Social Security callback system left me hanging - will they call tomorrow?

Yes, they should call you tomorrow. When their callback queue gets too full or they can't get to everyone by closing time, they roll those callbacks to the next business day. But here's the thing - they'll only try ONCE. If you miss it, you'll have to start the process over. Try to have someone else answer your phone if possible during your procedure. They'll need your SSN to verify, so make sure it's someone you trust.

they never called me back when i used that system last month. waste of time tbh

The callback system is actually pretty reliable in my experience, but they do get overwhelmed sometimes. Since tomorrow is a weekday, they should call. Make sure your voicemail is set up properly just in case! One tip: if you're dealing with retirement benefits questions or application status, you can sometimes check the status online through your my Social Security account without needing to call. Might save you some stress if that applies to your situation.

I had the EXACT same thing happen!!! They said 2 hour callback, nothing for 5 hours, then nothing the next day either!!! The whole system is BROKEN. I ended up having to call TWENTY SEVEN times over 3 weeks to finally get someone. Social Security is deliberately making it impossible to talk to a human being and it's INFURIATING!!!!!

soemtimes they call next day sometimes they dont. system is a joke lol. try calling right when they open at 8am might work better.

I've been through this exact scenario multiple times dealing with my mother's survivor benefits after my father passed. Here's what I've learned about the SSA callback system: 1. They DO roll callbacks to the next day, but only if they're officially logged in their system before close of business. 2. Their system prioritizes callbacks in the order received, but they sometimes reset the queue if there's a technical issue (happened to me twice). 3. If you miss their callback, you generally have to start over, but there's a little-known option: If you call back immediately after missing their call and explain to the agent that you just missed a callback, some supervisors can reinstate you in the queue without starting over. Ask specifically for a "priority callback rescheduling" - that's their internal term. 4. Medical appointments are considered a valid reason for missing a callback, but you need to document the appointment. Based on my experience helping my mother navigate widow's benefits and Medicare coordination, I'd recommend having someone trustworthy answer your phone with your permission during your procedure. Make sure they have your full name, SSN (or last 4 digits), date of birth, and current address to verify your identity. The SSA agent can note in your file that you've authorized this person for this specific call.

why dont u just go to local office? thats what i did finally

Good news - I just checked the SSA website and found this official information: "If we cannot reach you when we call, we will leave a voicemail when possible. We will only make one attempt to return your call." So they should definitely try tomorrow, and they'll leave a voicemail if you can't answer. Also, if your issue is urgent (like missing benefit payments affecting your ability to pay for necessities), mention that immediately when they call, as they have special procedures for urgent cases.

After trying for weeks to reach SSA about my retirement application status, I finally tried using Claimyr (claimyr.com). It worked exactly as promised - got me a callback from SSA within hours without having to spend days redialing. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU showing how it works. Definitely worth it to avoid the frustration you're experiencing, especially with your medical procedure tomorrow potentially making you miss their call.

UPDATE: They actually called me back this morning! I was able to answer and got my issue resolved. For anyone dealing with similar callback problems, they did tell me their system automatically rolls over callbacks they can't complete before closing time to the next business day. The representative said they've been extremely understaffed which is why the callback times are often longer than the estimate. Thanks everyone for your help!