Beneficiaries will call the U.S. Treasury’s Electronic Payment Solution Center at 1-855-290-1545 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday, if they wish to continue receiving Social Security paper checks. General SSA assistance and speaking with a live agent is available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. local time at 1-800-772-1213.
Overview of waiver line
As of September 30, 2025, most Social Security benefit payments must be made electronically under federal law. A waiver may be requested by beneficiaries who are unable to transition from paper checks through the U.S. Department of Treasury. The Treasury Electronic Payment Solution Center waiver line can be reached at 1-855-290-1545.
- 1-855-290-1545 Customer Service Hours
- Hours of operation: 8:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. Eastern Time
- Days: Monday through Friday, holiday observance (federal)
Calls will not be answered outside this window; hence beneficiaries should plan accordingly to avoid delays in waiver processing.
The waiver line allows individuals without bank accounts or electronic payment access to receive paper checks in some very limited and special cases. Exceptions are so rarely granted that payment may actually be jeopardized if not received by the waiver deadline.
Easy steps to talk to a live SSA person
For SSA-related inquiries such as status of benefits, address changes, or direct deposit enrollment, beneficiaries have to reach out through the national SSA customer service number:
- Phone number: 1-800-772-1213
- Hours: 8:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. local time, Monday through Friday
- TTY for the deaf or hard of hearing: 1-800-325-0778 (same hours)
Tips for minimizing wait times
According to an estimated average time, the best times to call would be as early as the morning from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. or late afternoon from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesdays through Fridays. The longest average hold times have been on Mondays and the end of the month.
Instead of waiting on the phone, callers can request to receive a callback and keep their place in the queue.
Online services and field office visits as alternatives
- Online through My Social Security, Direct deposit, benefit verification letter generation, and application status can be managed at your convenience.
- Local field office visits, either as walk-ins or scheduled appointments (typically 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Mon.-Fri.) provide an avenue for more complex issues that do not require waiting on the phone. Appointments are strongly advised.
Dial 1-855-290-1545 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. ET to request a waiver from the Treasury to keep receiving paper checks. For broader support or to speak to a real person, call 1-800-772-1213, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-7 p.m. local time, while keeping in mind that online tools and office visits are recommended to ease the process.
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