Thursday and Friday, the Social Security Administration was closed because of a computer problem that made it harder to offer online services. The government office said it has a “hardware issue” that makes it hard for it to offer services in person and online.
DownDetector.com says that the number of reports of customers not being able to access their My Social Security accounts rose on Friday morning and stayed high into the afternoon. The SSA says that services will not be available in person, but the federal office can still be reached by phone for general questions.
Mark Hinkle, the communications officer for the Social Security Administration, said in a statement on Friday night that the organization had fixed the technical problem that was stopping personalized services.
Full phone help and in-person services will be back up and running on Monday. Also, please remember that the SSA offices are always closed on the following government holidays, not just this sudden closing:
- Columbus Day: Monday, October 14
- Veterans Day: Monday, November 11
- Thanksgiving Day: Thursday, November 28
- Christmas Day: Wednesday, December 25
The Social Security Administration also told people who get Social Security that they should call their local Social Security office if they don’t get their payment when they were supposed to because of bad weather or something else. Our Field Office Locator will help you find the phone number for your local office. Just look under “Additional Office Information.”
Alternative ways for receiving information about your Social Security benefits
There are times when you need to do something right away. That’s why the US government office provides services online as well as in person. The Social Security Administration (SSA) has recently made changes that allow people who get benefits from Social Security to apply for retirement, disability, and Medicare benefits online.
From anywhere and on any device, you can see how an application or appeal is going, ask for a new Social Security card (most of the time), print a benefit verification letter, and more. Here are the steps you need to take to use online services:
- Access your www.ssa.gov/myaccount and create or log in to your My Social Security account.
- Once logged in, search for the ‘Your benefits application’ section and select ‘View Details’ to check the status of your application.
Why are Social Security benefits important for retirees, survivors, disabled people, and SSI recipients?
Social Security gives workers a steady income that they can use to plan for their future. It also offers important social insurance for families whose main breadwinners die and for workers who get sick or hurt on the job. Social Security is one of the best, most popular, and useful services in the country.
As of February 2024, about 67 million people, or one in five US citizens, were getting monthly benefits. Four out of five claimants are over the age of 65. The other five are either young survivors of workers who died or people who receive SSDI.
In 2023, 96% of people between the ages of 20 and 49 who worked in covered jobs were covered by Social Security’s life insurance program. This is the same as an insurance worth almost $948,000. It’s for a young worker making the average wage, their spouse, and their two kids.
Also, 90% of people aged 21 to 64 who had covered jobs were covered for serious disabilities. But a lot of people don’t think about how likely it is that they will become injured or die before they reach full retirement age. In fact, 8% of new workers die before they reach full retirement age, and many more become disabled.
This insurance and financial program is very important for the future of millions of Americans and citizens because it gives monthly benefits to disabled people, low-income seniors, and retired workers or survivors. These payments will help them pay their bills and keep up with inflation.