Social Security hanging up during overseas spousal benefits application calls - is there a work stoppage?

I went through this exact nightmare last year trying to file for survivor benefits from Germany. The international SSA phone system is completely broken. What worked for me was calling at exactly 7:00am Eastern US time when they first open - that's when they have the most available agents. If you call later in the day, you'll almost never get through. Also, make sure you're calling the correct number for international applicants: +1-410-965-8423. Don't use the regular domestic numbers as they'll just transfer you and you'll lose your place in line. For your appointment no-show, that's unfortunately common. Their scheduling system doesn't seem to properly account for international appointments, especially with time zone differences. You need to be persistent and document everything - dates, times, confirmation numbers of scheduled appointments.

i had same thing happen last month but im in the US!!! waited on hold for FOUR HOURS and then it just disconnected!!! this isnt just overseas its everywhere the SSA is total disaster right now. my neighbor said its because they had budget cuts and fired a bunch of people. good luck getting anyone on the phone its almost impossible these days

I understand your frustration completely. The SSA has been experiencing significant staffing shortages since 2021, and it's been getting worse, not better. For overseas applicants, you're dealing with an even more specialized unit that's particularly understaffed. A few important points about spousal benefits from overseas: 1. While you do need to apply by phone as an overseas resident, you can start the process online by creating a my Social Security account and using the contact form to request an appointment. This creates a record in their system. 2. Make sure you have all your documentation ready: proof of marriage, your passport information, your FRA date confirmation, and your husband's Social Security number and benefit information. 3. For overseas applications, you'll need to complete the SSA-21 form (Supplement to Claim of Person Outside the United States). 4. If you continue to have problems reaching someone, contact the Federal Benefits Unit at the nearest US Embassy. They can sometimes help facilitate the connection. The good news is that once you do get through, your benefits can be paid retroactively to when you reached your FRA if that was within the last 6 months.

I had similar problems trying to apply for my retirement from Thailand last year. After weeks of frustration, I discovered Claimyr (claimyr.com) and it literally saved me months of headaches. They have a service that connects you with a Social Security representative much faster than trying on your own. I was skeptical at first, but they got me through to someone in less than 30 minutes when I had been trying for weeks. They have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU Once I actually spoke with a representative, the application process for overseas benefits was straightforward. The problem is just reaching someone in the first place. Good luck!

My husband and I had to deal with SSA from Ecuador last summer. Total nightmare!!! The appointment system is completely broken. We had 3 scheduled calls and they only actually called for 1 of them. Did you confirm your phone number includes the international code correctly? Sometimes they can't connect because the appointment system doesn't properly format international numbers. Also they're VERY strict about the time - if you don't answer in like 3 rings, they just move on and mark you as a no-show on YOUR end, not theirs! So unfair!

The Social Security Administration has been experiencing unprecedented call volumes since the pandemic, and staffing has not kept pace. While this doesn't excuse the poor service you're experiencing, it does explain it. For overseas spousal benefits applications specifically, here's what you need to know: 1. The SSA prioritizes calls based on urgency, and unfortunately, spousal benefit applications are considered lower priority than certain other issues like missing payments or Medicare enrollment deadlines. 2. The international offices follow a quarterly workload management system, and we're currently in what's traditionally their highest volume quarter (January-March tax season related issues). 3. Make sure you're properly calculating your spousal benefit amount. If your husband filed at his FRA and you're filing at your FRA, you're entitled to 50% of his PIA (Primary Insurance Amount). However, if you've worked in the US and have your own work record, you'll receive the higher of either your own benefit or the spousal benefit, not both. 4. When you do connect, immediately request that they document the previous missed appointments in your record. This can help if you later need to request retroactive payments beyond the standard 6-month retroactivity window. Persistence is unfortunately the only strategy that works consistently.

Thank you all for the advice and commiseration! I tried the Claimyr service that was suggested and actually got through to someone at SSA this morning! The representative confirmed they had my previous appointments in their system but showed them as "incomplete" rather than missed - whatever that means. I've now officially submitted my spousal benefits application over the phone. They're going to mail me some forms to sign and return, but at least the process is started. The agent said it could take up to 90 days to process due to the international component, but at least I'm in the system now. For anyone else applying from overseas - persistence is definitely key, and getting help to navigate their phone system made all the difference for me.

My cousin works for SS in the baltimore office and says theyre having major computer issues with the international scheduling system!!! She told me its been broken for months and they keep trying to fix it but it just gets worse!! So its not just you its happening to literally everyone trying to apply from another country right now!!

One more tip since you mentioned you're past your FRA - make absolutely sure you specifically request retroactive benefits back to your FRA date or when you became eligible (whichever is more recent). This doesn't happen automatically with international applications! I almost missed out on 4 months of payments because the representative didn't process this correctly. Also, be prepared for potential issues with international direct deposit. The SSA can deposit to banks in many countries, but sometimes the process requires additional paperwork. If Portugal isn't on their direct deposit program list, you might need to either open a US bank account or receive paper checks.

Congratulations on finally getting through! This gives me hope as someone who's been struggling with the same issue from Canada. I've been trying to apply for my own retirement benefits for 3 months now with zero success reaching anyone. For others still struggling - I wanted to add that the US Embassy in Ottawa told me they're seeing a huge uptick in these complaints. They said if you've had multiple failed appointments, you can file a complaint through the SSA's Office of the Inspector General online. It won't speed up your individual case, but apparently they're tracking these issues to try to get the international system fixed. Also, if you have a US address where family can receive mail, some people have had luck having their relatives call on their behalf to get appointments scheduled. The domestic phone lines seem to work much better than the international ones. Ruby, please keep us updated on how the rest of your process goes - especially the timeline for actually receiving benefits. It's so helpful to hear success stories in the middle of this nightmare!

I'm so glad you finally got through, Ruby! Your experience mirrors what so many of us overseas are dealing with. I've been trying to apply for my own retirement benefits from Japan for 6 weeks now with zero success. One thing I learned from speaking with the Federal Benefits Unit at the Tokyo embassy is that they're now recommending people document EVERYTHING - dates, times, confirmation numbers, even the weather when you called (half joking on that last part, but seriously document everything). They said it's becoming essential for filing complaints later if needed. Also, for anyone still struggling, I found that calling on Tuesdays and Wednesdays seems to have slightly better success rates than Mondays or Fridays. The embassy contact here mentioned that Mondays are swamped with weekend backlog and Fridays have reduced staffing. Ruby, please do keep us posted on your processing timeline! It's so encouraging to hear someone actually made it through the system. Fingers crossed the rest goes smoothly for you.

As someone who just went through a similar ordeal applying for disability benefits while living in the UK, I can't emphasize enough how broken the international SSA system is right now. I had to make over 20 attempts to get through, and like many others here, had multiple "ghost appointments" where nobody called. What finally worked for me was a combination of several strategies mentioned here: calling right at 7am Eastern time, using the Claimyr service (which is legit and worth every penny), and having my sister in Florida also try calling on my behalf. The domestic lines really do seem to work better. One additional tip I haven't seen mentioned - if you're having trouble with the online my Social Security account due to foreign address formatting issues, try using a US address temporarily just to create the account and submit the initial contact request. You can update the address once you're actually speaking with someone. The important thing is getting into their system somehow. Ruby, congratulations on finally getting through! Your persistence paid off. For everyone else still struggling, don't give up. The system is absolutely terrible right now, but people are getting through eventually. Document everything, try multiple approaches, and be prepared to spend way more time on this than should be necessary.

This whole thread has been incredibly eye-opening about the state of SSA's international services. I'm a US citizen living in Australia and have been putting off applying for my retirement benefits because I keep hearing horror stories like these. Reading through everyone's experiences, it's clear this isn't just isolated incidents - there's a systematic breakdown in how SSA handles overseas applications. What really frustrates me is that we're not asking for special treatment here. We paid into the system our entire working lives just like domestic applicants, but we're getting drastically inferior service just because we live abroad. The fact that people have to pay third-party services like Claimyr just to reach their own government agency is absurd. Ruby, I'm so glad you finally got through and that your application is progressing! Your persistence is inspiring. For everyone else still fighting this battle - the strategies shared here seem to be the best available workarounds until SSA fixes their broken system. The early morning calling time, using the correct international numbers, and documenting everything seem to be the common threads among the success stories. Has anyone tried reaching out to their congressional representatives about these issues? I know we can't vote from overseas, but we're still constituents, and this seems like the kind of systematic failure that might warrant congressional oversight.