Social Security 800 number not accepting any inputs - impossible to get through
I've been banging my head against the wall all day trying to reach someone at Social Security! I must have called the 800-772-1213 number at least 15 times today. The automated system picks up but then it completely ignores both my voice commands AND keypad inputs. It's like I'm talking to a brick wall! The system just keeps repeating the same prompts over and over without registering anything I say or press. I've tested my phone by calling my bank and my doctor's office - works perfectly fine for those calls. Is the SSA system down today? Is anyone else experiencing this? Does Social Security have any alternative contact methods like texting or chat? I really need to discuss my upcoming retirement application but I'm at my wit's end with this phone system!
16 comments
Join the conversation
Fatima Al-Rashid
same thing happened to me yesterday!!! tried calling like 20x and the robot voice just kept going in circles. thought my phone was broken lol. the whole SS phone system is garbage honestly
0 coins
Jamal Brown
•So frustrating! Did you eventually get through to anyone? I'm desperate to talk to a real person before my FRA next month.
0 coins
Giovanni Rossi
I had this issue last week. The trick is to call exactly at 8:00 AM Eastern when they first open. Also, instead of saying anything or pressing buttons, just stay silent for about 45 seconds. The system will eventually transfer you to a queue for a representative. Still took me 1.5 hours on hold, but at least I got through. And no, unfortunately SSA doesn't offer texting or chat options yet - they're still operating like it's 1995. You can try creating a my Social Security account online and send a secure message, but response times are running 7-10 business days according to the rep I spoke with.
0 coins
Jamal Brown
•Thank you! I'll try the silent treatment tomorrow morning. I do have a mySocialSecurity account but my issue is time-sensitive so waiting 7-10 days won't work. Really appreciate the tip!
0 coins
Aaliyah Jackson
•Actually, staying silent doesn't always work anymore. They updated their system last month and now it sometimes disconnects you if you don't respond. What's been working for me is pressing 0 repeatedly (like 5-6 times) as soon as the automated system starts talking. About 50% of the time it will interrupt with "I'll connect you with a representative" - the other 50% it just ignores the input completely. Also, avoid calling on Mondays and the first week of the month if possible - those are their highest volume days when everyone's calling about payments.
0 coins
KylieRose
the social security fone system is THE WORST!! i spent 3 hours trying to get thru last month when they messed up my disability payment. ended up having to take a bus to the local office and wait 4 MORE hours just to talk to someone for 10 minutes to fix the problem. government efficiency at its finest 🙄
0 coins
Miguel Hernández
After spending countless hours trying to reach SSA by phone for my disability review, I discovered a service called Claimyr that helped me get through. It basically holds your place in line with SSA and calls you back when a representative is available. Saved me hours of frustration. Their website is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works at https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU I was skeptical at first but it worked exactly as advertised and I was able to complete my SSDI review call without spending my entire day on hold. It's specifically designed for calling Social Security when their phone systems are being difficult.
0 coins
KylieRose
•does it actually WORK tho?? i've tried everything to get through to SSA and nothing helps
0 coins
Jamal Brown
•Thanks for suggesting this! I just watched the video demonstration and it looks exactly like what I need. I'll give it a try tomorrow if I can't get through with the other methods people suggested. At this point I'm willing to try anything to avoid another frustrating morning of failed calls.
0 coins
Sasha Ivanov
My sister works for SSA (not giving any identifying info) and she says their phone systems are ancient and constantly break down. When they have high call volume days, the voice recognition system often goes haywire. She recommends: 1) Call Tuesday-Thursday, never Monday or Friday 2) Call between 8-9am or 4-5pm 3) If you can't reach the national 800 number, try your local field office directly Sorry you're having such a tough time reaching them!
0 coins
Jamal Brown
•This insider info is gold! Thank you! I never thought to call my local office directly - I always assumed everything had to go through the main number. I'll try calling my local office tomorrow afternoon.
0 coins
Liam Murphy
•Just be careful calling local offices directly. I tried that last month and was told they're not supposed to handle certain issues over the phone anymore - something about their new "centralized service model." The receptionist told me I HAD to use the 800 number for anything related to retirement benefits. But maybe it varies by office or type of question? Worth a try I guess.
0 coins
Fatima Al-Rashid
my grandma just gave up on calling and went to the office in person. had to wait like 3 hrs but at least got her problem fixed. sometimes the old school way works better lol
0 coins
Jamal Brown
•I might end up doing this as a last resort! The nearest office is about 40 miles away, but at least I'd get to talk to a real person. Just hate the thought of potentially wasting a whole day if they can't help me.
0 coins
Giovanni Rossi
Coming back to update - I called SSA this morning and their system is definitely having technical issues. The representative (when I finally got through) told me they're experiencing nationwide problems with their phone system and are working to resolve it. She suggested trying again in 2-3 business days or using the online services at ssa.gov for anything that can be handled there. For retirement applications specifically, you can actually complete the entire process online without speaking to anyone. I did mine that way last year and it was surprisingly straightforward. Might be worth considering if you can't get through by phone.
0 coins
Jamal Brown
•Thank you for the update! This explains why I've been having so many problems. I've already started my application online, but have questions about how my pension from a non-covered employer will affect my benefits (WEP/GPO issues). I need to speak with someone who understands these calculations. Guess I'll try again later this week.
0 coins