The administrator of the Social Security Administration said Tuesday that Social Security and Supplemental Security Income benefit payments will continue to be paid on time during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The agency also said that everyone should be aware of potential scammers who try to take advantage of the pandemic to trick people into providing personal information or payment via retail gift cards, wire transfers, internet currency or by mailing cash to maintain Social Security benefit payments or receive economic impact payments from the Department of the Treasury.
"Social Security will pay monthly benefits on time and these payments will not be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic," Commissioner Andrew Saul said. "I want our beneficiaries to be aware that scammers may try to trick you into thinking the pandemic is stopping or somehow changing your Social Security payments, but that is not true. Don't be fooled."
The Department of the Treasury will soon be providing information about economic impact payments under the recently enacted law. Treasury, not Social Security, will be making direct payments to eligible people.
Social Security local offices are closed to the public but are available by phone. Click here to find a local office phone number.
The agency is temporarily changing the national 800 number hours from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time to 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. local time. Social Security is experiencing longer than normal wait times and asks the public to remain patient, call their local office or use its online services.
