I had a reason to visit a social security office this past week. Not knowing much how they work, I…read morechecked out their website then called customer service to schedule a meeting. Apparently, it's hard to find social security administration offices with open appointment times. But, although a distance from my home, they were able to find an appointment a week out in their Wilmette office. As most government buildings are, this is an older location in need of a facelift. When we walked inside, the place was packed. I said to the person I was there with, "I'm glad we have an appointment." The security guard handed me a number and immediately the number one less than mine was called. He laughed and said all of the people there were ahead of me, and they don't call numbers in order. Before I sat down, our number was called next. We went to the window and the agent knew what we needed since we had an appointment. (I guess the crowd waiting didn't have appointments.) The transaction took less than five minutes and we were done. So, aside from the aesthetics, this trip was quick and productive. The rep helped us quickly and did a good job. I strongly suggest that, if you need to go to a Social Security office, you call their service number to make an appointment.

This will be a zero star if this isn't addressed but for some reason on Labor Day my son's SSI…read moredisability check wasn't there I'm his rep. Payee! I don't know what happened here! They said they would send it out early and it never arrived wtf is going on?! I have to pay my rent and could be evicted at any moment because of this! This is unacceptable! I better get my check soon or someone will get fired this is ridiculous! Why were they so lazy and didn't properly send the SSI checks?! There was a specific person that sent this check late and only they should be blamed. I hope it comes soon but this has been really stressful on my family!!!!!

I went to this office because they mucked up my SSI and I needed to file an appeal. So I filled out…read morethe appropriate forms and dropped them off at the office. The security guards here are the rejects of the post office apparently because they can't tell when an envelope is too large or too damaged to be put in a dropbox so as to risk loss of the filing. I stand to lose a sum of money I will not disclose because of their failure to allow me to directly present the parcel to an employee. I wanted to call the office to see if they even got the papers but I can't. Because all the offices have unpublished numbers so your only option is to call the worthless national call center with a phone system that seems like it was programmed by a five year old. If the call back function works it's half the headache but half of the time it doesn't and you're forced to wait on hold for upwards of an hour. Thanks, Social Security, thanks for representing the government to our seniors and disabled as inattentive, crooked, cheap, and willing to do anything to cut someone's benefits. I leave you two words Social Security, YOU STINK! UPDATE:AUG 28 5:59 PM I got off the phone with their national call center after being on hold for about an hour. Their hold music is enough to drive any sane person insane though their representatives are really good, or at least the person that answered my call was, I've heard the fair share of horror stories and no call center is a true call center without a few nightmare employees that need the pink slip. Nonetheless the agent who handled my call was very nice, she had the right information and even gave me a direct phone number to the field office that I can use to check up on the papers I dropped off. (NOTE: Do not message me asking for the number. I was not given the authority to redistribute the phone number. That said if you need it you can call the 800 number and ask them for it and they should be happy to give it to you if you have a good reason to speak directly to the office i.e tracking down missing papers) That said they get three stars. The in office experience is just okay and the call center is good. To describe the in office experience, it's not any different from going to the DMV. Have your papers with you, take a number and grab a seat with your phone on silent mode and play some video games while you wait because it's going to be a while. Two stars for the decent office and one star for the good call center. But maybe if they didn't botch people's benefits I wouldn't be wasting my time going to the office or being on the phone with them. Social Security is one of those things that is just supposed to work. When it's mucked up is when you have to go in and or call in. UPDATE: AUG 29 1:40 PM The office agents answering the phone are very nice and the hold time was actually reasonable. They managed to find my paperwork amidst the mess in the drop box and have scanned it in a few days ago. I am very happy with the call in service at this office. Waiting on hold for an agent at the office is oddly quicker than going there in person! How does that work?! Review upgraded to four stars. Nonetheless I must nitpick at least one thing and the hold music sounds like it's being played through a tin can & string telephone. Thankfully the agents pick up on a real telephone!

Typical government bureaucracy makes it so simple things like submitting documents take 4+ hours…read more All for a number that is less secure than a state ID.

The place stunk like someone had --. Waited over 2 hours and never got called. Had to leave could…read morenot stand the smell. The smell had nothing to do with the staff and the office was clean. A person should never have to wait that long for service, no wait that's right I never got service.

I called and spoke with William and he gave me an extension to change my address. He told me when…read morethe machine asks for the extension then enter it. The machine does not give that option, so I called back and it sounded like the same voice I spoke to and tried to explain that I was not given the option to enter extension then he started to yell at me then hung up the phone. He was completely unprofessional.

6 years of marriage and I finally took the plunge to change my name…read more This wasn't that bad. The employees were friendly enough as were the people I sat by. I do wish they had a screen like how they do at the DMV though. I had a hard time hearing what number was being called due to the constant chatter. I spent about 1.5 hours here. Almost al of the time was just waiting. The actual name change took 5 minutes. My new ss card came about a week and a half later.

Very rude , unprofessional when talking to , not very helpful , government who in charge of this…read morefaculty need to re-exempt this case worker and need to do audit at least twice a year to make sure they conduct toward people who coming for are getting getting help without being treat un professionalism .

Can't say there are many public offices that get four stars but this social security office had two…read moresuper kind workers that really contributed to that rating. Security guard was rude but I'm confident he handles his fair share of problems and rude people because it's all appointment only and protocols have changed. Still it's a pretty routine experience, security guard checks your name on the appointment list, tells you where to sit, they call next and you meet with the worker. Chairs are marked off due to the distancing requirements. There are green spot parking spots outside the office, no free parking here!

Hello everyone,…read more yesterday I called the social security office, and it was answered promptly to my surprise. A Mr. Shenowski (Not sure on spelling) was the person who I was blessed to have answered my call. The experience was painless and what a world of difference it makes when the person helping you is so knowable. Not sure if I butchered his name, but whatever you are paying him is probably not enough. The man enjoys his job, you could tell by his demeanor. I thank you and my family thanks you. Regards, Rafael.

As most people dread going to DMV, I also thought this was going to be a painful experience. Quite…read morethe opposite! After being closed for 2 years because of the pandemic (by appointment only since 2020), they finally opened again with the usual first-come-first served option. I lost of SSA card so when I went to create my account online to request a new one, it said I was not a US citizen. Ha! I realized that I didn't update SSA when I became a citizen back in 2012. So I had to do the trek to the office. Pretty smooth operation - you come in, check-in at the touchpad kiosk, get a number, sit and wait for your number to be called. It took like 5 minutes of me in my seat til my number was called. Then another 10-13 minutes at the window, of the SSA personnel to input the necessary info and scan my certificate of naturalization into the system. All the personnel were super nice, from the security to the one at the window. I always think that when you come in with smile and greetings, people will treat you back kindly.

1. No heat 2. Not enough chairs…read more3. No INDOOR bathrooms (33 degrees out) 4. Impossible to reach by phone 5. Woman who helped me was very nice. Many expressed "Thank trump for this" I appreciate that - he's a deviant.

Not sure where all the negative reviews came from but my experience was excellent from when I…read moreentered and the very nice security guard walked me through the check in process and I waited about 5 minutes and my appointment time was on time. The dude behind the counter with the long hair (Mr. Rogges) I found out. Sorry if I spelled it wrong, was super informative, efficient, and helpful and resolved my SS issues right away! Thank you sir!!

Extremely rude. Won't let you finish your sentence when trying to explain an issue or question. I…read morehad to come back in with my ID because the young woman didn't take care of me correctly the first time I came in for a name change, rushing me rudely and obviously annoyed by my presence. I get it's busy. It's also busy at the drive through. And this job probably pays more, and is dealing with PEOPLES LIVES. Show some care, be kind, let us finish our sentences. There's no need to yell at me over and over again when I have a question about the process of how the check in system works. Just answer my question and I'll happily comply. Learn how to differentiate someone being a menace and demanding that you help them immediately, between a little 5'1 woman with a question because she was called in by YOUR office, to come in again since it wasn't done correctly the first time. That's confusing and not the norm. I don't understand how there are so many angry rude people working a job that handles sensitive information.

I originally arrived yesterday, my representative payee was on the phone…read more We had a scheduled appointment for today, in person. This has been going on for 2 years since I had a fall, brain surgery & a stroke. The guard & employees were wonderful, both days. Second day my representative payee was there in person, as was in person. Great service & progress made. Now just waiting for the debit card to come to my payee. Took a long time but well worth the effort.

I only go here once a year to request a hard copy of my 1099 tax form. I am a retired senior. I…read moredon't have a printer at home. I could go to my public library to print the copy, but no matter what I do, I can NEVER, NEVER, EVER get into my SS account online. Thank God, I only go here once a year to obtain a copy of my 1099; I need the 1099 to do my taxes (my accountant wants a hard copy). The Employees at this SS office are very courteous, professional and helpful. My only complaint is that the parking lot is small and parking can be a PITA. Parking is free. The social security office is located in a strip mall (there is a Subway and other small businesses here). It is the tallest building here, so you cannot miss the building. Go through revolving doors, take the elevator up to the SS office. When you step off the elevator, you will immediately see the SS office. There is a small computer on the left side located next to the security guard. YOU sign in electronically with your name and indicate the "reason" for your visit. Once you complete your electronic registration, a number is printed by the computer. Take the number with you. All numbers are listed on several TV screens (numbers are NOT listed in order). Your number is called (not your name), so PAY ATTENTION and make sure you are NOT wearing headphones, or YOU MIGHT miss your turn.

The office states you must make an appointment with them to visit this office but when you call…read moretheir phone system states all personal are busy and hangs up on you.

After getting married I needed to get a new social security card and came here to the Social…read moreSecurity Administration. It was PACKED. I had to wait a looong time for my turn. Most of the people needed an extended time to talk about whatever they were there for. Once it was my turn I was in and out in less than 10 minutes. I was hoping it would be less crazy than offices closer to the city. Maybe it was.....which is a scary thought!

It was quick the gentleman who took care of me very helpful, I'm applying for retirement he gave me…read morean appointment. We're doing it on the phone. He's helping me to fill out the application. Very helpful.

Walked in and the security guard immediately pointed me to the kiosk to register. My reason for…read morevisit wasn't listed (handling business for my incapacitated father) so I just clicked "other" several times and then was given a number. I came prepared for the long game, especially since I didn't have an appointment. I had my iPad, fully charged phone, and Kindle. I take my seat and start going thru some mail that I brought along and I hear my number called less than a minute after sitting down (!). I assumed it was just to clarify why I was there since I want specific at the registration kiosk. But I was helped by the sweetest lady in the world Vanessa (?). She actually handled my situation and I was out of there in 15 minutes. I would say it's a fluke or just due to the fact that the lady who helped me was super efficient but this is my 2nd time there and the first time was quick too considering I didn't have an appointment. Hats off to these guys. It's hard enough when you become the parent to your parents. Helping me navigate this process so easily is much appreciated.