Overview

• Elizabeth Warren’s office released a fact-check disputing five administration claims on Social Security, targeting call volumes, wait-time reductions, staffing assertions, tech performance, and fraud figures.
• SSA defended its metrics, saying the National 800 Number’s average speed of answer fell from 24 minutes in July 2024 to 8 minutes in July 2025 with the answer rate rising from 63% to 78%.
• The agency explained that its wait-time calculation includes time in queue for callers who choose a callback option, a methodology critics say understates how long people actually wait.
• Warren’s office cited an investigation reporting average holds of 102 minutes with some waits up to three hours, contrasting with administration claims of single-digit-minute averages.
• Beyond the metrics dispute, the administration highlights 24/7 portal access, a reported 30% drop in field-office waits, a workforce reduced from about 57,500 to 52,000, and a move to fully digital payments by the end of September.