Social Security Administration

I was prepped for the worst after reading all these Unilocal reviews. But it wasn’t bad at all. I went in on a Friday, which is supposed to be super busy. I got to the office around 8:45AM. There was already a line of maybe about 6 people. They have a separate line for people that make appointments. The security guard was alternating 1 from the appointment line and 1 from the walk-​in line, which I thought was really nice. The security process is to be expected since this is a federal building. The line was truly the longest wait but I only waited about ~20 minutes. Once I got into the Social Security office I was in and out within 10 – 15 minutes. The lady that helped me inside the office was super sweet. I’ve been putting off changing my last name after I got married because of the waiting involved but this couldn’t have been easier. Thanks for making the process nearly painless (:

As the other Unilocalers mentioned, the security line is SUPPPPPPPPPER long and the wait to get through the line is SUPPPPPPPPERRRRR long! You get in line you wait! They let only ONE person in at a time, that one person must take their clothes shoes etc off as they would at the airport. It would be nice if people actually prepare themselves as they’re waiting in line but NOPE! They wait until they get inside to start stripping and make the process longer for EVERYONE! Got there at 9AM took me 40 minutes to get up! Once I’m up I put in my info at the kiosk and pulled a number 2 minutes later my number was called!
For faster processing make sure you fill out documents online and have it all ready! It took about another 10 minutes for the clerk to put in my info and then I was all set and ready to go! Overall it’s quick to get your replacement but man that security line needs some serious work!

Your mileage may vary at this location. My experience was pretty subpar, not because of the social security office, but because of the suuuuper slow security check just to get into the building. I timed it, and it took me approximately 40+ minutes just to get into the building. There were about 15 people ahead of me in line (!). Each individual person has to wait to get waved in by the security guards in order to get screened. So yeah, it took foreeeever just to get inside.
But, the actual social security office was great. I waited approximately 2 minutes after I got my ticket, my number was called, and I got my name changed in about 30 seconds. Sweet!

I went Tuesday Sept 22. Thanks to the person who mentioned parking at Safeway, it cost me a carton of milk, so park there and get it validated, don’t pay the $ 8 at the garage!
I arrived at the SS building at 9:20 am, NO LINE, repeat NO LINE!!! Went straight upstairs, got my ticket instantly, had the form filled out already (download it online), waited about 1 minute, then my number was called, took 5 mins and I was done!!! I asked the clerk (who was super nice and friendly) why it was so quiet and he told me that it’s the end of the fiscal year, and that usually Tuesday and Friday are their busiest days. Lucky? No complaints!

This office is horrible. First, it takes over 10 minutes to get into the building because the security guards only let one person in at a time even though there are 2 guards. I came with my friend and they won’t let us come into the door together. What do they think we are going to do 2 women? Then you have to wait over an hour just to be seen. Then, if you have to be seen by someone else you wait at least another ½ hour. And forget it if while you’re waiting and you phone dies. They will not let you charge it even though there are electrical outlets on the wall. I DO NOT RECOMMEND COMING HERE if you can avoid it.

Reached SSN office 1 hour before closing time .
Security check — 2 min
Check in ticket — 1 min
Filled the SSN application form — 5 min
Waited for my ticket number — 5 min
Gave me a acknowledgement receipt — 3 min
Came out in less than 20 minutes… no need to submit any photocopies… just show them the originals.

This is a review of my experiences with Social Security Disability. Sent forms/​medical records here because that is what I was instructed to do. Even sent them with the attention of the worker who was handling my case. Turns out my worker never forwarded my information for my cessation appeal. Went in person to see what was going on and was treated with a flippant attitude. I told the worker behind the window who signed for them and asked where my records were. He couldn’t care less that I had proof they were delivered and suggested that I shouldn’t have sent them to this office. This is my local office! What good are you if you can’t forward my documents where they were supposed to go based upon what the Social Security paperwork told me to follow? Left 3 messages with my worker which were never returned. These people fit the stereotype of lazy and incompetent.
Btw, don’t ever give them cash for any reason because (surprise!) they will have no record of it.
Keep records of everything! Otherwise, you are screwed.

Not that bad. Went at 1:30 on a Thursday. I paid $ 2 for metered parking. The outside line took about 5 minutes to get through and once inside, I wait for about 45 minutes. There were maybe 30 – 40 people ahead of me but there were quite a few windows open

Despite all the reviews, my experience at this location was PERFECT. It is a Federal Building so you must come prepared to take off shoes, belt buckles, etc. However the Deputies at the metal detector are very friendly. I went through without any delays and then went upstairs to the SSA office. There was no wait at the kiosk to get a ticket; I had no appointment. My wait was not even close to 5 minutes when my number was called. I turned in my application and my marriage certificate and VOILA… a few more minutes later I was walking out of the building. I am sure it is all about timing, but I am glad that all the negative reviews didn’t turn me away. The only crazy thing was the parking, $ 8 bucks at the parking lot right across from the federal building.

I went to this office to apply for a new SSN.
Reached the place around 8:50 on a friday by VTA train.
Cleared security (had to remove belt and shoes) and entered social security office on 2^nd floor at 9:00.
Registered into the system and received a token.
Was called around 9:20 and was out of the building by 9:30.
The officer was kind and offered all acknowledgement papers.

We get what we pay for. The across-​the-​board budget cuts (sequestration) has reduced staffing and hours so much that it took 3 attempts to get a replacement card here. Arrive early in the morning and expect to be here the whole day.

Ummm when you enter the building you have to go through a security check point… but brace yourself its a lot slower than the security lines at the airports.
Got in finally… make sure you get a number from the print screen and then you just sit and wait until your number is called…

I made the mistake of going to this office. Bad enough I had to pay to park, but then to get to the office and see 40 – 50 people lined up OUTSIDE the building, waiting to get past security. Really? Is this my tax dollars at work?
For those saying to get there in the morning and it’s not so bad– don’t believe them! I got there at 10:00 AM.

I got in and out in 10 minutes. Lucky for me, there was no line in front of the building and only one person ahead of me at the office. I guess the trick is to get there during weekdays, either in the morning or during lunch hours

Duration: 50 min
Condition: Thursday morning from 9:30 — 10:20 AM with no appointment
Details: Getting through the security actually took about 15 min. They only let one person in to the building at a time, so you will have to wait outside until they call you in. Once you are in, take a ticket and wait for your #. The staff was actually very friendly, and the place was clean. The seats are a little too close together for comfort.
Tips: If you want to avoid paying lots of money for parking, park at the Safeway parking lot (2 hrs parking validation). When you are done, reward yourself with nice bottle of soda or coffee and get your parking ticket validated for free.

This particular office is not bad at all, but HEED MY WARNING: To get the best service go DURING THE WEEK and IN THE MORNING. I actually went on a Wednesday morning (in line around 9:50ish).
I DID NOT have an appointment to get my name changed (hurray for marriage!) but still had no problems at all.
The way it works in 7 easy steps:
1) Fill out the name change form online before you go (
), print it out, bring it, a book you like and other supporting documents with you.
2) Line up OUTSIDE the building and be prepared to wait at least 10 – 15 minutes if you don’t have an appointment or 5 – 10 minutes if you do have an appointment.
3) Security guard will signal for you to come INSIDE the building and will send your purse other personal belongings through an airport security like scanner. He/​she will ask your reason for your visit today.
4) You also physically go through the airport like security, removing your belt, shoes, metal, etc. NO strip search. Guards — not creepy at all.
5) Once it’s been determined that you are no threat to this federal building, take the elevator up to Room 244 and take a number at the self-​service electric kiosk in the corner (SO EASY).
6) Have a seat, read a few pages of a book as you wait for your number to be called. I waited about 10 minutes.
7) Once your number is called, give everything (except your book) to the rep and in return he/​she gives you a receipt to show that you have officially applied for a name change and you’ll get your new card in two weeks. Piece of cake!
Seriously, it’s really not that bad, as long as you make plan to go during the work week and in the morning. I spent $ 1.50 parking at the 2^nd Street & San Carlos garage across the street from the building. I’d definitely recommend coming here as long as it’s during the week and in the morning.

DO NOT go here to do any business unless you want to burn your dough on parking and endure strip search from creepy guards as you go through the metal detector.
And the wait in the main lobby is obnoxious even though there is no one waiting. They have 8 windows but there are always about 2 windows opened.
Don’t waste your time here!