Social Security phone system hanging up after pressing 8 - need help reaching an agent

Same thing happened to me last month! It's beyond frustrating how hard they make it to talk to an actual human. I finally got through using a service called Claimyr. It basically holds your place in line and calls you back when an agent is available. Saved me hours of frustration. Their website is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU. I was skeptical at first but it actually worked - got a call back in about an hour and finally got my questions answered.

Try calling EXACTLY at 9:00am when they open!!! That's what FINALLY worked for me after like 2 weeks of trying. If u call even 15 mins later ur basically screwed lol. The whole system is a JOKE!!

The SSA phone system is experiencing unprecedented call volumes right now. Here are some alternatives: 1. Try scheduling an appointment online through my Social Security account at ssa.gov/myaccount 2. Call your local field office directly instead of the national 800 number. You can find your local office here: secure.ssa.gov/ICON/main.jsp 3. Call during off-peak hours: Wednesday-Friday afternoons tend to have lower call volumes. 4. If your questions are about retirement benefits specifically, make sure you're calling the correct department. Different benefit types have different contact protocols. Also, the "press 8" disconnect issue often happens when all available agents are occupied and the queue is full. The system needs improvement, but this is unfortunately common.

my sisters husband works for SSA and she says they are WAY understaffed right now. he said theyre getting like 3x normal calls since the COLA announcement and something about processing backlog from covid still.

I had the exact same problem last year when trying to sort out some questions about my disability application. The phone system is absolutely broken. What finally worked for me was going to my local Social Security office in person, even though I was trying to avoid that. I had to wait about 2 hours, but at least I got my questions answered. If your questions are related to retirement benefits, make sure you're gathering all the information about your work history, expected retirement age, and potential filing strategies before you do reach someone. The FRA (full retirement age) rules can be confusing depending on your birth year, and understanding the difference between filing at 62 versus waiting until 70 can mean a huge difference in monthly benefits. Hope you get through soon!

I HATE the social security phone system!!! been dealing with them for 2 years about my disability and still can't get straight answers. i think they disconnect on purpose to keep people from getting benefits they deserve!!! the whole system is rigged against us!

I understand your frustration with the SSA phone system. Regarding your survivor benefits questions, this is actually a complex area where speaking with an SSA representative is important. Since your questions relate to survivor benefits, you'll want to mention that specifically when you do connect with someone. Survivor benefit decisions can have long-term financial implications, especially regarding whether to take reduced survivor benefits early and switch to your own retirement later, or vice versa. One approach that has worked for many people is calling your local office directly rather than the national line. Local offices often have separate phone numbers that might be less congested. You can find your local office contact information here: secure.ssa.gov/ICON/main.jsp Also, for survivor benefits specifically, gathering these documents beforehand will help when you do connect with someone: - Your spouse's death certificate - Your marriage certificate - Both your and your deceased spouse's Social Security numbers - Most recent tax returns Good luck with your call!

I wanted to update everyone - I finally got through! I followed several of your suggestions. I tried calling right at 9:00 AM as suggested, but still got disconnected after pressing 8. Then I called my local office directly using the ICON locator someone linked. I still had to wait on hold for about 30 minutes, but I finally spoke to a representative who was actually very helpful! For anyone dealing with similar issues, definitely try your local office instead of the main number. And have all your questions written down before calling - the agent helped me understand my survivor benefit options and the best timing based on my situation. Thanks to everyone who offered advice! This forum has been so helpful.

This is such a common frustration! I work as a benefits counselor and hear about these phone system issues daily. A few additional tips that might help others still struggling: 1. If you're calling the national number (1-800-772-1213), try pressing 0 multiple times instead of following the menu prompts - sometimes this bypasses the automated system. 2. For survivor benefits specifically, you can also visit any SSA office without an appointment, though wait times vary. They legally cannot turn you away for survivor benefit questions. 3. Consider contacting your Congressional representative's office if you continue having issues. They have direct lines to SSA and can help expedite complex cases. The survivor benefit timing decision is crucial - you generally want to maximize the higher of the two benefits (yours vs. your spouse's) for your later years. Glad to see you got the help you needed, Ava!

As someone who went through this exact same frustration when trying to get information about my father's benefits after he passed, I completely understand how maddening the phone system can be. What finally worked for me was a combination of persistence and timing. I found that Tuesday and Wednesday mornings around 10:30 AM (after the initial 9 AM rush) had better success rates. Also, when you do get through the automated system, don't press 8 right away - listen to the entire menu first, then select the option that most closely matches your specific situation (in your case, survivor benefits would likely be option 3 or 4 depending on the menu). One thing that made a huge difference was having my questions written out very clearly beforehand. SSA representatives are often rushed, so being prepared helped maximize the conversation. For survivor benefits, the key questions usually revolve around timing strategies and how your own work record compares to your spouse's. The local office suggestion that worked for you is spot-on advice for others reading this. The national number gets overwhelmed, but local offices often have more flexibility to help with complex situations like survivor benefit planning.

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this frustrating situation! I had a similar experience last year when trying to get information about my retirement benefits. What finally worked for me was calling the SSA customer service line early in the morning (around 8:45 AM) and then immediately calling back if I got disconnected. One trick I learned from a friend who used to work there is that when you hear the automated menu, don't rush to press 8. Instead, listen carefully to all the options first - sometimes there's a more specific option for your type of question that gets you to a less busy queue. For survivor benefits, there might be a dedicated option that bypasses the general "speak to an agent" line. Also, I found it helpful to call on Tuesdays or Wednesdays rather than Mondays (when everyone calls after the weekend) or Fridays (when people try to get things done before the weekend). If you do get through, have your Social Security number, your husband's SSN, and your questions written down clearly. The representatives are usually helpful once you reach them, but they're often dealing with time pressure. Hang in there - you'll get through eventually! The system is broken but persistence does pay off.

I've been following this thread and wanted to share another approach that worked for me when I was having the same phone system issues. If you have a smartphone, try using the SSA's automated phone system during your lunch break around 12:30-1:00 PM. Counter-intuitively, this is sometimes less busy than early morning because many people assume it's a bad time to call. Also, for anyone still struggling with survivor benefits questions specifically, the SSA has a really helpful publication called "Survivors Benefits" (Publication No. 05-10084) that you can download from their website. It won't replace talking to an agent, but it helped me understand the basic concepts and prepare better questions before I finally got through. One more tip - if you're 60 or older, you might be eligible for reduced survivor benefits even if you're still working. This is something many people don't realize and it could provide financial help while you're deciding on your long-term strategy. Definitely worth asking about when you do connect with someone!

I'm really glad to see this thread has been so helpful for everyone! As someone who's dealt with similar SSA phone system frustrations, I wanted to add that if you're still having trouble getting through, you might also consider reaching out to your local Area Agency on Aging if you're 60+. They often have staff who are experienced with Social Security processes and can sometimes help you prepare your questions or even advocate on your behalf. Also, for those dealing with survivor benefits specifically, it's worth noting that you can apply for survivor benefits online in some cases through your my Social Security account at ssa.gov/myaccount. While you'll still likely need to speak with someone for complex timing decisions, the online application can sometimes get the process started and might result in a callback from SSA rather than you having to get through their phone system. Keep sharing these tips - it's amazing how much collective wisdom this community has gathered about navigating these bureaucratic challenges!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm dealing with a similar situation trying to get information about my disability benefits review. The phone system has been a nightmare for me too - I've been disconnected at least 6 times over the past two weeks. I wanted to add one more tip that worked for me recently: if you have a landline phone available, try using that instead of a cell phone. I read somewhere that the SSA's system sometimes has issues with certain cell phone carriers, and after switching to my landline, I had better luck staying connected through the menu system (though I still waited on hold for 45 minutes). Also, for anyone who mentioned going to the local office in person - call ahead first! I drove 30 minutes to my local office only to find out they were closed for staff training that day. A quick call could have saved me the trip. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and solutions. It's frustrating that we have to become experts in gaming the system just to get basic help, but at least we can help each other navigate these challenges!

I've been lurking on this thread and finally decided to jump in because I've been having the exact same phone system issues! Just wanted to say thank you to everyone who shared their strategies - this is like a masterclass in dealing with SSA's broken phone system. I'm particularly intrigued by the landline vs cell phone suggestion from Lauren. I've been calling from my iPhone and getting disconnected constantly, so I'm definitely going to try my old landline tomorrow. Also planning to try that Tuesday 10:30 AM time slot that someone mentioned. One question for those who successfully got through to discuss survivor benefits - did you find the representatives knowledgeable about the timing strategies? I'm in a similar situation and want to make sure I'm asking the right questions when I finally reach someone. The idea of maximizing lifetime benefits by choosing the right claiming strategy seems really important but also complicated. This community is amazing - it's so helpful to know we're not alone in dealing with this bureaucratic maze!

As a newcomer to this community, I just wanted to say how incredibly helpful this entire thread has been! I've been struggling with the exact same SSA phone system issues for weeks now, trying to get information about my late mother's benefits and whether I might be eligible for anything as her adult disabled child. Reading through all these strategies and tips has given me so much hope and a clear action plan. I'm going to try the local office direct number approach first, calling on a Tuesday or Wednesday morning around 10:30 AM using my landline instead of my cell phone. I never would have thought about any of these details without this community's shared wisdom. It's both frustrating and reassuring to know that so many others have faced these same challenges with the phone system. The fact that we all have to become experts in working around a broken system just to access basic information about our benefits is really disheartening, but I'm grateful for forums like this where people share their hard-earned knowledge. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share what worked for you - it's going to save many of us a lot of time and frustration!