Social Security Lines Swamped With Calls for New Benefit Data

The Social Security Administration was inundated with calls Friday for its new personalized benefit estimates, and agency chief Dorcas R. Hardy said she was adding 100 phone lines to handle the demand.

Many callers were getting busy signals when they dialed the toll-free number--1-800-937-2000--to request the application form. The toll-free number started with 200 phone lines capable of handling a total of 10,000 calls an hour. The number operates 24 hours a day.

The new form is used to obtain estimates in current dollars not only of retirement benefits at ages 62, 65 and 70 but also of monthly benefits for a worker and family upon disability or death.