There are 124 Social Security field offices in California, including locations in Los Angeles, Fresno, Sacramento. Below you’ll find the address, phone number, and current weekday hours for every one. But before you drive to any of them — a piece of advice I give in nearly every video: most of what people go to a Social Security office for can now be done online or by phone in less time than the trip takes. Here’s how to figure out whether you actually need to go in, and what to bring if you do.

Do you even need to visit the office?

A large share of in-person visits are for things you can handle without leaving the house. Before you go, check whether your task is on this list:

• Do online at ssa.gov (no appointment): check your benefit estimate, request a replacement Social Security or Medicare card in most states, change your address or direct deposit, get a benefit-verification letter, apply for retirement or Medicare, and check application status.
• Do by phone (1-800-772-1213): most questions about an existing claim, reporting a death, and appointment scheduling.
• Genuinely worth an in-person trip: original-document identity issues, complex survivor or disability situations, and anything where prior phone/online attempts stalled.

If you do need to go, call ahead and book an appointment. Walk-ins are served, but appointment-holders go first and wait times for walk-ins can run long.

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All 124 Social Security offices in California

Hours can change and holidays close every office — always call the specific location before visiting.

What to bring to your appointment

Bring more than you think you need — a wasted trip is worse than an overstuffed folder:

• Government photo ID (driver’s license, state ID, or passport).
• Your Social Security card or a document showing the number.
• Original documents, not photocopies, for anything you’re proving (birth certificate, marriage certificate, citizenship/immigration papers).
• If it’s a benefits matter: your most recent tax return and, for direct deposit, a voided check or your bank’s routing and account numbers.

One warning before you go: the office will never call you first

The Social Security Administration will not call, text, or email you demanding payment, threatening to suspend your number, or asking you to confirm your Social Security number to “reactivate” benefits. Those are scams, and they target this age group specifically. Real SSA business is handled through the office, the official 1-800 line, or your ssa.gov account — never through a gift card, wire transfer, or a caller who creates urgency. If someone contacts you claiming otherwise, hang up and call the office directly using the number listed above.

Frequently asked questions

How many Social Security offices are there in California?

There are 124 Social Security field offices in California. Addresses, phone numbers, and hours for each are listed above.

What are Social Security office hours?

Most field offices are open weekday mornings and close mid-afternoon, and are closed on weekends and federal holidays. Hours vary by location — check the specific office above, and call ahead, as hours can change.

Do I need an appointment?

Appointments are strongly recommended. Walk-ins are served, but appointment-holders are seen first and walk-in waits can be long. Call the office or 1-800-772-1213 to schedule.

Can I avoid the office entirely?

Often, yes. Replacement cards, address and direct-deposit changes, benefit letters, and retirement or Medicare applications can usually be done online at ssa.gov or by phone.