Social Security

Date: October 22, 2020

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, you can only enter our offices if you have an appointment. For more information regarding appointment availability for your situation, please select the statement that applies to you:

• I need help with benefits.
• I need help with my Social Security Number (SSN).

How do I replace my Social Security card if I do not qualify for an in-person appointment?

You may be able to request a replacement Social Security card online with your personal my Social Security account, which is easy to set up if you do not already have one. Or, you can ask us for a replacement card by completing and mailing the Social Security card application with your original proof of identity, and proof of age and citizenship if we have not previously confirmed this information, to your local office. We will return your proof(s) to you.

To find out what documents we need to issue a replacement Social Security Number card, please read our fact sheet U.S. Citizen/Adult — Replacement Social Security Card. To update the date of birth in our records, applicants must also submit an original or certified copy of a birth certificate showing the correct date of birth. To update the name in our records, applicants must also submit a recent document that identifies them in both their old and new names. For additional information, please read the instructions on the Social Security card application.

Because we are experiencing slight delays processing mail-in SSN card applications, it may take us between two and four weeks to process the application and return the evidence.

Do I Need to Show My Social Security Card?

It is important to know that your Social Security card is not an identification document, and in many situations, you only need to know your Social Security Number (you do not need the physical Social Security card). You can find out how to replace lost, destroyed, or stolen identification documents (including your birth certificate, driver’s license, or Department of Homeland Security documents) by visiting www.usa.gov/replace-vital-documents.

The following list includes common situations where you think you may need your Social Security card, but other alternatives exist:

For evidence for work: A Social Security card is one of several documents listed as acceptable to establish work authorization on Form I-9. Other examples of acceptable documents include:

• Original or certified copy of a birth certificate issued by State, county, municipal authority, or territory of the United States bearing an official seal,
• Permanent Resident Card or Alien Registration Receipt Card (Form I-551),
• Employment Authorization Document (Form I-766), or
• Form I-94 or Form I-94A.

For evidence for Department of Motor Vehicle / Driver’s License (REAL ID): The deadline to obtain a Real ID is October 1, 2021. Only Georgia and Pennsylvania require the physical Social Security card as evidence. Other documents listing your full Social Security Number may be acceptable for the Real ID including:

• A W-2 form,
• A SSA-1099 form,
• A non-SSA-1099 form, or
• A pay stub with your name and SSN on it.

Check with your state's Driver's Licensing Agency for more information.

For Tax Purposes: You do not need your Social Security card. To obtain your Social Security Number, you may call your local Social Security office to request that we mail you an SSN printout. It is important that your name on your Social Security card matches your name with the IRS when you file your taxes. To correct your name or other information on your Social Security card, you can request a corrected card by completing the paper application and mailing it with your original proof of identity, and proof of age and citizenship if we have not previously seen these to your local office. We will return your proof to you. To find out what documents we need to update your name visit, please read our fact sheet U.S. Citizen/Adult — Replacement Social Security Card.

To Receive Other Benefits: You may need your Social Security Number to get benefits or assistance such as housing, health insurance, or food assistance, but you should not need your Social Security card. If you need to provide proof of your Social Security Number, call your local Social Security office to ask that we mail you an SSN printout. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development should be able to verify your Social Security Number and if you receive benefits from Social Security without requiring you show or request a replacement Social Security Card.

To help with school enrollment: Contact the school administration to ask if you can provide an SSN printout instead of a Social Security Number card. You can request an SSN printout by calling your local Social Security office.

If you need to obtain forms of proof, you can find out how to replace lost, destroyed, or stolen identification documents (including your birth certificate, driver’s license, or Department of Homeland Security documents) by visiting www.usa.gov/replace-vital-documents.

Date: October 22, 2020

A Social Security number (SSN) is important because you need it to get a job, collect Social Security benefits, and get some other government services. However, please note that you may not need the physical SSN card for many of these services.

New Card Requests

We assign the vast majority of SSNs and issue SSN cards at birth. We will continue to process new card requests through our automated processes for newborns as part of the hospital registration process (we call that process Enumeration at Birth). We will also continue to process SSNs and issue cards for certain lawful immigrants [we call these processes Enumeration at Entry (EAE) and Enumeration beyond Entry (EBE)].

If these automated processes are not available to you, we may schedule an in-office appointment for a new card request in certain situations. Appointment availability is based on available staff and office operating status. Please call your local office to see if an in-office appointment is necessary and possible. To contact your local office, please look for the local office telephone number at Social Security Office Locator under “Social Security Office Information” for the office you select. The toll-free “Office” number is your local office.

Replacement Card Requests

You may be able to request a replacement Social Security card online with your personal my Social Security account, which is easy to set up if you do not already have one. Or, you can ask us for a replacement card by completing and mailing the Social Security card application with your original proof of identity, and proof of age and citizenship if we have not previously confirmed this information, to your local office. We will return your proof(s) to you.

To find out what documents we need to issue a replacement Social Security Number card, please read our fact sheet U.S. Citizen/Adult — Replacement Social Security Card. To update the date of birth in our records, applicants must also submit an original or certified copy of a birth certificate showing the correct date of birth. To update the name in our records, applicants must also submit a recent document that identifies them in both their old and new names. For additional information, please read the instructions on the Social Security card application.

Because we are experiencing slight delays processing mail-in SSN card applications, it may take us between two and four weeks to process the application and return the evidence.

There are certain situations where we may be able to make an in-office appointment to update or correct your SSN information.

Date: October 19, 2020

You can conduct most business online with our secure and convenient online services. Our online services are available from anywhere and from any of your devices. You can:

• File a claim for retirement, disability, or Medicare benefits;
• Apply for Extra Help with Medicare Prescription Drugs;
• Check your application status;
• File an appeal if you were recently denied disability benefits;
• Request a replacement Social Security card (in most areas);
• Print proof of your benefits;
• Explore all of the benefits you may be eligible for at Benefits.gov;
• Request a replacement Medicare card, although your healthcare provider can verify coverage if you know your Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI) number;
• Print a SSA-1099;
• Change your address, if you receive benefits;
• Set up or change your direct deposit;
• Complete your Disability Update Report (SSA-455); and
• Much more.

We also have information to answer most of your Social Security questions online, without having to speak with a Social Security representative. Please visit our Frequently Asked Questions.

Date: October 9, 2020

Yes. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the state Protection and Advocacy (P&A) networks will conduct new representative payee monitoring reviews in-person only when state and local conditions permit and reviews can be conducted safely while social distancing with personal protective equipment (PPE). Reviews may also be conducted by video and phone. P&A grantees will comply with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s social distancing guidelines.

Date: October 9, 2020

We understand that the COVID 19 pandemic may create situations that constitute good cause for failing to timely file your request for hearing after receiving a prior denial on your claim. To assist you in providing an explanation for why you have missed the deadline to request a hearing during the pandemic, we will mail you a notice requesting a written explanation for the untimely filing. This notice will give you an additional opportunity to explain why you were unable to file your hearing request on time.

Date: October 9, 2020

If you missed your hearing time, please call the hearing office right away at the phone number listed on your Notice of Hearing. If you do not have your Notice of Hearing, you can find your local hearing office phone number by visiting our Hearing Office Locator.

We understand that the COVID 19 pandemic may create situations that constitute good cause for failing to appear at your scheduled hearing. To assist you in explaining why you have missed your hearing date during the pandemic, we will mail you a notice (called a “Request to Show Cause for Failure to Appear”). This notice will give you an additional opportunity to explain why you did not appear for your telephone hearing.

Date: September 22, 2020

Due to COVID-19, you must have a scheduled appointment to enter an office. Only you may enter the facility unless you have made additional arrangements when you scheduled your appointment. Please note that appointments are limited and only for certain situations.

Effective July 20, 2020, everyone must complete a self-assessment checklist before allowed entry. You will not be permitted to enter if you answer yes to any of these questions:

1. Do you have any of the following symptoms?
   • Cough or sore throat;
   • Fever (100.4 degrees or higher);
   • Chills;
   • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing;
   • Muscle pain or body aches;
   • Headache;
   • New loss of taste or smell; or
   • Gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
2. In the last 14 days, have you:
   • Been diagnosed with COVID-19?
   • Received instructions to monitor for symptoms or self-quarantine?
   • Traveled outside the country? or
   • Been within 6 feet of a person who was diagnosed with COVID-19?

If you answer YES to any of these questions, or if you feel ill, you will not be allowed to enter. Call the office to reschedule your appointment. If you do not have the phone number, use our Office Locator to find the phone number.

If you can answer NO to both questions, you must wear a face covering over your mouth and nose to enter the facility. If you do not have a mask, we will provide you with one. If you are unable to wear a face covering, call the office and ask to speak with the manager.

For your safety, Social Security employees are required to follow the same self-assessment checklist and are required to wear a face covering.

Date: September 3, 2020

No. Telephone hearings are not mandatory; however, as our hearing offices will remain closed for the foreseeable future, we encourage you to consider a telephone hearing if you cannot wait for an answer on your claim. When our hearing office staff contacts you or your representative in advance of the hearing, you may agree to a telephone hearing or ask us to postpone your hearing. If you do not want a telephone hearing and you ask us to postpone, please be aware that we do not have an estimate of when we will be able to hold your hearing. If you initially decline our offer for a telephone hearing and later change your mind, please contact your local hearing office to have your hearing scheduled. Beginning later this fall, we plan to introduce online video hearings, which people can do from a camera-enabled smartphone, tablet, or computer. We will let the public know when this option is available.

Date: September 3, 2020

Yes. In addition to current telephone hearings, we plan to improve service further by offering online video hearings to our claimants beginning this fall. Similar to what other agencies and court systems use, the online video hearing technology will continue our ability to meet claimants where they are and allow for hearings with high-clarity video and audio in a user-friendly, safe, and private environment. To learn more about how we are conducting hearings during COVID-19, click here.

Date: September 3, 2020

Yes. Our hearing offices will be closed to the public for the foreseeable future, and we will not be offering in-person service. However, we are able to conduct hearings by telephone and we encourage people who need a decision on their claim to agree to a telephone hearing. Beginning later this fall, we plan to introduce online video hearings, which people can do from a camera-enabled smartphone, tablet, or computer.

Subscribe to the SSA Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) page to get updates on SSA services such as online video hearings during the COVID-19 crisis.

Date: August 31, 2020

Yes. Please call your local Social Security office and one of our employees will assist you. Under our rules, if you believe an overpayment was not your fault and you should not have to pay us back, you need to request a waiver of the overpayment debt. Certain debts may qualify for a streamlined waiver decision if:

• Your overpayment debt happened between March 1 and September 30, 2020 because Social Security did not process an action due to the COVID-19 pandemic; and
• We identify the debt by December 31, 2020.

Date: August 12, 2020

• At this time, Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) are only able to conduct hearings by telephone until we resume our standard operations. As of July 31, 2020, we updated our outreach process for cases in which the claimant is represented. We will now send the COVID-19 Telephone Hearing Agreement form to the representative instead of calling the representative. This form can also be downloaded for representatives to complete and upload through Appointed Representative Services (ARS) for those with access, or faxed into the hearing office for those without access to ARS.
• The claimant or representative will indicate on the form if the claimant agrees to a hearing by telephone, and if so, provide phone numbers to reach them for the hearing.
• The representative may sign the form in lieu of the claimant.
• We also will accept a verbal agreement to appear by telephone.
• We will not schedule, or proceed with a hearing by telephone unless we receive the claimant’s consent. If the claimant does not consent to appear by telephone, we will not schedule the hearing at this time, or if already scheduled, we will postpone the hearing until we can offer another option, such as a hearing by video teleconferencing or in person, as appropriate.

Date: August 12, 2020

This question consolidates and replaces previous questions related to scams.

Unfortunately, there are scammers who will take advantage of the current situation and try to trick you out of your money and personal information. Don’t be fooled!

If you receive calls, emails, or other communications claiming to be from the U.S. Treasury Department, the Internal Revenue Service, the Social Security Administration, or another government agency offering COVID-19 related grants or economic impact payments in exchange for personal financial information, or an advance fee, or charge of any kind, including the purchase of gift cards, please do not respond. These are scams. Visit Treasury’s website if you suspect economic impact payment fraud. Report Social Security scams about COVID-19.

Below are some of the scams we know about, but there can be many variations:

The Inspector General of Social Security, Gail S. Ennis, is warning the public about fraudulent letters threatening suspension of Social Security benefits due to COVID-19-related office closures. We will not suspend or discontinue benefits because our offices are closed to the public for in-person service. Read this and other fraud advisories.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General is alerting the public about fraud schemes related to COVID-19. For example, scammers are offering COVID-19 tests to Medicare beneficiaries in exchange for personal details, including Medicare information. However, the services are unapproved and illegitimate. Learn about this and other COVID-19 fraud from HHS.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is alerting people about various COVID-19 related fraud and scams. From contact tracing scams to treatment claims, government imposter scams, and fraud related to Economic Impact Payments, learn about all COVID-19 related fraud and scams at ftc.gov/coronavirus/resources, and report the scams you see at ftc.gov/complaint.

Date: July 17, 2020

You can communicate with your local hearing office by telephone, fax, and e-Fax.

Via telephone:

Our hearing office employees continue to answer our general inquiry lines during regular business hours for local hearing offices and can help you with the following matters:

• Confirming your availability for a telephone hearing;
• Documenting that you would like a postponement if you would prefer to wait until an in-person or video hearing is available;
• Updating your records to ensure we have the appropriate telephone number and address; and
• Providing status for your pending hearing.

You can find your local hearing office phone number by accessing our Hearing Office Locator.

Via fax or e-Fax:

Claimants and representatives can send us documents by fax machine or by their own e-fax solution. Sending documents to us via fax delivers a secure, electronic copy to the specific hearing office’s designated email inbox. To submit documents electronically via fax, simply use the toll-free fax number with area code “833” assigned to the servicing hearing office. You can find your local hearing office phone number by accessing our Hearing Office Locator.

Date: July 17, 2020

It is extremely important that we have your appointment as representative on file before the hearing. For an appointment of representative to be valid, the claim(s) file must contain a completed and properly signed notice of appointment, which can be found at form SSA-1696, Claimant’s Appointment of Representative, or another written document that meets the requirements of 20 CFR 404.1707 and 416.1507. You can find additional information about the “Contact OHO Office” tool at https://www.ssa.gov/ar.

Date: July 17, 2020

On the day of your phone hearing, it is extremely important that you be available to answer your phone. A member of our hearing office staff will call you a few minutes before your scheduled hearing time. If possible, find a quiet place to be alone (or with your representative) for your telephone hearing to protect your privacy and avoid distractions.

Just like for an in-person or video hearing, there will be a number of participants on the telephone hearing with you: you, your representative (if you are represented), the administrative law judge (ALJ), and a hearing reporter who will record and monitor the hearing. There may be other participants on the line as well, such as a vocational expert, medical expert, or interpreter.

To ensure you experience the best quality for your telephone hearing, we recommend the following:

• Consider a traditional ‘land line’ telephone if you have one. It will provide you a better connection and sound quality.
• If you are going to use a cell phone, ensure you sufficiently charge your cell phone to hold a conversation for at least an hour and a half. Try to find a location with privacy but that also has good reception.
• Use the mute button on your telephone when you are not speaking to help reduce background noise. Just remember to unmute when you testify.

Date: July 17, 2020

Please call 1-866-691-3061 with questions or concerns regarding Appointed Representative Services (ARS) password resets, Electronic Records Express (ERE) password resets, and new ERE account registration. We are available to assist you from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday. After hours questions about password resets and new ERE account registration may be emailed to electronic-records-express@ssa.gov.

Appointed Representatives experiencing problems with accessing electronic folders should contact the OHO.HQ.ARS@ssa.gov mailbox for assistance.

Date: July 17, 2020

Our hearing office employees continue to answer our general inquiry lines during regular business hours for local hearing offices, and you can find your local hearing office phone number by accessing our Hearing Office Locator. We strongly recommend representatives submit information to our hearing offices electronically, using the following mechanisms:

• Appointed Representative Services/Electronic Records Express - Registered representatives with a recognized notice of appointment in a case should continue to use the “Upload New File” function when viewing a claimant’s electronic folder in Appointed Representative Services (ARS) to upload documents. This process does not require a barcode. Alternatively, representatives can also submit documents with a barcode using the “Send Individual Response” function in ARS and Electronic Records Express (ERE). Registered representatives should use these methods to submit any documents to us electronically, whenever possible.
• Fax and e-Fax – Claimants and Representatives can use a physical fax machine or their own e-fax solution to send documents. Sending documents to us via fax now delivers a secure, electronic copy to the specific hearing office’s designated email inbox. To submit documents electronically via fax, simply use the toll-free fax number with area code “833” assigned to the servicing hearing office. You can find your local hearing office e-Fax number by accessing our Hearing Office Locator.
• “Contact OHO” email – Representatives registered through Appointed Representative Services can use the “Contact OHO Office” function to send a one-way communication, including the written notice of appointment, such as the SSA-1696, to a designated email box for the servicing hearing office.

Date: July 17, 2020

When an appointed representative receives a hearing decision and intends to file a fee petition, the most efficient way to submit the fee petition is to submit the petition with the “Contact OHO Office” feature in Appointed Representatives Services (ARS).

For appointed representatives submitting fee petitions who do not have Electronic Records Express access or those who were previously terminated/ended their services prior to the case being closed out, please fax the fee petition to the hearing office using the e-Fax number, which can be found using our Hearing Office Locator.

Date: July 10, 2020

You can find answers to most of your EIP-related questions at the IRS’ Economic Payment Information Center webpage. We also provide information about EIPs that may be helpful to Social Security beneficiaries and Supplemental Security Income recipients on our page, Economic Impact Payments Paid by the CARES Act.

If you do not see the answer to your question, you can call the Internal Revenue Service’s EIP hotline at 1-800-919-9835. The Social Security Administration cannot answer EIP questions about your specific situation.

Date: June 29, 2020

During the COVID-19 pandemic, we are asking the public to first try to use our online services before calling us.

Although our offices are not providing service to walk-in visitors, our employees are answering your calls. You can find the phone number for your local office by using our Field Office Locator and looking under Social Security Office Information. The toll-free “Office” number is your local office.

You may also call our National 800 Number, where you may be able to take care of your business by using one of our automated telephone services without having to wait for a telephone agent. If you need to speak with an agent, be aware that wait times may be longer than usual, which is why we encourage you to try our online services or call your local office first.

Date: June 29, 2020

None of our Social Security offices can accommodate walk-in visitors until further notice. In-person service is by appointment only and for limited situations. This decision protects the population we serve—older Americans and people with underlying medical conditions—and our employees during the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, we are still able to provide critical services. If you have a situation that we cannot help you with by phone, online, fax, or mail, we may be able to schedule an in-office appointment for you.

You can speak with a representative by calling your local Social Security office or our National 800 Number. Local office phone numbers are available online at our Social Security Office Locator. Please visit our Office Closings and Emergencies page for the latest information about office closings.

Date: June 29, 2020

While our offices are not providing service to walk-in visitors due to COVID-19, we remain committed to providing ongoing benefits and vital services. You can still get our help by using our online services or calling us. If you have a situation that we cannot help you with by phone, online, fax, or mail, we may be able to schedule an in-office appointment for you.

You can do most of your business with SSA online. Before calling us, please visit our website to see our list of convenient and secure self-service options. Save time and go online.

If you cannot use our online services, we can help with certain issues by phone and mail.

Date: June 10, 2020

We have temporary procedures to allow you to use different methods to sign the notice of appointment of a representative and fee agreement, if the fee agreement is submitted with the new notice of appointment, during the current COVID-19 health emergency. During this time, if we receive an appointment document such as the Form SSA-1696 and your signature appears to be an electronic or digital signature, we will make three attempts to contact you to verify your identity and confirm the signature. If we verify your identity and signature, we will process the appointment as usual. If we cannot reach you and you do not return our call, or do not verify the signature, we will return the paperwork to the person who submitted it without recognizing the appointment.

We also have temporary procedures in place permitting you to verbally appoint a representative during a “remote” telephone hearing with an administrative law judge, if you submit a written notice of appointment afterwards. In this case, we will accept an electronic signature on the written appointment notice, without needing to call you again.

These temporary procedures and more details can be found here.

Date: June 2, 2020

If you already have Medicare Part A and wish to sign up for Medicare Part B under the Special Enrollment Period (SEP) due to a loss of employment or group health coverage, please complete form CMS 40-B, Application for Enrollment in Medicare - Part B (Medical Insurance) along with the CMS L564-Request for Employment Information and gather proof of employment, Group Health Plan (GHP), or Large Group Health Plan (LGHP).

You have three options to submit your enrollment request under the Special Enrollment Period. You can do one of the following:

• Go to Apply Online for Medicare Part B During a Special Enrollment Period and complete CMS-40B and CMS-L564. Then upload your evidence of Group Health Plan or Large Group Health Plan.
• Fax your forms to 1-833-914-2016.
• Mail your CMS-40B, CMS-L564, and evidence to your local Social Security field office.

Note When completing the CMS-L564

• State on the form “I want Part B coverage to begin (MM/YY)”
• If possible, your employer should complete Section B.
• If your employer is unable to complete Section B, please complete that portion on behalf of your employer without your employers signature and submit one of the following forms of secondary evidence:
  • income tax form that shows health insurance premiums paid;
  • W-2s reflecting pre-tax medical contributions;
  • pay stubs that reflect health insurance premium deductions;
  • health insurance cards with a policy effective date;
  • explanations of benefits paid by the GHP or LGHP; or
  • statements or receipts that reflect payment of health insurance premiums.

Date: June 1, 2020

We do not consider Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund financial assistance as income or a resource for SSI purposes. Receipt of this assistance will not affect your SSI payment.

Date: May 1, 2020

Unemployment insurance benefits are considered unearned income. If you, your spouse, or a child living in your household have any income other than your Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payment, including unemployment insurance benefits, you must tell us.

To learn more about SSI and how income affects your payment, read What You Need to Know When You Get Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

Date: April 27, 2020

Unemployment benefits do not affect or reduce retirement and disability benefits. State unemployment compensation payments are not wages because they are paid due to unemployment rather than employment. However, income from Social Security may reduce your unemployment compensation.

Contact your state unemployment office for information on how your state applies the reduction.

Date: April 14, 2020

If you already have a scheduled appointment, we will attempt to contact you by phone at your appointment time and/or reschedule for a telephone appointment.

Note: Scammers may try to take advantage of this situation. Remember that our employees will never threaten you or ask for any form of immediate payment.

Date: April 10, 2020

Generally, yes. Our ALJs are available to hold telephone hearings. In the event a technical difficulty arises before your hearing and we need to reassign your case to another ALJ, we will follow our typical instructions on backfilling, which are available in HALLEX I-2-1-55F.

Date: March 26, 2020

We are unable to answer questions about unemployment insurance as each state administers its own program. Learn more here.

Date: March 18, 2020

Yes. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are extending deadlines wherever possible.

• If we asked you to contact us by a certain date, please do not come to the office. You can contact us once our offices reopen to the public or you can mail your documents to us. We will follow up with you once the COVID-19 pandemic subsides.
• We are providing maximum flexibility in applying our good cause policy. This policy allows us to extend the time limits for submitting appeals and taking other actions during this pandemic.

Date: March 16, 2020

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Date: March 16, 2020

COVID-19 Resources

For the latest information on the coronavirus pandemic, including symptoms, how to protect yourself, and travel advisories, visit these resources:

• Coronavirus (COVID-19)
• CDC Website
• USAgov Website

Other Information

For the latest information about our online services, status of local offices, and press releases, please visit these resources:

• Online Services
• Office Closings
• Info for Media/Press Releases

Date: March 16, 2020

Yes. You will continue to receive your monthly benefit amount if you use Direct Deposit.

Date: March 16, 2020

Yes. Please visit the United States Postal Service for their latest statements about COVID-19. You can visit our website to learn how to sign up for Direct Deposit.