It’s finally confirmed. All field offices of the Social Security Administration, which have been closed for more than two years, will finally open on April 7.
Field offices of the Social Security Administration have been closed since March 17, 2020, after the first cases of Covid-19 were recorded in the US. Since then, services have moved online, but online transactions have been far from smooth. This has resulted in long wait times and delays in the processing of claims. The Social Security Administration has also offered the option of mail services during this time. However, for many, especially people in rural areas and those without access to technology and transportation, this transition has been a challenging one. As a result, the number of claims that were filed during this time as well as the speed of processing, has dropped.
Now that it seems like the worst of the pandemic is behind us, the Social Security Administration is finally opening up its offices. You can now visit your local field office for help with your Social Security disability insurance payments, Medicare, Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income benefits and other activities. Make sure that you wear a mask to stay safe when you enter a field office.
The Social Security Administration’s online services will continue even after the field offices open. In fact, for many people who suffer a disability that makes it difficult for them to walk or stand in queues for long periods of time, the online option may continue to be the most preferable one. Wait lines are expected to be long over the next few months, as offices open and beneficiaries and applicants visit these facilities.