How to Make an Appointment at the Social Security Office

Since January 2025, the Social Security Administration requires an appointment before you visit a field office in person, and there are three ways to make an appointment at the Social Security office: book online at ssa.gov/manage-benefits/make-an-appointment, call the national line at 1-800-772-1213, or phone your local field office directly.¹

Book Online

The online scheduler at ssa.gov/manage-benefits/make-an-appointment is the fastest route. A short questionnaire asks what you need, whether that is applying for benefits, replacing a Social Security card, updating your name, or something else. Based on your answers, the tool may let you finish the task entirely online without visiting an office. If an in-person visit is necessary, it books the slot.²

Applying for retirement or disability benefits, requesting a replacement card, updating direct deposit, and checking claim status can all be started or completed online.

Call the National Number

If you prefer the phone, call 1-800-772-1213. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. local time. The TTY line for callers who are deaf or hard of hearing is 1-800-325-0778.³

An automated system asks the reason for your call and routes you to a representative trained in that area. The representative confirms what you need, offers available time slots, and asks whether you want a phone interview or an in-person visit. Phone appointments are often available sooner than in-person slots.

Wait times run longest on Mondays and during the first week of each month. Calling midweek or later in the month usually gets you through faster.

Call the Local Field Office

You can also call your local office directly. The Office Locator at ssa.gov/locator returns the address, phone number, and directions for the nearest office when you enter your ZIP code.⁴ Local staff can help if you need to work around specific office hours or ask about parking and building access.

Information to Have Ready When You Book

Have these details on hand before you call or start the online form:

Your full legal name, exactly as it appears on your Social Security card
Your nine-digit Social Security number
Your date of birth
A current mailing address and phone number
The reason for your visit, described specifically

Some claims call for more. For survivor benefits, have the deceased person’s Social Security number ready. For disability, know the approximate date your condition first prevented you from working, which SSA calls the alleged onset date, and have names and contact information for your doctors and other medical providers.⁵⁶ For Supplemental Security Income, be prepared to discuss bank account balances, vehicle titles, life insurance policies, and other assets, because SSI has strict resource limits that the representative will verify during the interview.

What Happens If You Walk In Without an Appointment

SSA has stated it will not turn people away who arrive without an appointment. In most cases, a walk-in visitor will be asked to schedule a future appointment and encouraged to try online services first.¹

Same-day service is still available in specific situations:

Dire financial need, meaning you cannot afford food, shelter, or necessary medical care
Terminal illness
Military personnel
Vulnerable individuals facing barriers, such as people experiencing homelessness or those unable to use a phone or computer
Time-sensitive pending claims, including immediate payment requests and death-correction cases
Congressional or public relations inquiries

Field office managers have discretion over same-day service, and offices with light walk-in traffic may continue to serve visitors without appointments.⁷

What to Bring to the Appointment

Your confirmation notice lists the specific documents your appointment requires. Bring originals or certified copies. SSA does not accept photocopies or notarized copies, and every document must be current and unexpired.⁸

For identity, the commonly accepted documents are a U.S. driver’s license or state-issued ID card, a U.S. passport, or a U.S. military identification card. If you have none of those, SSA may accept a secondary document such as an employee ID card, school ID, or health insurance card, as long as it shows your name and either a photo, your date of birth, or your age.⁸

Depending on the type of appointment, you may also need:

Proof of age. A birth certificate is preferred; if one does not exist, a religious record made before age five, a hospital birth record, or a U.S. passport may substitute.
Proof of citizenship, such as a U.S. passport, Certificate of Naturalization, or Certificate of Citizenship.
Financial records for SSI, including bank statements, car titles, burial contracts, and life insurance policies.
Medical information for disability, including your doctors’ names and contact details, a list of your medications, and records of any hospitalizations.
Work history for disability, including names of employers for the last 15 years, job titles, and approximate dates of employment.

Interpreters and Accessibility

SSA provides free interpreter services for phone calls and in-person visits. You do not need to bring your own, though you may if you prefer.⁹

To request an interpreter by phone, call 1-800-772-1213. For Spanish, press 7. For all other languages, stay on the line and remain silent through the automated prompts; a representative will answer and then connect an interpreter. If your business cannot be handled over the phone, SSA will schedule an in-person appointment and arrange for an interpreter at the office.⁹

If you are deaf or hard of hearing and need a sign language interpreter at a field office, call the TTY line at 1-800-325-0778 to request one when you schedule.³

Confirmation and Rescheduling

After your appointment is booked, SSA mails a confirmation notice with the date, time, and location, along with a checklist of any documents to bring. For SSI reviews, the notice specifies items such as bank statements, pension records, pay stubs, and life insurance policies, and reminds you that originals or certified copies are required.¹⁰

Review the notice as soon as it arrives so you have time to gather documents and flag any errors. If a conflict comes up, call the same number you used to book, either 1-800-772-1213 or your local office, to reschedule. Canceling well ahead helps the office fill the slot and keeps your claim moving.

The confirmation also tells you whether the appointment is a phone interview or an in-person visit. For phone interviews, it specifies whether SSA will call you or whether you need to call in. For in-person visits, it lists the office address and the name of the representative assigned to your case.¹⁰

Sending Someone in Your Place

If you cannot attend or want someone to handle your claim, you can appoint a representative using SSA Form SSA-1696. The form authorizes an attorney, family member, or other qualified person to act on your behalf and receive notices from SSA about your case.¹¹

You can specify which claims or issues the representative can handle, such as only disability, only retirement, or a continuing disability review. SSA will not communicate with your representative until the completed form is on file. If you are physically or mentally unable to file on your own behalf, a family member or caregiver can file for you with supporting documentation such as a doctor’s certification.⁸

1
Social Security Administration. Changes to Accessing Our In-Person Services
2
Social Security Administration. Make or Change an Appointment
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Social Security Administration. Contact Social Security By Phone
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Social Security Administration. Field Office Locator
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Social Security Administration. POMS DI 25501.200 – Overview of Onset Policy
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Social Security Administration. Fact Sheet on Disability Determinations
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Social Security Administration. EM 24059 REV 2 – Appointment First Service
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Social Security Administration. Learn What Documents You Will Need
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Social Security Administration. How to Request an Interpreter
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Social Security Administration. POMS SI 02305.814 – SSA-L3074-U2, Supplemental Security Income Notice of Appointment
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Social Security Administration. Form SSA-1696 Appointment of Representative