How Do I Speak to Someone at the Local Social Security Office?

Avoid 1-800-772-1213 for a start.

The best answer to, “How do I speak to a person at the Social Security Administration (SSA) and get an update on the status of your Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Claim” is to reach out to your lawyers’ office.  We’re available Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. to answer your questions. 

As your attorney and appointed representative, we will either have online ERE (Electronics Records Express) access to your full disability file or will have running notes on all correspondence and mailings from your Disability Determination Services (DDS) case worker or local field office.

If you need to reach out to your field office, our advice is to avoid calling the national number at 1-800-772-1213 and to instead, call your local office directly.

You can search for your local Social Security Field Office by zip code at: https://secure.ssa.gov/ICON/main.jsp

Or – see below for SSA offices in our area.  Tip:  When faxing information to SSA, be sure to include a cover page with your name, date of birth, social security number, call back number, and page count.

Winston Salem Social Security Field Office

1370 Lockland Ave
Winston-Salem, NC 27103
Office: 1-877-402-0828
Fax: 1-833-950-2544

Mount Airy Social Security Field Office

1187 Andy Griffith Parkway
Mount Airy, NC 27030
Office: 1-866-587-4418
Fax: 1-933-950-3129

Salisbury Social Security Field Office (Serving Lexington)

1840 Jake Alexander Blvd W
Salisbury, NC 28147
Office: 1-877-405-3157
Fax: 1-833-950-2538

Greensboro Social Security Field Office

6005 Landmark Center Blvd
Greensboro, NC 27407
Office: 1-877-319-3075
Fax: 1-833-950-2546

Step-by-step instructions for calling North Carolina SSA Field Offices

1. When calling any of the North Carolina SSA field offices, you’ll first hear an introductory message thanking you for calling.  This will be followed by a short public service style address.  As of this writing, the message instructs that local field offices are closed to the public due to the Coronavirus pandemic and callers are instructed to either wait on the line or seek out help at the official agency website SSA.GOV.  Callers are further instructed that information on Coronavirus stimulus payments can be found at IRS.gov/coronavirus.  In the past, this message has contained information on reporting fraudulent callers purporting to be from SSA.
2. The automated message will then instruct that if you wish to use automated services, Press 1. To continue with your call, press 2 (you should press 2). 
3. The message will instruct that “to assure accurate and courteous service, all calls are recorded, and you are given the following options.
   1. -For field office hours and directions – press 4
   2. -if you know your party’s extension – press 5
   3. -for the next available agent – press 0
      Your best option is to press 0 and wait for the next available field agent.  This wait can often take 10-15 minutes.  If you are disconnected during the wait, you will have to start over.
4. When a field agent answers – be prepared to provide information verifying your identity.  This may include your name, date of birth, social security number, current mailing address, mother’s maiden name, city and state of birth and possibly your father’s name.
   Not all field agents are trained to handle disability claims. If the agent with whom you speak is not helpful you should start by asking for the caseworker who is directly handling your claim.  It’s best to ask for and write down their extension so you’ll have a direct line should you need to call back.  Rarely will you reach this person on the first try.  You will likely have to leave a voicemail and should wait 24-48 hours for a call back.  If your call is not returned, repeat this process.
5. If you are unable to reach your caseworker and do not receive a return call you should begin by calling the field office and this time, ask to speak to the department manager for your particular caseworker.  You will likely again have to leave a message and wait for a call back.  If your call is not returned, again, repeat this process.

Please be wary of the information you receive.  Often times unless you speak to your caseworker, you may be given misinformation or partial information to get you off the phone.  This isn’t always intentional, but it happens.

While we encourage clients to call SSA if they desire, our office is generally the best place to start. Many people engage a qualified disability lawyer to help them communicate with the SSA more efficiently. We’d be happy to discuss your claim in further detail with you.