phone number for your local office by using our Office Locator and looking under Social Security Office Information. The toll-free Office number is your local office.

Apply By Phone

If You Do Not Live in the U.S. Or One of Its Territories

Contact the if you live outside the U.S. or a U.S. territory and wish to apply for retirement benefits.

Mailing Your Documents

If you mail any documents to us, you must include the Social Security number so that we can match them with the correct application. Do not write anything on the original documents. Please write the Social Security number on a separate sheet of paper and include it in the mailing envelope along with the documents.

Getting Help Online: My Social Security

You can apply for retirement and spousal benefits, Social Security Disability Insurance and Medicare online through the SSA website . You can also begin an application for Supplementary Security Income , but in some circumstances you will have to finish it by phone or in person.

Opening an online My Social Security account gives you 24/7 access to your Social Security statement, which shows your earnings history and estimated future benefit payments. You can also track the status of an application for benefits or pending appeal and request a replacement Social Security card.

My Social Security services expand once you start collecting benefits. Among other things, you can use your account to get copies or request replacements of key documents, including tax forms and official verification of your benefit status report a change of address to the SSA and change bank details for direct deposit of your monthly payments.

The AARP Social Security Resource Center has a tutorial on creating a My Social Security account. The SSAs Online Services page has details on information and assistance you can access anywhere using a computer or mobile device. Many Social Security forms are available online to download and print.

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Apply Over The Telephone

You can apply by calling the Social Security Administration at their toll-free number: 1-800-772-1213. If you are deaf or hard of hearing, you can call them at TTY 1-800-325-0778. Applying over the telephone can be frustrating as an automated system will answer and youll likely be put on hold before getting you in contact with someone. A Social Security worker will ask you the questions on the application and will submit it once they are finished.

Social Security Disability Phone Number

There are several different ways you can file an initial application for disability benefits with the Social Security Administration . If you have recently become disabled or already have a disabling condition that prevents you from working, you should apply for Social Security disability benefits as soon as possible. To start your application, you can do one of the following:

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The Basics About Disability Benefits

The SSDI program pays benefits to you and certain if you are insured. This means that you worked long enough and recently enough – and paid Social Security taxes on your earnings. The SSI program pays benefits to adults and children who meet our requirements for a qualifying disability and have limited income and resources.

While these two programs are different, the medical requirements are the same. If you meet the nonmedical requirements, monthly benefits are paid if you have a medical condition expected to last at least one year or result in death.

What Is The Social Security Disability Phone Number

If you have questions about your social security disability benefits, you need to contact Social Security at the social security disability phone number. You can find information on the government website though they do not publish the direct lines to their local offices.

To get information about your disability benefits, you can call 1-800-772-1213. It is a toll-free number that provides automated telephone services. From there, you can hear recorded information and also do some general requests. The line is open 24 hours a day. If you do not find what you need in the automated services, you can request to speak with a representative of the Social Security office. Their hours are between 7am and 7pm from Monday to Friday.

If youre wondering how long you should have to wait to talk to a representative, you should know that you will experience shorter waiting times if you call after Tuesday. For those who have hearing disabilities, there is a special line that you can call that is toll-free TTY. Call them at 1-800-325-0778 and someone will assist you in consideration to your special needs. The line is open from 7am to 7pm from Monday to Friday.

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Contacting Social Security By Phone

The website is a great place to start, but sometimes the information provided may not seem to address your situation or answer your particular question. So your next step might be to call. Since Social Security doesnt publish the phone numbers of most local offices, you likely have to call the main number at 1-800-772-1213. Even if you have the number of your local office, youll probably want to start with the SSAs automated system.

If you call, you can perform many services through the automated system, including requesting a benefit verification letter and/or statement of your benefits, inquiring about the status of a claim, applying for a replacement card, finding the address of your local office, and conducting some business related to Medicare.

If the automated system isnt enough, you can speak to a representative between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

The Social Security Administration provides interpreters free of charge. You can call 800-772-1213 to speak with an interpreter who speaks Arabic, Armenian, Chinese, Farsi, French, Greek, Haitian Creole, Hmong, Italian, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog, or Vietnamese. You can also schedule in-person appointments, during which time the Social Security Administration office will arrange for an interpreter.

Using Our Automated Telephone Services

Services for all beneficiaries

• Request a benefit verification letter
• Ask for a form SSA-1099, Social Security Benefit Statement, to request a replacement tax summary

Services for Medicare beneficiaries only

• Request a replacement Medicare Card
• Request a form SSA-1020 to apply for help with Medicare prescription drug costs

Services for people who have applied for benefits

• Ask to receive a claim status

Services everyone can use

• Find the address of your local Social Security office
• Request a form SS-5,Application for a Social Security Card, to:
• apply for an original Social Security card or a replacement card if yours was lost or stolen,
• request a name change on your card, or
• update or correct other information on your Social Security number record.

Informational Messages

You can listen to informational messages on the following subjects:

• Payment delivery dates
• Best times to call our 800 number
• Social Security Internet address and services
• Supplemental Security Income
• Non-receipt of your Social Security benefit
• Representative payee

Services for Social Security Benefits Only

• Change address and/or phone number

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Contacting Social Security In Person

When Social Security offices are fully reopened, if you cant resolve your problem or find the information you need on the website or over the phone, you can go to one of the field offices . In some casesif you need to request a Social Security card or update certain kinds of personal informationyou may have to visit an office.

But be forewarned: It probably wont be fun. You can schedule an appointment, though it could take weeks or more than a month to get one. Just heading to the office is an option, but youll probably wait more than a couple of hours to be seen. Some offices report lines out the door.

Staffing is an issue. Due to budget cuts to the SSA, there are fewer workers for an increasing number of applicants. And dont expect them to take an in-depth look at your situation. SSA employees dont have the training or expertise to help you maximize your benefits the way a financial planner can. If you dont have a financial planner or other professional who can help you make the right claiming choices, there are Social Security calculators that can help. The SSA also offers a number of online tools.

Some Social Security experts advise visiting multiple field offices in order to ensure that youre getting the most out of your benefits. One worker may misinterpret the rules and deny you benefits or other privileges for which youre eligible, so seeking multiple benefit estimates can help you find the best dealkind of like shopping for a new car.

Email Our Support Team

Social Security cannot answer questions about economic impact payments under the recently enacted law, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act. Treasury, not Social Security, will be making direct payments to eligible people. For more information, visit www.irs.gov/coronavirus.

Many of our services are now available online, like applying for Social Security benefits, requesting a replacement Social Security card, getting your Social Security Statement, and benefit verification letter.

You can also look for answers to your questions on our Frequently Asked Questions page.

We realize that each persons situation is unique. While we are unable to answer questions in this forum that require access to your personal information, such as benefits you may be entitled to, we care. Please toll-free at 1-800-772-1213 for assistance. Representatives are available between 8a.m. and 7p.m., Monday through Friday. For the location and other information about your local Social Security office, use our locator.

If you cannot find your answer online and do not have a question about your personal situation, complete the form below to send us an email. Please do not include Social Security numbers in your message.

We are experiencing high volumes of email and may not be able to respond to your inquiry promptly. We appreciate your patience.

Thank you!

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What Can I Do If I Am Unhappy With My Call To Social Security

If you get off the phone with Social Security and feel as though your question was not answered properly or that your issue was not resolved, don’t give up. You have options available to you.

First, review the notes you took during your call. Did you fail to provide some information to the agent? Did the agent contradict him or herself or official Social Security policy? Identifying any issues with your conversation can be helpful if you need to call back or escalate your case.

Next, call back. While doing so can be frustrating, there is a chance that the next person you speak to will have more education or experience and may be better able to resolve your issue.

If a second call doesn’t provide you with the outcome you desire, get in touch with your nearest field office and make an appointment to meet in person with a Social Security Administration employee.

How Do I Change The Name On My Social Security Card

There are a couple of ways you can perform a Social Security card name change. The easiest is by making the request online through your My Social Security account. Depending on the state you live in, you might be unable to complete the request online. If you cannot, then you will need to mail in the application for name change with the required documentation or visit your local Social Security office.

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