Social Security Holidays 2022: When Are Offices Closed?
Many services are available online or by phone even when Social Security offices aren't open
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Social Security Administration (SSA) offices are currently closed to walk-in visits due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In certain, very limited circumstances, you may be able to schedule an in-person visit, and many Social Security services can be accessed online or by telephone.
On the federal holidays Social Security observes each year, scheduled visits are unavailable, as are some telephone services that require live representatives. That will be the case on Monday, Jan. 17, when U.S. government offices close for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Here's the Social Security holiday schedule for 2022:
- New Year's Day 2022: Friday, Dec. 31, 2021
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day: Monday, Jan. 17
- Washington's Birthday: Monday, Feb. 21
- Memorial Day: Monday, May 30
- Juneteenth National Independence Day: Monday, June 20 (observed, because June 19, the date of the Juneteenth holiday, falls on a Sunday)
- Independence Day: Monday, July 4
- Labor Day: Monday, Sept. 5
- Columbus Day: Monday, Oct. 10
- Veterans Day: Friday, Nov. 11
- Thanksgiving: Thursday, Nov. 24
- Christmas: Monday, Dec. 26 (observed, because Christmas falls on a Sunday)
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Under normal operation, Social Security offices are open to in-person visits on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. They are closed on federal holidays. When a holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, federal offices observe it on the preceding Friday or the following Monday, respectively.
The SSA said in an online statement Dec. 22 that while some agency executives have returned to their workplaces, it has not yet set a date to begin reopening field offices for general service.
For now, in-person visits can be arranged, by appointment, in what Social Security calls “limited, critical situations” involving benefit issues that cannot be resolved by phone, mail or online. You may also be able to schedule a visit to correct or update personal information attached to your Social Security number, such as your name or citizenship status.
To see if you qualify for an appointment, call your local Social Security office or check the SSA's COVID-19 updates page.
Social Security by phone
To speak to a Social Security representative by phone, you can:
- Call the SSA's national toll-free number, 800-772-1213, between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. local time on weekdays. The agency says wait times are typically shorter on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays or later in the day.
- Call your local office between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. weekdays. You'll find the correct number by plugging your zip code into SSA's office locator.
On federal holidays, you will not be able to speak to a live agent, as Social Security personnel get the day off, but you can access some services using the SSA's automated phone system. For example, you can ask for a benefit verification letter, which can serve as proof of Social Security income if you are applying for a loan or for aid from a government program; request a new Medicare card; or check on the status of a pending claim for benefits.
You'll find a full list of automated phone services, which are available 24 hours a day, at the Social Security website.
Online services: My Social Security
Whatever the status of your local office and whatever the day or time, you can securely access many SSA services with an online My Social Security account.
You don't need to be getting benefits yet to use My Social Security. Once you've opened an account at the SSA website, you can use it to:
- Check your Social Security statement, which shows your lifetime earnings history and your current or estimated future benefits.
- Check on the status of a pending application for benefits or appeal of a Social Security decision.
- Set up direct deposit for your benefit payments or change the deposit details.
- Request a replacement Social Security or Medicare card.
- Request a benefit verification letter.
- Request an SSA-1099 or SSA-1042S form, which details your benefit income for tax purposes.
- Notify the SSA of a change of address or phone number.
- You can also apply for retirement benefits, Medicare or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) online. You'll find information and links to application forms on SSA's Online Services web page.
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