US Social Security Administration

This office is your standard federal office: its bleak, higher-​than-​necessary security, and dreaded by all.
The office is on the 3^rd floor of the building — no food, drink or weapons (of any kind) allowed. A young woman had to take her keychain pepper spray to her car after waiting in a long line.
Fearing the worst, I arrived early — about 7:40am on a Tuesday. I was third in the line, which grew to about 30 people rather quickly. Doors open at 8:30 to get everyone checked in. You have to go through a metal detector and state why you’re there. After you’re given your ticket, you are seated based on services required.
Once I was «sorted», I was second in line for a new SS card. The service windows opened promptly at 9am and I was on my way out by 9:04.
Why four stars? The office is what it is… however! Every single employee who got off the elevator to clock in to work said «good morning» to the growing group of people waiting for service. Amazing!
Summary;
No food/​drink/​weapons
Doors open at 830, service at 9
Getting in line early pays off.

The website says they are open until 3:30 but they close at 3:00!

Don’t let their opening time of 9am fool you! I got here at 9am, and the place was already filled up! Get here before 9 to get a better spot in line.
Security people are nice… Hopefully the desk agents are too. We will see… 55 mins waiting, but I’m nearing the front of the line :-)

2 hours here and still waiting. Whats worse– now everyone has to stand in line for past hour. The only location in Charlotte and so understaffed. I am honestly wondering where our taxes go.
No way to speed process online, since I refuse to mail my passport!
Three windows serving hundreds of people. And one of them closed! The other window has a guy with giant long dread locks. I cant have a job with hair like that, so why USA office allows Bob Marley as they best face forward?
No priority for mothers, handicap.
I can honestly say I am disappointed and this office sucks.

I was pleasantly surprised by the (grading on a government curve) speed and efficiency of this office. Everything is well ordered and streamlined, and yes I had to wait 30 – 45 mins to get my business done, but it was easy. Compared to the hell of the DMV or other government processes, this was a snap. There is security and you can’t bring in water/​drinks, but you don’t have to take your shoes off or anything.

Not too bad of an experience, but you will be treated like your getting on a plane before entering.
I understand that security in government offices is a good idea and that some peoples entire incomes and citizenship may ride on these employees decisions, but a full on TSA vibe walking in seems like a little much.
That said, the whole place is ran rather smoothly. Nothing like the DMV, most of the people are smiling and are actually helpful. Not a place you need to go very often, but unless your getting deported or something, it shouldn’t be treated with the same dreaded «Do I really have to go deal with these people», like most intercity DMV offices.

Filing taxes is rarely an enjoyable experience, but this year brought an additional agony. For the first time, the IRS is cross-​checking their records with the Social Security Administration. Presumably this is designed to catch people fraudulently paying someone else’s taxes. I dunno. Whatever their intent, my filing failed their standard. Apparently when I was first issued a social security card some dunce put in the wrong birthday. Without going into specifics it will suffice to say that my birthday was not even plausible.
This was kinda neat. On the one hand, records of the Federal Government showed that I was the oldest person to ever have lived. But on the other hand, I couldn’t access my tax return. I considered writing a book (the secret to eternal youth? typographical error!) but decided that I should probably get this thing sorted out.
Dealing with a government agency requires forethought. You can’t just walk in at any convenient time because you’ll find lines out the door. I chose Good Friday, 90 minutes before lunch time. Good decision. There was only one person in front of me.
My case was a complicated one, but the agent helped me through it. The process required (no joke) nine separate documents. I had them, and he knew what to do with them. The whole episode, from entering the building to leaving with a corrected birth date, took about 20 minutes. That’s pretty great. But behind me was a line of 12 people. I guarantee their experience will not be so smooth.