How to Get Help from Social Security

On April 7, our local offices will add more in-person appointments and offer in-person service for people without an appointment.

Throughout the pandemic, millions of people have used our secure and convenient online services and received help by phone. People who have access to the internet should first try our online services before calling us or visiting an office.

To learn more, please visit our blog.

New Rules for Survivors Benefits for Same-Sex Partners

Do you have a client who was in a long-term same-sex relationship with a partner who passed away? If so, they may be entitled to Social Security survivors benefits based on their partner’s record. More surviving same-sex partners may now qualify for Social Security survivors benefits.

Same-sex partners may qualify for survivors benefits if they meet any of the following:

• They would have been married at the time of their partner’s death if state laws hadn’t prevented them from marrying.
• They would have been married longer if not for state laws that prevented them from marrying earlier.

If your client thinks that they may be entitled to benefits, encourage them to contact us right away. Please have them call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) or contact their local Social Security office at secure.ssa.gov/ICON/main.jsp.

After they apply, they can check the status of their application with their personal my Social Security account. If they don’t have a personal my Social Security account, they can create one today in just a few minutes.

Online Reporting Form for Scam Calls

Scammers’ tactics continue to evolve. They call and pretend to be government employees to trick victims into providing personal information or money in cash, wire transfers, or gift cards. The scammers often make threats, including arrest.

They may send your clients emails with fake letters or reports that appear to be from Social Security, our Office of the Inspector General (OIG), or other agencies. The letters may appear to use official letterhead and government jargon to look legitimate.

Encourage your clients to remain vigilant against scams. Real Social Security employees will never:

• Tell your client that their Social Security number has been suspended.
• Contact your client to demand an immediate payment.
• Ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone.
• Require a specific means of debt repayment, like a prepaid debit card, a retail gift card, Internet currency (Crypto), or cash.
• Demand that your client pay a Social Security debt without the ability to appeal the amount they owe.
• Promise a Social Security benefit approval, or increase, in exchange for information or money.
• Email sensitive information.

Please ask your clients to use the online form at oig.ssa.gov to report Social Security-related phone and email scams. The information they provide — even if they do not fall for the scam — helps the OIG fight this type of fraud. People who submit the form can create a unique Personal Identification Number (PIN), so if OIG contacts them, they will know the call is legitimate.