What Do I Do If I Have a Question About My Social Security Benefits?

Introduction

Did you turn 62 years old and need more information about getting retirement benefits? Or perhaps a family member became disabled and you want to help them return to work without losing their disability benefits? You can find a lot of information regarding benefits on the Social Security's official website. If you still have other questions, consider contacting or visiting your local office. This article will show where to get help if you have questions about your Social Security benefits.

Check Social Security FAQs

Before contacting Social Security regarding benefits, check out the frequently asked questions first, as you'll likely find the answers there. Here is the link:

https://www.ssa.gov/faqs/en/questions/

The webpage, also available in Spanish, contains comprehensive information regarding social security, including questions about your benefits. To make your search quicker, use Ctrl F and enter the word "benefits" to see all questions related to social security benefits. Questions about eligibility, earning social security credits, getting retirement benefits, applying for social security benefits, and many more are on this page. If you don't find the answer to your questions, consider contacting Social Security directly.

Call Social Security Directly

Call your local Social Security office for questions regarding your benefits. However, make sure to check the FAQ first, for it contains more than 200 commonly asked questions. Should you decide to call, use this link to find your local Social Security number: https://secure.ssa.gov/ICON/main.jsp

Just enter your zip and click Locate to find your local office. This page will provide you with your local Social Security office's business hours and contact information. To minimize wait times over the phone, consider calling in the morning, later in the month, or later in the week. Note: If your call is about a disability benefit application, the processing time is between 200-230 days. Call only if it's beyond 230 days and you still have not gotten a letter in the mail. For a Medicare or retirement benefit application, wait for at least 30 days before calling your local Social Security office.

You can also call Social Security's national 1-800 number if it's a general question about Social Security benefits. The toll-free number to call is 1-800-772-1213. If you need in-person assistance, note that you must also call first to set an appointment.

Use the Automated Telephone Service

If you're only inquiring about the status of your benefits claim, use the automated telephone service, available 24/7. Just use the toll-free number to inquire about the status of your claim.

Use Social Security's Online Services

You can save a trip to a local security office if you use the online services for your social security benefits. Check out what you can do online by visiting this link: https://www.ssa.gov/onlineservices/

Find a ton of information about applying for retirement, Medicare, and disability on this page. You can even request a Medicare and Social Security Card online; that's right, no need to call. Simply click on the specific link to get more information about your Social Security benefit.

Conclusion

Almost everything, including filing for social security benefits and checking claim status, is done online. It's recommended to check Social Security's online tools first before contacting them or visiting a local office. You can save time by filing for your benefits online or by using the automated service. Speak to a customer representative only if you didn't get the information online or if you still need further assistance. Do you still have other concerns about your social security benefits? Get in touch with Customer Support today.