COVID -19 battle is still going on, but humanity has to get back on its feet once again no matter how much stronger the enemy is. Humans are built to survive, but that is only possible if we are taking precautions in corona times. Every country has started unlocking phase but few rules and regulations. You also have to get like to visit a social security office: you must follow some precautions so that you and others can be safe. So below are a few F&Qs that will help you gaining knowledge about COVID -19 precautions while visiting any social security office.
Are there any safety
protocols I’ll have to follow to visit the SSA office?
Nowadays you will have to book an appointment before getting
an entry into the office. Only the person who booked an appointment can enter
the SSA office. Also, you must know that these appointments are only open for
limited people especially in case of emergencies. This protocol was effective
on July 20, 2020, and everyone booking an appointment, and getting permission must
have the below-mentioned checklist self-assessment.
Are you suffering from below mentioned medical conditions?
- Headache and chills
- Sore throat/cough
- Body aches/muscle pain
- Difficulty in taking breaths or shortness of breath
- Diarrhea, vomiting, and nausea
- Loss of taste and sense of smell
In the past fourteen
days have you
- Been outside your country?
- Received instructions about self-quarantine or to get assessed for the COVID-19 symptoms
- Positive for Coronavirus
- Been in contact with the person positive for Coronavirus
If the answer is yes to any one of the above-mentioned points,
then it is hundred percent chances you are not going to get any time entry in
the social security office. In that case, you will have to again schedule your
appointment with a certificate that you are not having Coronavirus or even
symptoms of it. You can use the office
locator app on your devices to get the phone number of your nearby social
security office.
What if I got the
entry permission?
In case you have received an appointment date then you must
wear a proper face mask to cover your nose and mouth properly. In case you are
not having anything to cover your face then you are provided with a face mask
at the gate of the social security office. Even the employees of the SSA office
follow proper guidelines while meeting you in the office.
What if SSA is not
conducting in-person hearings, will I still have my hearing?
As we all know there is lots of hassle going around and
offices have to maintain social distancing for which limited in-person hearings
are scheduled. Hearing offices are closed for some time and there are no
in-person services available right now and in foreseeable future. Right now
telephonic hearings are being conducted by the SSA office and more and more
people are encouraged for it so that claims can get forward. Later this winter
SSA will start video calling services to conduct further hearings. You can also
subscribe to the SSA COVID-19 page to get updates on upcoming services related
to your matter.
Are there scams I should
worry about in 2020?
Unfortunately, the answer to this question is yes as there
are many people around with bad intentions and they will suddenly take
advantage of the current situation. They might have planning to trick you to
get money out of you or maybe your private information. You must keep yourself
alert and in case you get calls claiming they are from
- SSA
- Internal revenue services
- United States treasury department
- Any other Govt. agency
Calls related to payments or your personal information, any
kind of change, financial information, gift cards then you must be alert and
ask those questions in return and even file a complaint against that number. These
are totally scams and frauds are at your door so you must always be alert and
even keep your family informed about it. There are many such scams reported
which you can check on the SSA website.
How can I prepare for
my hearing on the telephone?
On the date of your hearing, you must be present on your
phone and it should not be busy at the time.
A member of the SSA will call you to schedule time for a hearing. You
must find the right place which must be lonely because you will be sharing your
personal information and there should be no distractions around you. There are
going to be multiple people along with you on phone so no one should be
disturbed. These people are going to be participants, hearing reporters, your
representative, and ALJ. To experience quality call you must follow below
mentioned
- In case you are using a mobile phone, you must keep it fully charged because your conversation might go an hour long. You must be in a network and in a quiet place.
- If you are using a traditional landline, then this is the best medium with no interruption also with better sound quality.
- In case you are in a noisy place you can use the mute button and unmute when it is your turn.
How can I contact my
nearby hearing office?
There are ways like e-fax, fax, and telephone to contact
them so if you need to contact through phone then you can visit the SSA website
get numbers. There is a helpline number
which is available 24X7 which is inquiry lines. You can call on that toll-free
number and confirm the below-mentioned things
- Confirm your hearing appointment
- Can schedule you for the in-person meeting if you can wait and desire for it.
- Can also provide you with the pending hearing status
- Can help you in updating your documents
There is one more way and that is fax. You can use your fax
machines to send all your documents. You can send an electronic copy of your
documents on the toll-free fax numbers and "833" is the area code for
the servicing office assigned by the administration. You can also use the
hearing office locator to find the correct telephone numbers.
