Find An Answer to Your Question

Social Security may call if some questions on the application were not answered or if we cannot read the answer.  We may also call to resolve discrepancies between answers on the application and information we receive from other Federal agencies about the applicant's income or resources.

When a Social Security employee calls for more information, he or she shouldn't ask you for bank account numbers, credit card numbers or life insurance policy numbers.  In most cases, a Social Security employee will not ask for a Social Security Number.  The only time we will do so is if the number on the application is invalid and we need to know the correct number.  

A very small number of cases are selected for quality review, and may require a phone call. In the rare instance of a quality review, Social Security may ask beneficiaries or their representatives for some information about bank accounts or life insurance policies. Before calling you, Social Security will send you an official letter to arrange a telephone interview. You will be asked to confirm the date of your telephone interview by returning an acknowledgement form to Social Security. We include the toll-free number of the SSA employee on the letters we send. We also include the national toll-free number so you can find out if the individual is an SSA employee.

If Social Security calls you, our employees will always identify themselves as Social Security employees and will indicate the purpose of their call. If you receive a call from someone claiming to be a Social Security employee and you are at all suspicious, ask the caller for his or her name, work location, and telephone number. To confirm that the call is legitimate, hang up and call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213.