How to get a Social Security appointment - phone vs. walkins for benefit application?

You can schedule an appointment by calling the national number at 1-800-772-1213. When you call, they can either schedule you for an in-person appointment OR help you apply right over the phone if you prefer not to go in. Phone applications are actually pretty easy and save a lot of time. As for walk-ins, yes, most SS offices do accept walk-ins but there's usually a long wait. I helped my mom last month and we waited almost 3 hours! If you do walk in, go early - like before they open. Some offices also have a certain time of day that's better for walk-ins.

i went to my local office last week without appointment. got there 30 min before opening and STILL waited 2 hrs!!! they take walk ins but its HORRIBLE. the security guard was rude too

I recently helped my father apply for his retirement benefits, and we had success using multiple approaches: 1. Call the national number (1-800-772-1213) between 8am-5:30pm Monday-Friday 2. You can also call your local office directly (find the number on SSA's website) 3. For online services, use ssa.gov to apply for retirement, disability, or Medicare To answer your specific questions - yes, they can complete your entire application over the phone if that's what you prefer. The phone interview takes about 30-45 minutes. And yes, most offices accept walk-ins, but the wait times can be unpredictable and often very long. One important tip: if you're calling the national number, try early morning (right when they open) or late afternoon (after 4pm). The wait times tend to be shorter then.

When I tried calling SS last month I was on hold for 2+ hours and then got disconnected!! Tried again next day, same thing. Gave up and just went to the office. Had to wait but at least got it done.

I work at an elder law firm and help clients with SS issues all the time. Here's the real scoop: - SSA is severely understaffed right now, so both phone and in-person waits are longer than usual - Local offices DO accept walk-ins but priority goes to scheduled appointments - Calling 1-800-772-1213 is the official way to schedule appointments - Yes, they can complete your entire application by phone - Online applications at ssa.gov are fastest for retirement benefits - For disability (SSDI/SSI), phone or in-person is usually better than online If you're just applying for retirement benefits and are comfortable online, that's your best bet. If you need SSDI, widow benefits, or have a complicated situation, then phone or in-person is better because you'll likely have questions. Hope this helps!

For retirement benefits, you should have these documents ready: - Your Social Security number - Birth certificate (original or certified copy) - W-2 forms or self-employment tax returns for last year - Military discharge papers (if applicable) - Bank account info for direct deposit If you're applying for spousal benefits, you'll also need your marriage certificate and your spouse's SSN. The online application lets you save your progress, so you can start it even if you don't have everything ready yet.

my neighbor said tuesday mornings r best for walk ins because monday is always packed!!!

Has anyone used the online appointment scheduler thingy on the website? I thought I saw something about that but couldn't find it again.

I HATE calling Social Security!!! Was on hold for THREE HOURS last month trying to fix an underpayment issue. The whole system is BROKEN! They make it IMPOSSIBLE for seniors to get help! And don't even get me started on their website - looks like it was designed in 1995 and never updated! 😡

I just went through this process last month! Here's what worked for me: I called the 1-800-772-1213 number at exactly 8am on a Wednesday and got through in about 20 minutes. The rep was super helpful and walked me through the entire retirement application over the phone - took about 45 minutes total. She explained that phone applications are just as valid as in-person ones, and honestly it was so much more convenient than driving to the office and waiting around. Plus she was able to answer all my questions in real-time. One tip: have all your documents ready before you call (W-2s, birth certificate, bank info for direct deposit). The rep can wait while you grab something, but it speeds things up if you're prepared. Good luck with your application!

Thanks everyone for all this great advice! I'm feeling much more confident about the process now. Based on what I'm reading here, it sounds like calling the 1-800-772-1213 number and doing the phone application might be my best bet. I like that I can avoid the long wait times at the office and still get personalized help. @Nick Kravitz - thank you so much for that document checklist! I'll make sure to gather all of that before I call. And @Olivia Martinez - calling right at 8am on a weekday is a great tip, I'll definitely try that. One follow-up question for anyone who's done the phone application - do they mail you any confirmation or paperwork after you complete it, or is it all handled digitally these days?

I recently helped my elderly father apply for his Social Security retirement benefits and found that calling the 1-800-772-1213 number early in the morning (around 8:15 AM) worked best for shorter wait times. We were able to complete his entire application over the phone in about 30-40 minutes. The phone representative was very patient and helpful - she walked us through each section step by step and explained what documents we'd need to have ready. We had his Social Security card, birth certificate, last year's W-2, and bank account information for direct deposit. One thing I'd add is that if you're close to your full retirement age, you might want to ask about filing strategies during your call. The rep gave us some good advice about when to start benefits versus waiting for delayed retirement credits. The whole process was much easier than I expected, and we received his confirmation letter about 10 days later. Definitely recommend the phone application route if you're comfortable with it!

As someone who just went through this process a few months ago, I'd definitely recommend the phone application route! I called 1-800-772-1213 around 8:30 AM on a Thursday and only waited about 15 minutes to get through to a representative. The phone application was surprisingly thorough - they asked me all the same questions they would have asked in person, and I was able to complete everything in one call that lasted about 35 minutes. The rep was very knowledgeable and even helped me understand some benefit calculation details I hadn't considered. One thing I wish I had known beforehand: they can actually estimate your monthly benefit amount during the call, which was really helpful for my financial planning. Make sure to ask about this if you're curious! I received my confirmation letter about 2 weeks later, and my first payment came exactly when they said it would. The whole experience was much smoother than I expected, especially compared to some of the horror stories I'd heard about waiting at the local office. Good luck with your application - you've got this!

I just wanted to add my recent experience to help others! I called the SSA number last week at around 8:45 AM and got through in about 25 minutes. The representative was incredibly helpful and patient - she walked me through the entire retirement benefits application over the phone. What really impressed me was how thorough they were. She explained each step, helped me understand the different benefit options, and even discussed when my payments would start based on my birth month. The whole call took about 40 minutes, and I felt like I got personalized service without having to leave my house. One tip I'd add: when you call, have a pen and paper ready! The rep gave me a confirmation number, explained next steps, and provided some important dates. I was glad I could write everything down as we went. I also created my online SSA account right after the call (she recommended this) so I can track my application status. It's really convenient to check progress online rather than having to call back. Overall, the phone application process exceeded my expectations. Much better than the stories I'd heard about waiting hours at the local office!

Hi everyone! I'm new to this community and really appreciate all the helpful advice shared here. I'm in a similar situation to the original poster - need to apply for my Social Security retirement benefits but was dreading the process. After reading through all these responses, it sounds like the phone application route is definitely the way to go! I had no idea you could complete the entire application over the phone. The tips about calling right at 8:00-8:30 AM and having all documents ready beforehand are so valuable. One question for those who've done the phone application: Did you need to provide any documents during the call, or do they just ask for the information verbally? I'm wondering if I need to scan or mail anything afterward, or if the phone conversation covers everything they need. Thanks again to everyone for sharing your experiences - this community is such a great resource for navigating these government processes!

Hi everyone! I'm new to this community and found this thread incredibly helpful as I'm also preparing to apply for my Social Security retirement benefits. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences - it's really reassuring to hear so many positive stories about the phone application process. I wanted to add one more tip I learned from a friend who recently went through this: if you're calling the 1-800-772-1213 number and get a busy signal or extremely long hold times, try calling your local Social Security office directly instead. Sometimes the local offices have shorter wait times than the national number, and they can do the same phone application process. You can find your local office number on the SSA website by entering your ZIP code. Also, for anyone who might be nervous about doing this over the phone (like I was initially), the representatives are really trained to walk you through everything step by step. My friend said her rep even repeated back all the important information to make sure everything was correct before submitting the application. Thanks again to this community for making what seemed like a daunting process feel much more manageable!

Hi everyone! I'm new to this community and really grateful to have found this thread. I'm about to turn 65 and have been putting off applying for my Social Security benefits because I was honestly intimidated by the whole process. Reading through all these experiences has been so enlightening! I had always assumed I'd have to go sit in a crowded office for hours, but it sounds like the phone application is actually the preferred method for most people. The tip about calling right at 8:00 AM is gold - I'm definitely going to try that approach. One thing I'm curious about: for those who completed the phone application, how long did it take between submitting your application and receiving your first payment? I'm trying to plan my retirement timing and want to make sure I understand the timeline. Thanks to everyone for creating such a supportive space to share these experiences. It's made what felt like an overwhelming government bureaucracy seem much more manageable!

Hi everyone! I'm new to this community and have been reading through this thread with great interest. I'm 64 and will be applying for my Social Security retirement benefits in the next few months, so all of this advice is incredibly valuable. I wanted to share something I learned from my sister who went through this process last year - she found it helpful to call SSA a week or two BEFORE she was actually ready to submit her application, just to ask questions about timing and benefit amounts. The rep was able to give her estimates and help her understand the difference between filing at her full retirement age versus waiting for delayed retirement credits, which really helped her make an informed decision about when to actually file. She said this "consultation call" was much shorter (maybe 15 minutes) and took some pressure off when she did her actual application call later, since she already knew what to expect. Might be worth considering for anyone who has questions about timing or wants to understand their options better before committing to the application! Thanks again to everyone for sharing your experiences - this community is such a great resource for navigating these important decisions!

Hi everyone! I'm new to this community and have been following this thread closely as I'm also preparing to apply for my Social Security retirement benefits. All of your shared experiences have been incredibly helpful and reassuring! I wanted to add one more piece of advice I received from a financial planner friend: if you're married, it's worth asking the SSA representative about spousal benefit strategies during your call. Even if your spouse isn't ready to file yet, understanding how spousal benefits work and the timing implications can be really important for maximizing your household's total Social Security income. Also, I noticed several people mentioned creating an online SSA account after their phone application. For anyone who hasn't done this yet, I'd recommend setting it up even before you call - you can review your earnings history and get benefit estimates ahead of time, which might help you feel more prepared for the application conversation. Thanks again to everyone for making this process seem so much more manageable. The collective wisdom in this community is amazing, and I'm grateful to have found such a supportive group of people who are willing to share their real experiences navigating these important government services!

Hi everyone! I'm new to this community and have been reading through all these helpful responses. As someone who's been dreading the Social Security application process, this thread has been incredibly reassuring! I wanted to share a tip I learned from my neighbor who recently applied: she said it's helpful to have a quiet, comfortable space set up for your phone call since it can take 30-45 minutes. She made sure she had good cell reception (or used a landline), had all her documents spread out on a table where she could easily find them, and even had a glass of water nearby since you'll be talking for a while. She also mentioned that the SSA rep was very understanding when she needed a moment to find a document or had to ask for clarification on something. It sounds like they're really used to working with people who might be nervous or unfamiliar with the process. I'm planning to call next week and feel so much more confident after reading everyone's positive experiences. Thank you all for taking the time to share your stories - this community is such a valuable resource for navigating these important government services!

Hi everyone! I'm new to this community and have been following this incredibly helpful thread. As someone who just turned 62 and is starting to think about when to apply for Social Security, all of your shared experiences have been so valuable! I wanted to add something I learned from my experience working in customer service - when you call the 1-800-772-1213 number, if you get an automated system, listen carefully to all the menu options before selecting one. Sometimes there are specific options for retirement applications that can route you to the right department faster than just pressing "0" for an agent. Also, I've found that having your questions written down ahead of time can be really helpful during longer phone calls like this. That way you don't forget to ask about something important while you're focused on providing all the application information. Reading about everyone's positive phone application experiences has definitely convinced me to go that route when I'm ready to apply. Thanks to this community for creating such a supportive space to share real experiences with these government processes - it makes everything feel so much less intimidating!

Hi everyone! I'm new to this community and have been reading through this incredibly informative thread. As someone who's been putting off applying for my Social Security benefits because the whole process seemed overwhelming, all of your shared experiences have been so reassuring! I wanted to add one more tip that might be helpful - I called my local library yesterday and they mentioned that many libraries offer free assistance with government forms and applications, including Social Security. Some even have volunteers who are trained to help with these processes. While it sounds like the phone application is definitely the way to go based on everyone's experiences here, it's nice to know there's another support option available if anyone needs in-person help understanding their documents or preparing for the call. Also, for anyone who might be concerned about privacy during the phone application (like I was initially), the SSA representatives are bound by strict privacy laws and handle thousands of these applications. Reading about everyone's positive experiences with how professional and thorough they are has really put my mind at ease. Thank you to this amazing community for sharing so many helpful real-world experiences. You've all made what felt like navigating a confusing government maze seem completely manageable!