A Social Security Attorney Explains How to Get Help with Your Benefits During Quarantine
As of writing, the COVID-19 Coronavirus continues to spread around the nation, causing more and more operations to shut down due either to illness or the need to quarantine. On March 17, 2020, the Social Security Administration (SSA) joined this list of shutdowns, ceasing all on-premises work to protect their workers and the public.
Unfortunately, this leads to an obvious problem: with Americans needing a safety net more than ever right now, how can someone having problems with their Social Security get assistance? A Social Security attorney can help navigate this process now more than ever during these challenging times!
Here is what you need to know if you need help with your Social Security while everyone is quarantined.
Ways to Receive Social Security Assistance During the Coronavirus
1. Go online
So far, the best way to receive assistance is on the official SSA website, at www.socialsecurity.gov/onlineservices. There are numerous services you can take advantage of while using nothing but the web portal, including applying for benefits and checking on the status of your application
2. Contact your local SSA office
Different local offices may have different policies in place, so it can be worthwhile to call them directly. The SSA’s online office locator – https://secure.ssa.gov/ICON/main.jsp – will point you to the nearest office, along with its contact information.
3. Call the main SSA support number
If you cannot find any other way of getting in touch with the SSA, or you are unable to visit their website for some reason, the phone number for their main switchboard is 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778). This will point you towards someone who may be able to help.
4. Wait for a phone call
If you are already scheduled for a hearing or interview, you will be contacted by telephone by SSA agents to help sort out the situation. Disability hearings can still be administered via a telephone call if the claimant chooses to do so, but it is not required with the alternative being to simply postpone the hearing.
Due to the quarantine, there is a small chance this phone call may come from a private number.
Be aware of the potential for fraud! The SSA will not call you unless you already had an appointment scheduled or requested callback. Also, they will never threaten you or demand payment over the phone.
5. Contact a social security attorney
If public resources cannot resolve your situation, a private social security attorney may be able to help! If you’re in the Waco, TX, area click here to contact Merryl Jones – the Second Chance Lawyer. We are still open and available to help as an “Essential Business” as deemed by the orders issued by local officials. However out of consideration for the safety of everyone, we will not be meeting personally with people. Instead, we will be relying on telephone and email.
A Social Security Attorney Explains How to Get Help with Your Benefits During Quarantine
As of writing, the COVID-19 Coronavirus continues to spread around the nation, causing more and more operations to shut down due either to illness or the need to quarantine. On March 17, 2020, the Social Security Administration (SSA) joined this list of shutdowns, ceasing all on-premises work to protect their workers and the public.
Unfortunately, this leads to an obvious problem: with Americans needing a safety net more than ever right now, how can someone having problems with their Social Security get assistance? A Social Security attorney can help navigate this process now more than ever during these challenging times!
Here is what you need to know if you need help with your Social Security while everyone is quarantined.
Ways to Receive Social Security Assistance During the Coronavirus
1. Go online
So far, the best way to receive assistance is on the official SSA website, at www.socialsecurity.gov/onlineservices. There are numerous services you can take advantage of while using nothing but the web portal, including applying for benefits and checking on the status of your application
2. Contact your local SSA office
Different local offices may have different policies in place, so it can be worthwhile to call them directly. The SSA’s online office locator – https://secure.ssa.gov/ICON/main.jsp – will point you to the nearest office, along with its contact information.
3. Call the main SSA support number
If you cannot find any other way of getting in touch with the SSA, or you are unable to visit their website for some reason, the phone number for their main switchboard is 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778). This will point you towards someone who may be able to help.
4. Wait for a phone call
If you are already scheduled for a hearing or interview, you will be contacted by telephone by SSA agents to help sort out the situation. Disability hearings can still be administered via a telephone call if the claimant chooses to do so, but it is not required with the alternative being to simply postpone the hearing.
Due to the quarantine, there is a small chance this phone call may come from a private number.
Be aware of the potential for fraud! The SSA will not call you unless you already had an appointment scheduled or requested callback. Also, they will never threaten you or demand payment over the phone.
5. Contact a social security attorney
If public resources cannot resolve your situation, a private social security attorney may be able to help! If you’re in the Waco, TX, area click here to contact Merryl Jones – the Second Chance Lawyer. We are still open and available to help as an “Essential Business” as deemed by the orders issued by local officials. However out of consideration for the safety of everyone, we will not be meeting personally with people. Instead, we will be relying on telephone and email.
