Latest News
Changes to Accessing SSA In-Person Services
From the Social Security Administration
We are expanding appointment-based services at our local Social Security offices. By scheduling appointments, we aim to reduce wait times, streamline service delivery, and improve customer experience. Nearly 400 local offices have already moved to appointment-based service this year. These offices have seen significant reductions in wait times due to more efficient and helpful visitor experiences and increases in the number of customers able to complete their business online.
We are implementing the appointment-based services nationwide in 2 phases.
Phase 1: The first phase is a transition period from now through January 5, 2025. The purpose of this transition period is to educate your clients about the need to schedule an appointment for our services.
Phase 2: The second phase takes effect January 6, 2025. This phase will require customers to schedule an appointment for service in our local offices, including requests for Social Security cards.
We encourage your clients to become accustomed to our:
- Online services webpage at www.ssa.gov/onlineservices. There, they can complete many transactions online conveniently and securely.
- Automated services webpage at www.ssa.gov/agency/contact/phone.html. If your clients cannot use our online services, they can find information about our automated telephone services available on our National 800# at 1-800-772-1213.
Customers who are not able to handle their business online or with the automated options, may call their local Social Security office or our National 800# to schedule an appointment. Your clients can find the number to their local office at secure.ssa.gov/ICON/main.jsp.
We want to make it clear that we will not turn people away for service who are unable to make an appointment or do not want to make an appointment. For example, members of vulnerable populations, military personnel, people with terminal illnesses, and people with other situations requiring immediate or specialized attention may still walk in for service at our local offices. Some of our offices also have minimal to no wait times, and they will still serve customers who walk in.
If the office I go to isnt busy, then why do I need to be forced to make an appointment. You’re making me wait 2 hours on my freakin phone to talk to someone which is ridiculous…
Stefan:
Thanks for your comments. We understand your concern, but the AMAC Foundation is not affiliated with the Social Security Administration, so we suggest you direct your comments to that agency for consideration. You can do this via this address: https://secure.ssa.gov/emailus/EmailUs.action.
Thank you again for your comments.
AMAC Foundation
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: The contents of this message, including any attachments, are confidential and are intended solely for the use of the person or entity to whom the message was addressed. If you are not the intended recipient of this message, please be advised that any dissemination, distribution, forwarding, printing, copying, or use of the contents of this message, and any attached documentation, is strictly prohibited. If you received this message in error, please notify the sender. Please also permanently delete all copies of the original message and any attached documentation. The opinions and interpretations expressed in this message are the viewpoints of the message’s author, a trained advisor accredited under the National Social Security Advisors program of the National Social Security Association, LLC (NSSA). The author, the NSSA, and the AMAC Foundation are not affiliated with or endorsed by the United States Government, the Social Security Administration, or any other state agency.