What you need to know about the Social Security
Administration and SSA benefits during the
Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID-19)
Will I continue to get my SSA benefits?
Yes. SSA will continue to make regularly scheduled benefits
payments for Retirement, Survivors, Disability Insurance,
and Supplemental Security Income.
Are Social Security offices open?
No. Social Security has closed both the local offices and the
hearings offices. No in-person business can be conducted and
no in-person hearings will take place until these offices are
reopened.
How can I conduct business with Social
Security such as file an application for
benefits or report changes?
Most SSA business can be conducted online if you have a
mySocial Security account or over the phone. To see what
business can be conducted online or to register for a mySocial
Security account please visit www.ssa.gov. To contact SSA over
the phone please call (877) 772-1213.
Can I still apply for benefits?
Yes. SSA is still accepting applications for benefits and we
encourage anyone who may be eligible to apply as soon as
possible. If you need to apply for benefits you can either
complete an application online or contact SSA over the phone
and ask to file an application. Many people can complete the
application online at www.ssa.gov.
What if I already have an appointment
or hearing scheduled with SSA?
If you already have an in-person appointment or hearing
scheduled with SSA you should immediately contact SSA to
determine how you would like to proceed. Most people who
have in-person appointments or hearing already scheduled
with SSA are being given the option of either conducting the
appointment or hearing over the telephone or rescheduling to
a later date. TRLA recommends appointments or hearings be
rescheduled until they can be conducted in-person. However,
this could result in a delay of several months.
Will I lose my benefits during the crisis?
No. While SSA typically reviews disability cases periodically,
SSA has suspended new and currently ongoing reviews.
04/03/2020
Will SSA continue to process or collect on
overpayments?
SSA has suspended processing new overpayments. However,
collection on old overpayments will continue.
I received a Notice or letter from SSA. Do I
need to respond by the stated deadline?
Yes. While SSA has said that it will extend deadlines, you should
still file all responses to SSA letters or notices within the stated
deadlines. Most appeals can be filed online at
www.ssa.gov/benefits/disability/appeal.html. However, if you
miss a deadline due to Coronavirus, you should have good cause
for late filing.
I only receive Social Security benefits and
don't file taxes. Am I eligible for the
$1,200 or $2,400 Coronavirus stimulus
payment?
Yes. SSA benefits recipients making less than $75,000 a year
(individual) or $150,000 a year (couples) are eligible for the full
stimulus payment.
How do I get my Coronavirus stimulus
payment?
If you receive SSA Retirement, Survivors, or Disability Insurance
benefits, you should automatically receive a stimulus payment.
However, if you have dependents, you may need to file a simple
tax return to claim additional stimulus benefits for children. If
you only receive Supplemental Security Income, you will not
automatically receive a stimulus payment. SSI recipients who do
not file taxes should go to https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/
economic-impact-payments to claim their payment.
I need legal assistance. Is TRLA available
to help during the crisis?
YES! TRLA is still accepting applications for legal services and
representing clients. Our offices are closed, but we are
conducting new intakes over the phone. Please call our Texas
Access to Justice Hotline at (888) 988-9996 Monday through
Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM to complete an application for
legal services.
GET www.trla.org
HELP! (888) 988-9996