SSA Customer Service under COVID is even worse than usual. They currently have all offices closed for in-office service. You are only afforded teleservice and video chat. You can call the 800 number to wait for an hour or so only to be disconnected. If you do get a person to talk with, it’s likely they lack the training and experience to answer your question completely. This has resulted in a drop of applications and the public not receiving all the benefits they are eligible for.
You need to be your own best advocate. Having the financial guidance that Mike provides along with an SSA expert gives you an advantage. Be sure to stay current and review the below link outlining all of 2021’s updated rates.
https://www.ssa.gov/news/press/factsheets/colafacts2021.pdf
Be sure to stay up to date with current information and use SSA’s online services as much as possible. If you have a my Social Security acccount at ssa.gov, you can update your direct deposit, change your address, get a replacement SSA card, benefit estimate information, tax documents, and status of your pending application.
As always, if you have concerns about your own Social Security, please reach out to obtain current, correct information for you.
Maryellen Foley-Eckert
SSA Specialist
