Social Security office ready to help in spite of tropical storm

Published 4:00 am Friday, September 1, 2017

Many Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefit payments are scheduled for today. 

Hurricane Harvey’s impact on the Gulf Coast resulted in the temporary suspension of mail delivery service, as well as the closure of some postal facilities.

The U.S. Postal Service is providing additional information on how customers displaced by Hurricane Harvey can retrieve checks they receive via the mail.

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Provided here about.usps.com/news/state-releases/tx/tx.htm is a list of Post Office locations, by ZIP Code, where checks will be made available for pick-up beginning today.  People must have proper identification to receive their check.

Nearly all payments issued by direct deposit will arrive as scheduled.  If a person’s payment is delayed, they should contact their financial institution. If the financial institution is not operating, please see the “emergency payment” information below.

For recipients in the affected areas who receive their payment through a Direct Express card, fees will be waived, even if they have evacuated out of the area. Payments will be posted to Direct Express cards today.

People may contact Direct Express at 1-888-741-1115.

Social Security has established three emergency payment locations in Texas where Social Security and SSI beneficiaries may request an immediate payment in person if they cannot receive their regular payment. 

For people who cannot receive their regularly scheduled Social Security payment as a result of Hurricane Harvey, in most cases they can go to any open Social Security office and request an immediate payment. A list of offices that are currently closed, as well as additional information for the public, is available at www.socialsecurity.gov/emergency.

To find the nearest open Social Security office outside of the affected areas, call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) or go to www.socialsecurity.gov/locator. 

Area Social Security locations and hours:

Houston: NRG Center

2 NRG Park, Houston, TX 77054

From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday and Saturday

Dallas: Kay Bailey Hutchison Dallas Convention Center

650 S. Griffin St., Dallas, TX 75202

From 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday

Austin: Tony Burger Center

3200 Jones Road, Austin, TX 78745

From 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Friday and Saturday