Social Security office replacing lost checks

If you missed your Social Security check last week, you’re not alone.

Officials with the Amarillo Social Security office say possibly as many as 500 people in the southeastern Panhandle area did not receive their checks on time.

“At this point we don’t really know what has happened,” said SS District Manager Ruth Wilson. “It does happen occasionally that a mail bag gets lost or a plane carrying the mail crashes.”

Wilson said she first learned of the problem Monday when a postmaster called her about the situation, which seems to be concentrated in area towns with the Zip code prefix 792. The postmaster told her it was the first time in 15 years the checks had not arrived on time. Wilson said it had never happened in an office where she was working.

“We have reported this, and things are in motion to find the missing checks,” Wilson said.

The primary towns affected were Clarendon and Memphis as well as other towns like Hedley, Silverton, Turkey, and Crowell.

A Social Security representative traveled to Clarendon and Memphis Wednesday morning to issue checks to those in the direst need of the money. Wilson said her office was also sending information to radio stations, banks, postmasters, and local housing authorities to let people know how to receive their money.

“We try to encourage people to use direct deposit to alleviate the possibility of this ever happening.”

Wilson said that people in smaller towns seem to tend not to use direct deposit, and people who do not have bank accounts must rely on the checks coming in the mail.

Anyone who missed their check can call the Amarillo office at 806/324-2241. Alternate phone numbers can be found on the Clarendon Enterprse website at www.ClarendonOnline.com. A check will be reissued and will take about 10 days to arrive.

People who need their checks immediately can go to the Amarillo office, and a check will be cut while they wait.

The Social Security office is located one block off the Canyon Expressway at 3501 W 45th St, Suite E. and is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.