New service hours for Social Security offices

9 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Friday

Closed Wednesday afternoons next year

[November 10, 2012]  SPRINGFIELD -- Effective Nov. 19, Illinois Social Security offices will be open to the public Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. -- a reduction of 30 minutes each weekday. In addition, beginning Jan. 2, offices will close to the public at noon every Wednesday. Text to be posted

While agency employees will continue to work their regular hours, this shorter public window will allow them to complete face-to-face interviews and process claims work without incurring the cost of overtime. The significantly reduced funding provided by Congress under the continuing resolution for the first six months of the fiscal year makes it impossible for the agency to provide the overtime needed to handle service to the public as it has done in the past.

In addition, on Nov. 23, the day after Thanksgiving, all Social Security field offices will be closed to the public. As the agency did last year, employees working that day will focus on reducing backlogged workloads.

Most Social Security services do not require a visit to a local office. Many services, including applying for retirement, disability or Medicare benefits, signing up for direct deposit, replacing a Medicare card, obtaining a proof-of-income letter, or informing the agency of a change of address or telephone number, are conveniently available at www.socialsecurity.gov or by dialing a toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213. People who are deaf or hard of hearing may call a TTY number, 1-800-325-0778. Many of the online services also are available in Spanish at www.segurosocial.gov.

[Text from file received from the Social Security office in Springfield]