Social Security Administration

This was a horrible experience.
I used to go to the riverside office and they always treated me kind and with respect. However at hemet the woman who worked on my case was cold, harsh and judgmental. Life is so difficult for me right now and I sure as hell did not need this experience.

I went to the social security office today 2/​5/​16for a last name change I arrived there round 9:45 am granted the wait to check in was a little long, however once I got my ticket number the wait was only 20 mins. The young lady at window 4 was very professional and fast. First time experience was pretty good.

My experience by lists:
1) Don’t make an appointment, you’re still waiting just the same
2) There’s a long line just to get a number and then you wait again
3) The numbers on the screen means nothing, they skip around and sometimes they call you by your name and not your number
4) Fill your forms out online and print them out, there are no forms for you to fill out while waiting in line, you have to get the forms AFTER you get a number. I was smart and printed everything out.
5) Bathroom stalls are not very clean, don’t go if you don’t have to.
6) People standing in line will look like they’re on meth and they probably are, especially since they’re talking about drugs.
7) The police officer sitting behind the desk does nothing but look around and on his phone.
8) Ample seating, uncomfortable chairs tied together, but still ample seating nonetheless.
9) If you have a small child, make sure to have their birth certificates, the passport is something they’re hesitant with, even though on their website and forms, it says that passports are acceptable forms of ID.
10) Expect to spend at least 3 hours here.

Just wanted to make an appointment to go in to get a replacement ss card. Waited on hold 45 minutes and finally gave up. if any other business ran like this they would be out of business…

This social security office was awesome. Got there at 845 there was a rather long line. Right at nine they opened the doors and an officer walked out and made an announcement. He breaks everyone up into different lines and allows you to go inside and check in. Check in was easy. I waited maybe 20 mins and than was called. Process of changing my social shirt I got married was very easy. Took 5 mins and I was done. Whole process took 40 mins. The people are all very nice and even made a friend inside.

I took two trips to the SS Office, on two consecutive days. The wait was long both times, and I was pretty annoyed the first time that I didn’t have enough documentation to «ID» my infant despite having what was mentioned in the online brochure (bring doctor records, if you have them!).
I will say after spending hours there, that everyone I spoke with was very pleasant. And those I did not speak with seemed pleasant and like they were doing their best to help things move along.
Ultimately, I think many of the issues stem from 1) Needing more offices to serve the number of people and 2) Increasingly strict standards from the national level. One of the very nice ladies admitted that they cannot assure anyone over the phone that some documents will be enough, but that she has to see them. So part of the problem is that people show up and think they have everything they need, but don’t, so they have to come back.
Also, on my second trip, I was there about 30 minutes before it opened, which made my total time spent much less than arriving midday. It still took a good 1 ½ hours.

Feels dumb reviewing a government office, but honestly like the other reviewer said, if you can any other place please do, it’s worth the drive. The one guy handing out tickets was cool, but everybody else was a complete idiot and really rude. Went in to get something really simple, I was more than polite, and was treated like I didn’t exist or matter. This is the type of place that gives everyone the stereotypes that government offices are horrible.

If you can go to a different office, do it. They only post the national number for their office, which means you have to wait over a hour JUST to get the number for the hemet office. They won’t take care of your needs unless you bother them. I’ve been to many social security offices and this one has to be the most neglectful. If you want to be ignored for months this is your office!