Social Security phone appointment nightmare - waited 2+ hours and still no answers

I went through the same thing last month! The secret is to call your local office right when they open at 9am. I got through in about 20 minutes that way. Also, if you're asking about WEP (Windfall Elimination Provision) or GPO (Government Pension Offset), make sure you specifically mention those terms when you get someone on the phone - not all reps are familiar with those calculations.

The phone system is definitely challenging, but there's actually a specific way to request a scheduled callback appointment. When you call the national number (1-800-772-1213), press 1 for English (or 2 for Spanish), then press 7 for other questions, then 5 to speak with a representative. Once connected, immediately ask for a "scheduled appointment" rather than trying to get your questions answered on that call. Be very specific that you need a future scheduled appointment with a claims specialist who can review your WEP situation. They typically schedule these 2-4 weeks out but at least you'll get a specific time slot rather than waiting on hold indefinitely.

I had the same issue with the endless hold times and gave up after multiple attempts. Then I discovered Claimyr (claimyr.com) which got me through to an SSA agent in under 20 minutes. I was skeptical at first but it worked perfectly for my retirement benefits questions. There's a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU - they basically navigate the phone tree for you and call you when an agent is on the line. Saved me hours of frustration, especially when I had specific WEP questions like yours that required talking to someone knowledgeable.

If ur only wanting quick answers u can try the online chat at ssa.gov!!! I used it last week to ask about my moms survivors benefits and it was WAY faster than calling. But idk if they can help with complicated pension stuff like urs tho 🤔

This is exactly why I ended up just going into my local office. The phone system is absolutely terrible. I spent three separate days trying to get through by phone before giving up and making an in-person appointment. The good news is that the in-person experience was much better - I only waited about 30 minutes past my appointment time and the claims specialist was very knowledgeable about WEP calculations. Your local office might have specific "pension expert" days when someone who specializes in WEP/GPO situations is available. Might be worth asking about that, especially since your situation involves past government employment that didn't pay into Social Security.

OMG the SS phone system is THE WORST!!! i spent 3 HOURS on hold last month and then got disconnected right when someone picked up!! i was so mad i could've screamed. ended up having to take a day off work to go in person. this is why ppl hate dealing with government agencies!!

UPDATE: 1/17 I called the local office right at 9am like someone suggested and was on hold less than 15 minutes! I spoke with the agent for about 5 minutes and got answers to all three of my questions. And I'm really glad I called - my calculations about how the WEP would affect my benefit were off by almost $300/month. Now I have the correct numbers and can make a more informed decision about when to file. Thank you all for the helpful suggestions!