Government’s Social Security cuts have hit hard as seniors across the U.S. are experiencing unprecedented delays when trying to reach the Social Security Administration (SSA) with call times now stretching beyond three hours in many cases. These cuts, which include workforce reductions and funding cuts, were rolled out in early 2025.
The SSA, which has for decades administered retirement, disability, and Medicare benefits to over 72 million Americans, is now straining after the government implemented budget cuts that aimed at efficiency.
SSA Cuts Spark Nationwide Service Breakdown
President Trump launched the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and appointed Elon Musk as the head. This department was mandated to cut costs in major government agencies, such as the SSA, following accusations of mass wastage and fraud. “The waste, fraud, and abuse is at a level like nobody’s ever seen,” Trump said. “It’s been going on for years, and all you have to do is look at the Social Security rolls, look at some of the things, look at where the money is going.”.
Musk stated his intention to lay off 7,000 SSA employees and close 47 field offices, especially in the South and Southeast. “We want to make sure that people who deserve to receive Social Security do receive it, and that they receive it quickly and accurately,” Musk said.
Despite these promises, most retirees are yet to experience the promises that DOGE made.
Long Wait Times, Dropped Calls, and Frustration
According to investigations by 8 News Now, that calling the SSA’s main 800 number now regularly results in wait times of over 120 minutes. In other cases, the automated system hangs up or fails to return promised callbacks.
“It was really frustrating and it was a pretty long one,” said Tatsiana Leonard, who waited on hold with her parents for 2 hours and 41 minutes, only to eventually go in person to resolve their issue. “The entire family was tethered to each other while they ran errands and picked up children,” she added.
Mary Franklin, who operates a sober living home, had a similar experience. “It said I had a 100-minute wait,” she explained. “And then, after you wait, it just goes dead. The phone just goes dead.”
These accounts signify a widespread problem: disconnected and unanswered calls and endless loops with no support even for critical services such as disability verification and Medicare enrollment.
Field Office Access Still Inconsistent
Although some local Social Security offices may answer calls within minutes during the day, most of them are inconsistent and unreliable. With office closures also underway and more expected, staff and resources will likely be overwhelmed.
When the SSA shared its call wait time data, the average wait time was 18.5 minutes. That figure is now detached from reality as many seniors wait for hours or are forced to visit offices due to unresolved phone interactions.
What the Government Says vs. What Seniors Experience
The government still insists that the budget cuts are part of plans to streamline operations and not to reduce benefits. There is also a new proposal that highlights that 88% of seniors will not pay taxes on their Social Security benefits. Although benefits will still continue, SSA services are deteriorating.
Conclusion
The government’s Social Security cuts are already having real-world consequences for millions of seniors. Phone line jams, office closures, and longer wait times are making it hard for people who rely on SSA services most to get help.
People are yet to see how these efficiency measures will ultimately lead to long-term improvement at the SSA. In the meantime, seniors are forced to endure the time, stress, and uncertainty while accessing SSA services.