Social Security Administration Office

This place is ridiculously slow! Come prepared with snacks, books, phone fully charged and water because it will take forever!
I showed up at 9:04 (they open at 9) and there were about 12 people ahead of me. My number was called within 10 – 15 minutes upon arrival and i felt like things were going well. Little did I know that I was called only to see what I was there for and then was told to wait till they called me. And wait I did, during which I read my book, read emails and people watched. After an hour and a half I was starting to think they had forgotten about me. At the 2 hour mark, I got up to make sure I wasn’t overlooked. At that same time, my name was finally called! Hallelujah! I was done by 11:30. Now, who knows how long it would take if I showed up late. The place filled up quickly by 10 am and there was not a single chair available that they stopped letting people in to the room, which is quite small. The staff were for the most part pleasant which is a surprise since I heard people being extremely rude to them for one reason or another.
All in all, I recommend taking the day off so you don’t feel stressed about having to rush out of there as well as park at a flat rate lot so again, you don’t have to feel rushed because your meter is going to expire, because it will!
Final note: Try to refrain from drinking much water so you don’t lose your spot!

Quick! Friendly. Professional. Beautiful Building.

I considerate myself to be a respectable person. One that understands policies and procedures. I work for a law enforcement agency so I definitely understand. However, I regret going to this office, (Social Security) in Oakland, CA. The CONTRACT «SECURITY GUARDS», one in particular needs to be properly trained when viewing the personal property of others. I understand that in the day and times we are living in today, «Security Checks» are very important. However, at this Social Security office they have not gotten updated with screening people personal items, e.g. purses, bags, etc. the proper way through «Visual Scanning. There was an «Archie Bunker» looking security guard there, when checking my purse, I felt like there was a searched warrant going on in my purse the way he was tugging his «BIG RED PUFFYHANDS» and pulling things out of my purse. I felt violated. When I mention to let me open my purse wide enough so that he can see what’s inside of my purse, he grabbed tightly hold of my purse and told me that «I CAN LEAVE» if didn’t allow him to do his job. Because, I misplaced my sons social security number, I allowed the insult of having this man violate me by touching my personal private items inside my purse. When, I mention that I work at a Law Enforcement agency and that we don’t do things this way, Archie Bunker, and another «CONTRACT SECURITY GUARD» chuckle at me as if I had a reason to lie. Which I have no reason to.
In Closing, if you don’t want to be disrespected and personally violated, its best to order anything that is as simply as a Social Security Card replacement online.

I am a designated payee. I called for a very simple record change — an apartment number. The representative, after having me confirm both social security numbers and names, asked for the ENTIRE address which I did not have in front of me so I needed to look in my email. With no warning, the woman put me back on hold. I was on hold another 60 minutes before hanging up, calling back and putting in a call-​back number.
Because of their typical government hours of operation, I had to do this from work during work hours. This woman should be reprimanded for being so inconsiderate and rude.

Very smooth experience. Went to do a name change after I got married. Got there around 9:15am on a Monday and waited about 10 minutes to be called to a window. Finished in about the same amount of time.
This is what the experience is like:
1. Getting there — take public transit if you can, there is only metered parking on the streets. Or, if parking at a meter stresses you out because you don’t know how long you’ll be, park in a nearby lot. They lots are about $ 6 an hour with an $ 18 maximum.
2. Enter into the lobby at 360 22^nd Street. Take elevator to 4^th floor.
3. The entire 4^th floor is the SS office. Go through security (metal detector & bag search). Go to your left and get a number from a brown colored kiosk box. Use the touch screen to answer a few questions. A ticket will print out with your number on it. Example «A160» or «E189»
4. Sit in waiting area. Your number will be called over a speaker and it will also appear on a television screen at the front of a room. Go to the window you are called to when it is your turn.
Tips for a good experience:
1. Prepare as much as you can before you go. Fill out forms ahead of time.
Find out what you need to bring by looking your desired service on their website here:
2. Bring a book or a fully charged phone/​ipad/​laptop or be prepared to people watch. This is not a good time for a nap. If your name is called and you do not go, you will lose your place.
3. Do not wear a lot of metal or bring your rifles and machine guns as this will delay your progress through the security section.
4. If English is not your first language, bring someone to help translate if you can.
5. Street parking is limited and metered. If you don’t mind a walk, you can take public transit because Broadway/​22^nd Street is only a few blocks from the SS office. Or you can park for free near Lake Merritt, this can be a longer walk.
6. The street the SS office is located on is hard to find when you’re driving around in a car. Just get a close as you can, park, then walk.
7. Visit on a day that you do not have strict timing restrictions. And go early in the morning. The office opens at 9:00am. Be aware that the hours are different on Wednesday.
8. If the website does not provide you with answers, you can also call them toll free:
1−800−772−1213 (TTY 1−800−325−0778)
1−800−325−0778 (for deaf or hard of hearing)
Good luck!

I don’t think I’ve ever sworn in a Unilocal review before, but here we go.
As a govt bureaucracy, my expectations were low. I’d gone the week before and had been there 20 mins, but it was «too soon» after my naturalization.
After 20 mins or so, the guy took my number, and I was told to wait. And wait. 1 hour. 2. 2 ½. 3 ½ hours! The security guard finally had me go up to a counter anyway. All for a 5 minute change of status. I finally left after 4 hours, hopefully having achieved my change.
What kind of fucked up incompetency is this? I missed lunch, and by the time I got out at 3.30pm, most of my usual places were closed, so I had to settle for a shitty bland sandwich from subway.
My experience at the DMV was far, far better. At least I wasn’t told to pull up my pants like one guy.

My visit to this place was very unpleasant. Most of the people there smelled like they had not showered in days. It was extremely ghetto and weird. I had to change seats about three times because people that smelled or were extremely loud kept sitting by me.
The service:
The lady that helped me was nice. But the wait was awfully long.

Wow. When you walk in, there are two security guards and the metal detector. Which is to be expected — not weird. Except one of the guards clearly has serious anger issues. He’s an angry fuse ready to blow at any minute. He is looking for a fight and wants to abuse his power. Maybe you should vet your security guards Oakland SS office. Otherwise this man is going to loose his «cool» one day and become a viral YouTube sensation for hurting someone. No joke. He needs help and should have the power of authority revoked.

When I arrived here during typical opening house they alert closed. This is the frugal American government.
Hours
Mon, Tus, Thrust, Fri
9 Am — 4 Pm
Wed
9 – 12
Wow really!
These hours are in effect in all Social Security branches from Vermont to Nevada and everywhere in between.
At least the person at the door said it was closed

We’ve already been waiting for 2 hours. My dad, who doesn’t speak any English, went to the restroom and didn’t know he had to go around to come back in. So a security told him to go around and thought my mom had went outside, too. When I told him she didn’t, the white security guard yelled and said he should tell me to go outside and go around, too for arguing with him. What the hell? Since when did explaining and translating become arguing? The first security guard was being cool about it. He was explaining about the rules. I wish I know where I can file a complaint.

I arrived at 11:15 and was nowhere near having my name called by 12:45, so I gave up.
They’ll put your ticket number up on the TV but then you have to make sense of the garbled sounds for which window to go to. Really? You can’t show the window number too?
And the atmosphere could best be described as a cross between the DMV and an airplane. Babies crying and folks coughing on you. No thanks. I won’t be going to this location ever again.

UNPROFESSIONAL AND HORRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE! I wasn’t expecting much in terms of customer service but after my visit today I can tell that these ladies (especially the one on window 5) are totally miserable with their jobs and customer service is the last thing they think of. I went to get a replacement card and the clerk woman was extremely rude right from the get go. I felt like I was being harassed by the way she was talking to me. She asked for the documents that prove my identity and for some reason she kept insinuating that I might’ve been trying to commit fraud. She started to interrogate me and asked about my life story, at that point I told her that if I was required to tell her my life story in order to get a replacement card I would have to go to a different SS office, she then became very upset and said, «Okay. I’m just curious, maybe I should shut up and do my job!». I thanked her for it. I tried to be cordial during the process but she didn’t like that either and she continued to be rude and acted aggressively. I just hope that she indeed did her job and processed my request! Next time I will definitely go to a different SS office.

I went there this Friday morning to apply social security card for my new born baby it 30 min to finish the whole thing so fast !

This office was once located at 1111 Jackson Street, Oakland, CA. I’m not sure when they moved to this location, but it must’ve been a few months ago as my husband received a letter from them, notifying him of the change.
Their hours are from 9:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. However, one is allowed to enter the building at 8:30 A.M. and wait outside of the office until 8:45 A.M. Security officers will open the doors for security check. Thereafter, one goes to one of the two kiosks to enter one’s SSN to retrieve one’s ticket (similar to DMV’s concept), have a seat and wait for ticket number being called. Once that’s done, then it’s another wait for one’s name to be called.
My husband needed to sign up for Medicare Part B, effective immediately, before visiting CALPERS to finish up his coverage for health care. Also I need to change my health care coverage from the group one with employer to CALPERS coverage for retired employees.
Even though the process took slightly over an hour, the two employees assisting us worked as quickly as possible to get the paperwork done and sent us along our merry way. Tis not an easy job to work at this office and I laud them for doing the best they can. From a former state government employee to a federal government employee, keep up the good work and I certainly appreciate your service as a civil/​public servant.