The Social Security Administration is taking social distancing measures seriously, and making arrangements for hearings to be conducted via phone.
If you have an appointment for a hearing on your Social Security disability case, you may soon receive a call from the agency, rescheduling your appointment or scheduling a phone call instead. This is being done to ensure that Georgian Social Security disability beneficiaries do not have to make unnecessarily risky trips to a physical hearing when a hearing can be conducted on the telephone.
For the time being, administrative law judges are conducting telephone hearings, and this will continue at least until the offices are opened. If you are scheduled for a hearing, please note that the Social Security Administration will call from a private telephone number and not from the Social Security number.
This, however, is fraught with risk for scams. If you receive a call claiming to be from the Social Security Administration, please be cautious. The Social Security Administration representative will never mention payments, upfront deposits, or anything monetary in nature. If you receive a call warning you that your account will be suspended unless you make a payment, or asking you to pay a fine using your debit card or credit card, or threatening you in any way, simply hang up. A genuine representative from the Social Security Administration will never threaten, harass or intimidate you or ask you for gift cards, your Social security account, or bank account details over the phone. Learn more about fraud prevention during this time here.
Lisa Smith Siegel is an Atlanta Social Security disability lawyer representing persons who are unable to work as a result of disability, recover the disability benefits they are eligible for.