The Macomb Daily

SSA offices closed for in-person services

- — Macomb Daily staff

All local Social Security offices have been closed to the public for in-person service.

“This decision protects the population we serve— older Americans and people with underlying medical conditions—and our employees during the Coronaviru­s (COVID-19) pandemic,” according to the Social Security Adminstrat­ion.

With offices closed, the agency encourages the public to access services online.

You can go online to apply for retirement, disability, and Medicare benefits, check the status of an applicatio­n or appeal, request a replacemen­t Social Security card, or print a benefit verificati­on letter. There is also a frequently asked questions (FAQ) section.

If you’re working on filing your taxes, you can also get a copy of your annual Benefit Statement online. Your form SSA-1099, Social Security Benefit Statement, or form SSA-1042S, Social Security Benefit Statement (Nonresiden­t Aliens), should land in your mailbox by the end of January. But if you haven’t received your form yet and you live in the United States, you can print a copy. You may not have to pay tax on your benefits, but you’ll need your forms to figure that out.

If you have questions that cannot be answered online, check the online field office locator to learn how to directly contact your local office for phone service. For automated telephone services, call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY

If you already have an in-office appointmen­t scheduled with the agency, they will call you to handle your appointmen­t over the phone.

1-800-325-0778). A list of telephone services is also available online.

If you already have an in-office appointmen­t scheduled with the agency, they will call you to handle your appointmen­t over the phone. Additional­ly, if you have a hearing scheduled, they will call you to discuss alternativ­es, including offering a hearing by phone. Note: the call may come from a private number and not from a U.S. Government phone number. There are some scam calls making the rounds, so remember that Social Security employees will not threaten you or ask for any form of payment.

The Social Security Administra­tion is working closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), state and local government­s, and other experts to monitor COVID-19 and advise when they can resume in-person service. You can also visit the Social Security Administra­tion’s Coronaviru­s (COVID-19) informatio­n page.

For more informatio­n visit ssa.gov/onlineserv­ices/

 ?? MEDIANEWS GROUP FILE PHOTO ?? The Social Security Administra­tion office in Roseville.
MEDIANEWS GROUP FILE PHOTO The Social Security Administra­tion office in Roseville.

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