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Waiting on hold for assistance can be frustrating, particularly when it involves critical issues like Social Security retirement or disability benefits. To alleviate some of this tension, it is prudent to prepare before reaching out to the Social Security Administration (SSA) or submitting a new benefits claim.
Concerns have emerged among older Americans due to ongoing announcements about workforce reductions, along with the consolidation and closure of hearing offices at the SSA. The agency’s push to transition more customer service interactions online raises further apprehension about accessibility when assistance is needed.
The Social Security website offers valuable insights that can assist you in selecting the best time to call and help you mentally brace for potentially lengthy wait times. As of March 2025, the average wait time for callers seeking to speak with a representative in English stood at 1 hour and 39 minutes.
Best Times to Reach the Social Security Administration
The SSA receives around 80 million calls annually to its 800-number service. Analyzing call volume from April 2023 to March 2025 reveals the most calls took place in March 2025, tallying 10,428,157 calls for the month, averaging 483,549 calls daily. The second-highest volume occurred in January 2025, with 9,777,109 calls, averaging 448,423 per day.
The implementation of the Social Security Fairness Act led to a notable increase in calls to the SSA. Although the agency added an automated message regarding the Act, over 6,000 individuals a day continue to opt for speaking with a representative.
You can contact the SSA at 1-800-772-1213 from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm local time, Monday through Friday. Callers typically experience shorter wait times during the morning, later in the week, and toward the end of the month. Notably, Mondays are generally the busiest days, while Fridays often feature shorter wait times, albeit with longer delays as the day comes to a close.
If you’d like to check average wait times for specific hours between 8 am and 7 pm, you can visit the Contact Social Security By Phone webpage for detailed information.
Here’s a snapshot of the typical wait times:
Day:
Best time to call before 12:00 pm
Best time to call after 12:00 pm
Worst time to call
Monday:
8:00 am: average wait time is 25 minutes
1:00 pm: average wait time is 1 hour, 32 minutes
6:00 pm: average wait time is 2 hours, 27 minutes. At 7:00 pm: wait time is approximately 2 hours, 24 minutes.
Tuesday:
8:00 am: average wait time is 24 minutes
1:00 pm: average wait time is 1 hour, 37 minutes
3:00 pm: average wait time is 2 hours, 3 minutes.
Wednesday:
8:00 am: average wait time is 22 minutes
1:00 pm: average wait time is 1 hour, 26 minutes
7:00 pm: average wait time is 2 hours, 4 minutes.
Thursday:
8:00 am: average wait time is 21 minutes
1:00 pm: average wait time is 1 hour, 20 minutes
7:00 pm: average wait time is 2 hours, 5 minutes.
Friday:
8:00 am: average wait time is 21 minutes
1:00 pm: average wait time is 1 hour, 8 minutes
7:00 pm: average wait time is 2 hours, 15 minutes.
Automated telephone services are available 24/7, allowing you to bypass the wait to speak with a representative.
Trends in Call Wait and Callback Times
Following the approval of the Social Security Fairness Act in late December, average wait times rose sharply in January, moving from 1 hour, 34 minutes to 1 hour, 52 minutes. Fortunately, wait times began to improve gradually, reaching 1 hour, 44 minutes in February before slightly decreasing to 1 hour, 39 minutes in March.
If you prefer not to wait on the line, callers also have the option of requesting a callback from a representative. Callback wait times have remained relatively consistent, hovering around the measurements noted from September 2024 to March 2025. There was a peak in October 2024, with an average wait time of just 1 hour and 49 minutes, while January 2025 saw the longest wait at 2 hours and 31 minutes. Callback times in March 2025 were approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes.
Final Thoughts
The SSA consistently reminds beneficiaries of the advantages of utilizing online services, where wait times are effectively nonexistent. For those in need of motivation to create a my Social Security account, a list of 15 tasks that can be completed online includes applying for benefits, adjusting direct deposit details, and requesting a replacement Social Security or Medicare card.
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