Wednesdays to Return to Full Public Service Hours; Agency to Hire 1,100 Direct Service Employees

Starting on January 8, 2020, Social Security offices nationwide will be open to the public on Wednesday afternoons, Andrew Saul, Commissioner of Social Security, announced.   This change restores Wednesday public service hours that were last in place in late 2012.  “I don’t want someone to come to our office at 2:30 on a Wednesday only to find our doors closed,” Commissioner Saul said.

In another move to improve service to the public, Commissioner Saul announced in his Open Letter to the Public at www.ssa.gov/agency/coss-message.html that the agency is hiring 1,100 front line employees to provide service on the agency’s National 800 Number and in its processing centers.  The agency is currently bringing onboard 100 new processing center employees and approximately 500 new teleservice representatives for the 800 Number.  An additional 500 hires for the 800 Number will occur later in 2020.

“Improving service is my top priority.  Increasing full public service hours at our nationwide network of more than 1,200 field offices is the right thing to do and will  provide additional access,” Commissioner Saul said.  “The hiring of a thousand new employees to provide service through our National 800 Number and an additional 100 hires to process people’s Social Security benefits at our processing centers around the country are steps in the right direction in our mission to greatly improve the service we provide.”

Currently, a field office is generally open to the public from 9:00 a.m. to Noon on Wednesdays.  Beginning on January 8, 2020, offices will remain open until 4:00 p.m. on Wednesdays, with typical field office hours from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.