Social Security Is Improving Our National 800 Number and Reducing Call Wait Times
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: November 18, 2024
Social Security launched a national 800 number in October 1988. Today, our agents answer more than 28 million phone calls a year. Our new telephone platform makes it even easier to connect with us.
Why use our 800 number?
For more than 35 years, our toll-free number has been an easy way to contact Social Security without the need to travel to a local office. Our national 800 number – 1-800-772-1213 – allows you to access information and services with just a phone call, saving you time and money. It is especially helpful if you live in a rural or remote area, have limited mobility or transportation issues, or juggle a busy schedule.
For many people, the fastest and most convenient way to conduct business with us is online at www.ssa.gov. If you cannot or prefer not to use our online services, our enhanced telephone system offers new features that allow us to better serve you – whether you’re calling to update your personal record, check on the status of an application or appeal, or request a replacement Social Security card.
Our improved Call Back Assist feature saves your place in line without you having to wait on hold to speak with a representative. That means you can go about your day until a representative returns your call.
Our 800 number offers services in English and Spanish and interpreters in more than 200 languages and dialects. Our free interpreter services ensure most callers can access information and services in the language they prefer.
We also continue to offer teletypewriter (TTY) services for people who are deaf, hard-of-hearing, or have difficulty using a traditional phone.
Wait times on our national 800 number are longer than we would like, mainly because of hiring and staffing challenges. We’re worked hard to reduce wait times and have cut the average wait nearly in half – from 24 to 13 minutes. We’re putting into place new technology and business practices so we can shorten wait times even more and improve the customer experience. By the end of fiscal year 2025, our goal is to answer our 800 number calls within an average of 12 minutes.
Reducing call wait times is one of Commissioner Martin O’Malley’s top priorities, and he’s committed to providing the public with prompt and reliable service. Our new phone platform is a major step forward. To learn more about our efforts, visit our 800 number performance webpage.
When can you call Social Security?
To speak with a Social Security representative, please call 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. The best times to call are early in the morning, later in the week, and later in the month when wait times tend to be shorter.
Our automated telephone services are available 24 hours a day and do not require you to wait to speak with a representative. You can request the status of a claim, a benefit verification letter, an SSA-1099 tax summary, and more. You can also listen to informational messages about a variety of topics.
Please let others know about improvements to our national 800 number and share on social media.
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Joe G.
3 hours and going on in Honolulu. 12/18/2024 10am to 1pm so far! Some other issues at Honolulu federal building (where social security is) NO DISABLED PARKING!!!!! No Walk-ins. Not sure what’s going on in Hawaii, but hard to believe a Federal Building violates ADA!
Anne L.
On hold for 2 hours and 30 minutes. I’m trying to track my application for medicare part B. This information is not on the website and this is my 3rd attempt to verify if I will be insured with part B. Would like not to have to buy interim insurance.
Cindy Y.
Currently on hold for 2 hours and 11 minutes. All we need to do is update a contact number for an elderly person on SSI (this cannot be done online per the SSA). The phone call will literally take 5 minutes. The SSA must have 10 people working the lines, if even. They threaten to cut off the meager funds the person needs to survive, if they do not respond to their letter in a timely manner. Yet they are impossible to reach! This includes the ONE physical location in a big city that provides this service.This whole experience has been so frustrating for me, I can’t imagine being 89 and left to navigate this on my own.
Mary B.
Me too!
Bev
IS THIS A JOKE OR WHAT! IS THIS THE SCAM, JUST PUT PEOPLE ON HOLD AND LEAVE THEM THERE KNOWING THAT THE PERSON CANNOT POSSIBLY WAIT AS LONG AS THEY ARE MADE TO. ABSOLUTELY DISGRACEFUL!!! IF THERE WAS A QUESTION TO DETERMINE MY ETHNICITY I CAN BE SURE “CERTAIN” PEOPLE WOULD GET MUCH QUICKER RESPONSES ON THE PHONE. SHAME ON YOU ALL!!!!!
Ken L.
Applied for Social Security and Part B Medicare on September 25. Absolutely no correspondence….. Have called local offices and spent countless hours on hold and then kicked off call….. I retire on December 31 and thought filing early would allow enough time for planing… Will I have benefits in place by January 1…???
Eric P.
Holding for 3 hours and 55 minutes. Hung up. When I started the call, I was informed of a 120 minute wait time. I practically waited double the amount.
Completely unacceptable.
This is exactly why we need a government accountability office to clean up redundant positions and provide better services to taxpayers.
Steve P.
On hold now for 2 hours and 17 minutes.
S.S.
Hi, Steve. Thank you for reading our blog. We’re sorry that you had difficulty reaching someone by phone. We ask for your patience during busy periods. If you are receiving Social Security Benefits, you can use our automated telephone services by calling 1-800-772-1213. The service is available 24/7.
You can submit feedback by visiting our How can we help? webpage. From there, select the “Email Us” link. This will take you to the “Email Our Support Team” form where you can submit a suggestion, complaint, or compliment. We hope this is resolved soon.
Martin
I was trying to help my friend today and he was waiting for 2 hours. I had to ask him to hang up because I needed my phone back.
He lost his wallet which had his I’d, SS card,etc in it, so he couldn’t provide a picture ID to complete online. In addition the local SS office won’t talk to him unless he first makes an appointment online but he can’t without calling the 1-800 number and asking for assistance.This is beyond ridiculous.
Shelly A.
3 hours 20 minutes and waiting
S.S.
Hi, Shelly. Thank you for reading our blog. We’re sorry that you had difficulty reaching someone by phone. We ask for your patience during busy periods. If you are receiving Social Security Benefits, you can use our automated telephone service by calling 1-800-772-1213. The service is available 24/7.
You can also submit feedback by visiting our How can we help? webpage. From there, select the “Email Us” link. This will take you to the “Email Our Support Team” form where you can submit a suggestion, complaint, or compliment. We hope this is resolved soon.
RIck W.
I’ve been on hold for 3 hours and 40 minutes. I don’t know what’s worse. Being on hold this long, or the obnoxious 30 second song loop that just repeats over and over and over and over and over and….
Mary
The government obviously does not care about its seniors, I have been on hold for 3 plus hrs! Completely unacceptable, we get penalized for being late and everything but politicians get insurance for life, come on. No fairness in this system!