Address, phone & hours
Your local SSA service center
The Scranton office functions as your local Social Security service center for a significant portion of Pennsylvania. As of December 2024, 12,400 people here receive SSDI, which accounts for 13% of the total beneficiary population. This SSDI share is higher than 72% of field offices nationwide. ZIP 18504 alone supports 880 SSDI recipients, and the office manages a total monthly payout of $169 million to the local community.
You can visit the Scranton office to file your initial SSDI application, drop off required medical documentation, or verify your identity for benefit updates. While you can often walk in for basic services, scheduling an appointment is recommended to minimize wait times. Please note that this office does not make final disability determinations, which are handled by the state, nor does it host hearings, which occur at a separate location.
Who this office serves
Beneficiaries in this service area receive an estimated $169,009k in Social Security benefits each month.
Before you visit
Bring a valid government-issued photo ID and a comprehensive work history to your appointment. You should also provide a list of all treating providers with their contact information, copies of your most recent medical records, and a current list of all medications. Expect your interview with a claims representative to last between 45 and 90 minutes. Having these documents organized beforehand helps the representative process your file more efficiently.
You may delay your claim by submitting incomplete work histories or failing to include recent medical records from all treating physicians. Forgetting to mention mental health conditions or secondary physical impairments can also result in an incomplete profile. Always read every form thoroughly before signing to ensure your information is accurate. Avoiding these errors at the start can prevent unnecessary processing delays.
Should you bring an attorney?
The initial application stage is a critical time to establish the evidence for your claim. You may find yourself facing a denial that could have been avoided with proper preparation. An attorney can help you understand your options and ensure your medical evidence is clearly presented. A free case review is a simple way to see if professional support fits your specific situation.
Approval rates change with a lawyer
Source: U.S. Government Accountability Office, GAO-18-37. The 3× gap is a population-wide average across all judges; individual outcomes vary.
If your SSDI claim moves to a hearing
About two-thirds of initial SSDI applications nationwide are denied. If yours is, your case moves to a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge. SSA routes appeals from the Scranton field office to the hearing office below, per SSA's published service areas. The Scranton field office holds your file at every appeal stage, but the substantive decisions happen further up the chain.
Frequently asked questions
While you can walk in for some services, scheduling an appointment at Scranton is recommended to ensure you are seen promptly. You can contact this office using the phone button below to confirm if your specific needs require an appointment.
Yes, you can file your initial SSDI application online through the official Social Security website. However, you may need to visit the Scranton office to verify your identity or submit specific physical documents that cannot be uploaded digitally.
You should bring a government-issued photo ID, your work history, a list of all your doctors and their addresses, and your recent medical records. Having these items ready when you arrive at Scranton helps the staff process your application more effectively.
An appointment at the Scranton office typically lasts between 45 and 90 minutes. The duration depends on the complexity of your application and the number of documents you need to submit or verify.
