Social
Security Expands Public Hours at Offices Nationwide
Wednesdays to Return to Full Public
Service Hours; Agency to Hire 1,100 Direct Service Employees
Send a link to a friend
[December 06, 2019]
Starting on
January 8, 2020, Social Security offices nationwide will be open to
the public on Wednesday afternoons, Andrew Saul, Commissioner of
Social Security, announced. This change restores Wednesday public
service hours that were last in place in late 2012. “I don’t want
someone to come to our office at 2:30 on a Wednesday only to find
our doors closed,” Commissioner Saul said.
|
In another move to improve service to the public,
Commissioner Saul announced in his Open Letter to the Public at
www.ssa.
gov/agency/coss-message.html that the agency is hiring
1,100 front line employees to provide service on the agency’s
National 800 Number and in its processing centers. The agency is
currently bringing onboard 100 new processing center employees and
approximately 500 new teleservice representatives for the 800
Number. An additional 500 hires for the 800 Number will occur later
in 2020.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2019/Dec/04/images/ads/current/theatre_sda_111919.png)
“Improving service is my top priority. Increasing full public
service hours at our nationwide network of more than 1,200 field
offices is the right thing to do and will provide additional
access,” Commissioner Saul said. “The hiring of a thousand new
employees to provide service through our National 800 Number and an
additional 100 hires to process people’s Social Security benefits at
our processing centers around the country are steps in the right
direction in our mission to greatly improve the service we provide.”
Currently, a field office is generally open to the public from 9:00
a.m. to Noon on Wednesdays. Beginning on January 8, 2020, offices
will remain open until 4:00 p.m. on Wednesdays, with typical field
office hours from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
While the agency continues to improve both the access
to and the experience with its services, it is important to note
that most Social Security services do not require the public to take
time to visit an office.
[to top of second
column] |
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2019/Dec/04/images/ads/current/heartland_lda_WELDING_2019.png) People may create a my Social
Security account, a personalized online service, at
www.socialsecurity.gov/ myaccount.
Through their personal my Social
Security account, people can check personal information and conduct
business with Social Security. If they already receive Social
Security benefits, they can start or change direct deposit online,
and if they need proof of their benefits, they can print or download
a current Benefit Verification Letter from their account.
People not yet receiving benefits can use their online account to
get a personalized Social Security Statement, which provides
earnings history information as well as estimates of future
benefits. Currently, residents in 40 states and the District of
Columbia may request a replacement Social Security card online if
they meet certain requirements. The portal also includes a
retirement calculator and links to information about other online
services, such as applications for retirement, disability, and
Medicare benefits.
Many Social Security services are also conveniently available by
dialing toll-free, 1-800-772-1213. People who are deaf or hard of
hearing may call Social Security’s TTY number, 1-800-325-0778.
[Jack Myers
Public Affairs Specialist
Social Security Administration]
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2019/Dec/04/images/ads/current/LPL_small%201.gif) |