Hours Cut at Social Security Offices

Starting Aug. 15, all Southeast Michigan U.S. Social Security offices — Detroit, Ann Arbor, Chesterfield, Dearborn, Fort Gratiot, Hamtramck, Highland Park, Inkster, Livonia, Monroe, Roseville, Royal Oak, Sterling Heights, Pontiac, Royal Oak, Farmington Hills and Wyandotte will reduce hours of operation by 30 minutes.

The new office hourse: 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

In a statement announcing the new schedule, the agency indicated employees will continue to work regular hours, but that the shorter public window for meeting with the public would eliminate overtime costs.

"Congress provided Social Security with nearly $1 billion less than the President requested for the budget this fiscal year, which makes it impossible for the agency to provide the amount of overtime needed to handle service to the public as we have in the past," the statement from the agency read.

The statement did include tips, including that most Social Security business can be conducted by phone or online.

Applying for benefits signing up for direct deposit, replacing a Medicare care, changing an address or phone number, obtaining a proof-of-income letter can be done online at www.socialsecurity.gov or by calling, toll-free, 1-800-772-1213.  People who are deaf or
hard of hearing should call the TTY line, 1-800-325-0778.