That means seniors such as Early Graham of Raleigh, N.C., have dealt with long hold times and promises of return calls that never come.

“I had to call three different numbers before I got anyone on the phone,” Graham said.

Brian Simpson, a spokesman at the Social Security office in Raleigh, said he hears similar complaints all the time.

Trying to handle customer demand with fewer employees, the agency has shifted some workers away from phone lines to front desks to assist walk-in clients.See Full story here: