Social Security appointment policy confusion - told no in-person meetings available

they told me the same thing last month! i wanted to apply for my retirement and they said phone only. my neighbor went in person though last week?? so confusing

SSA offices ARE open for in-person services, but many local offices are prioritizing appointments for certain services only. They're trying to handle more routine matters by phone when possible. However, complex situations like yours involving foreign work credits should qualify for an in-person appointment. I'd recommend calling back and specifically mentioning that your case involves international work history that needs to be reviewed in person. Ask to speak with a supervisor if the representative still says no in-person appointments are available. The policy varies by office and current staffing levels, but they absolutely do still offer in-person appointments for situations that warrant it.

THEY DO THIS ON PURPOSE to reduce foot traffic in offices!!! I had the SAME ISSUE trying to fix my husband's Medicare Part B enrollment. Called 5 times and kept getting told "phone appointment only" which is RIDICULOUS when you have complex paperwork. Finally I demanded to speak to a manager and magically an in-person slot opened up. The system is DESIGNED to frustrate people into giving up. DON'T TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER!!

The current policy (as of 2025) is that SSA offices do offer in-person appointments, but they're triaging cases based on complexity and need. For retirement applications with international components, you should definitely qualify for an in-person appointment. When you call back, specifically mention: 1. You have foreign work credits that need to be evaluated 2. There are complexities related to a previous marriage affecting benefits 3. You need to see forms and calculations in person to understand your options Those factors should help you get an in-person appointment. If not, request to speak with the technical expert or operations supervisor.

i went 2 weeks ago walked right in no appointment needed waited like 3 hrs tho

I struggled with the same issue trying to file for survivor benefits after my wife passed. Called 18 times over 3 weeks and couldn't get through or schedule an appointment. After trying everything, I discovered a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me actually reach a live person at SSA without the endless busy signals and waiting. Got through in minutes and was able to explain why I needed an in-person appointment rather than phone. They set one up for the following week! Check out their demo video if you're curious how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU - saved me so much frustration.

my mom just went through this last month! she kept insisting and eventually got an in-person appointment. said the key was mentioning her 'complex case requiring document review' and that she had hearing problems making phone appointments difficult. maybe try those angles?

I wanted to follow up with some additional information. SSA's current appointment policy actually varies by field office and depends on their staffing levels and local COVID protocols. Even within the same state, one office might be fully open for walk-ins while another is severely limiting in-person appointments. Your best approach is to: 1. Call the national number (1-800-772-1213) rather than your local office 2. Explain that you need an in-person appointment specifically for international work credits 3. If denied, ask which nearby offices might have more in-person availability Some people have better luck with offices in smaller towns rather than major metropolitan areas, if that's an option for you.

did u try just showing up? sometimes thats easier then the phone runaround

UPDATE: I called back this morning and specifically mentioned my international work history and previous marriage complicating my application. The second representative was much more helpful and said that while they're limiting in-person appointments, my situation does qualify. I have an appointment scheduled for next Thursday! Thanks everyone for your advice - especially the tip to specifically mention the complexity of my case rather than just asking for an in-person appointment generally.