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Maraya1969

(22,986 posts)
Fri Oct 29, 2021, 12:52 PM Oct 2021

How do I talk to a human???? SS just sent me a letter - to my address to tell

me that they took back my payment for Oct because they don't know where I live

I called several numbers. I can't find a human - even at my local office.

And I've been under the weather lately and the idea of driving all the way to that office is making me feel sicker just thinking about it.

Anyone know what the secret password it to be able to talk to a living being?

21 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
How do I talk to a human???? SS just sent me a letter - to my address to tell (Original Post) Maraya1969 Oct 2021 OP
Do you have a local office? lisa58 Oct 2021 #1
Yes, and no they don't answer. I can only find an 800 number for them and it Maraya1969 Oct 2021 #5
From: PoliticAverse Oct 2021 #2
Call your state or federal rep and ask for help. cbabe Oct 2021 #3
Yes elleng Oct 2021 #6
Yes! 2naSalit Oct 2021 #13
sigh Grasswire2 Oct 2021 #4
note Grasswire2 Oct 2021 #7
That's a good idea Rorey Oct 2021 #11
absolutely Grasswire2 Oct 2021 #15
They sent you a letter telling you they didn't know where getagrip_already Oct 2021 #8
If you can het a letter or postcard out, mail works both ways. mahina Oct 2021 #9
Maybe your best bet is to send an email Rorey Oct 2021 #10
... Faux pas Oct 2021 #12
Go online and make an appointment with your local office. sinkingfeeling Oct 2021 #14
Believe it or not is says my local office is closed due to Clovid. Maraya1969 Oct 2021 #17
I have got four letters from SSA in the last month. Midnight Writer Oct 2021 #16
Call your US Congressman SCantiGOP Oct 2021 #18
I've had nothing but good experiences Voltaire2 Oct 2021 #19
Must be your local office dwayneb Dec 2021 #20
They are doing the same to me. They have taken my checks for several Maraya1969 Dec 2021 #21

lisa58

(5,777 posts)
1. Do you have a local office?
Fri Oct 29, 2021, 12:56 PM
Oct 2021

My local office has answered every time I’ve called since COVID and I couldn’t just show up

Maraya1969

(22,986 posts)
5. Yes, and no they don't answer. I can only find an 800 number for them and it
Fri Oct 29, 2021, 12:58 PM
Oct 2021

is just like the national bullshit line.

It's Fort Myers FL in case anyone knows something I don't

PoliticAverse

(26,366 posts)
2. From:
Fri Oct 29, 2021, 12:57 PM
Oct 2021
https://www.ssa.gov/agency/contact/phone.html

We are currently having problems with our 800 Number system. You may experience service issues, including poor call quality, dropped calls and long wait times. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience and we appreciate your patience while we work to fully restore phone service.


If you cannot reach your local office, you may call our National 800 Number toll-free at 1-800-772-1213. You may be able to take care of your business by using one of our automated telephone services (please see below) 24 hours a day without having to wait for a telephone representative. Wait times to speak with a representative may be longer than usual, which is why we encourage you to try our online services, automated telephone services, or call your local office first. Our National 800 Number, 1-800-772-1213, is available between 8:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday

Grasswire2

(13,702 posts)
4. sigh
Fri Oct 29, 2021, 12:58 PM
Oct 2021

best of luck, and Louis DeJoy won't let you get a letter to them in a timely manner.

How about calling the local office of your U.S. representative and asking for urgent help?

Our experiences with SS and disability for a family member were horrid last year. All of a sudden her benefits stopped. No notice. It took five months to get it straightened out.

I'm sorry.

Rorey

(8,513 posts)
11. That's a good idea
Fri Oct 29, 2021, 01:07 PM
Oct 2021

And it might also be a good idea to contact their Senator or Representative. Sometimes they can actually get stuff done for us. (If they care, that is. )

Grasswire2

(13,702 posts)
15. absolutely
Fri Oct 29, 2021, 01:21 PM
Oct 2021

Our Senator was instrumental in getting disability for family member approved initially, years ago when it was stalled for 12 years.

getagrip_already

(17,404 posts)
8. They sent you a letter telling you they didn't know where
Fri Oct 29, 2021, 01:00 PM
Oct 2021

you live? Is that like calling you to ask you your phone number? lol.

Seems odd they would do that and not give you an address you could send them the info.

mahina

(18,906 posts)
9. If you can het a letter or postcard out, mail works both ways.
Fri Oct 29, 2021, 01:05 PM
Oct 2021

Confirm that you received and your address is correct. You won’t get the satisfaction of a human but maybe your next payment will actually get to you on time- good luck!

Rorey

(8,513 posts)
10. Maybe your best bet is to send an email
Fri Oct 29, 2021, 01:05 PM
Oct 2021

I'm so sorry you have to deal with this nonsense. A couple of years ago I had one hell of a time getting the name on my medicare card changed after I got a divorce. I remember having to go to the local SS office several times, but that was before the pandemic, so going to the office was still an option. I had to wait for hours every time. It took pretty close to a year to finally get it resolved.

Since the pandemic started, customer service (or whatever it's called) seems to be worse than I ever thought possible. Sometimes I think that callous workers use it as an excuse to give bad service.

In the case of the SSA, it's as if they throw every roadblock possible in the way of solving an issue. It's as if they want people to simply give up so they don't have to deal with it.

Maraya1969

(22,986 posts)
17. Believe it or not is says my local office is closed due to Clovid.
Fri Oct 29, 2021, 03:27 PM
Oct 2021

But I did contact my congressman in a few different ways

Midnight Writer

(22,944 posts)
16. I have got four letters from SSA in the last month.
Fri Oct 29, 2021, 02:45 PM
Oct 2021

The first three had the correct address, the fourth had the wrong address. The only way I got it is because my mailman is an aces guy who saw the letter, recognized my name, and brought it out to me.

Nothing on their automated phone tree seems to apply, I see no where on their website to correct this, and the "local" office is a 120 mile trip away.

I think a brief chat with a human would square this away pretty quickly, but as you know...

SCantiGOP

(14,201 posts)
18. Call your US Congressman
Fri Oct 29, 2021, 05:01 PM
Oct 2021

All of them have a lot of staff dedicated just to helping constituents deal with Federal agencies. They will call someone who would never take a call from a citizen, and get it resolved.

Voltaire2

(14,675 posts)
19. I've had nothing but good experiences
Sat Oct 30, 2021, 06:22 AM
Oct 2021

interacting over the phone with people at the SSA. Just call your local office.

dwayneb

(861 posts)
20. Must be your local office
Fri Dec 10, 2021, 10:02 PM
Dec 2021

Weird to hear this, actually I have had good luck calling the local SS office and after a brief wait getting right through to a SSA agent, and most of them were actually very helpful.

So it must be that your particular local office is useless for some reason. Not surprising, these agencies are very inconsistent.

Anyway I'd keep trying that local number maybe you caught them on some busy/bad days.

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