Made an appointment to change my name! Super quick. Was in and out in under 30 minutes!

I visited the social services office recently and learned that they don't really operate as a traditional walk-in service. Instead of waiting in line, you'll be called up and then they will set an appointment for you in person. To save time and avoid the hassle, I recommend scheduling your appointment in advance--either online or with a barcode. This way, you can streamline the process and ensure your visit is more efficient. Overall, it's better to plan ahead rather than rely on just walking in without an appointment. read more

Cant get through to the SSA on the phone!!! I cant even reach the SSA by phone locally. I followed directions and pressed the number for a call back! That was yesterday... no call back. I have been holding for a hour today. I came into the local office on 11/24/25. Thought everything had been updated. Never got the new $$, did not get the check with the amount that she wrote on the paper that I was given, and never got the survivors benefit that I was told I would be getting in 5 to 7 days! How the heck do you get help??? read more

We made an appointment and only had to wait a short amount of time to get called. The lady who helped us was kind and thorough.

Wonderful customer service. The agent (Max) was fantastic (provided me with helpful information; cheerful and polite; set up appointment to finalize needed changes). read more

Its impossible to make an appointment. They now make you use a ridiculous process to open an account. I have to stand in line without an appointment, 1 person there to help. read more

Be sure to make an appointment before coming in because they don't take walk ins. I was on hold 2 hours to make an appointment. Friendly service. Office is on second floor. My paperwork was printed before I even got there so it was a quick visit for me. read more

Security guard at the door was very helpful in finding information quickly. He directed me to exactly where I needed to go within five minutes of my arrival. read more

I am in the process of changing my name because I got married. Stop number one was the Social Security office. I cannot believe how quickly I was in and out! I filled out the application online and brought my driver's license and my marriage license with me. There is a kiosk at the door for self check-in that generates a number that is printed on a slip. There was a screen on the wall displaying the numbers. My number was called after less than a 30 minute wait. I was at the window being helped for about 5 minutes and then well on my way to enjoying the rest of my day off! Next stop...DMV! Too bad they are not run by the social security office! read more

Sarah Boykin called me to follow up on my denied claim. This woman is out of this world. she made me feel good about myself. I've had many health challenges this past five years and it's hard to stay positive. receiving a denied claim is rough and I was dreading writing the appeal. Sarah took time to interview me and completed the appeal for me. I hope someone at the top of the social security food chain recognizes this hard worker. Thanks so much Sarah read more

Just got married.....someone going to change their name, live in Durham? Go to the Durham social security office. Easy to find, the GPS will take you to the front door. They are locate on the second floor of the building, the elevator will take you to their front door. They are still requiring face masks and provide them at the front desk. Check yourself in at the kiosk, get your number and take a seat. Lobby and restrooms are clean. Went on a Monday morning, found parking, seats in the lobby with no problem. Waited about 30 minutes to be called. Overall a good experience. If your hungry for breakfast drive 2 minutes up the street to the Bull and Bean, you won't be disappointed. read more

After trying to reach the national number of Social Security numerous times, I decided to go to the Durham Social Security Office. I did not have an appointment. I was pleasantly surprised when I had only waited about fifteen minutes....my number was called and I went to the window where a very pleasant, helpful gentleman was waiting to answer my questions and resolve my problem. I was with him for about ten minutes, and I left the SS office with all my concerns resolved. (All total, I was there for 25 minutes) I would give this agency ten stars if I could. I will never waste time again on the national Social Security phone number which either hangs up on you, or makes you wait for over an hour! read more

Very smooth process and I was served quickly. Check in kiosk with number, then called to the appropriate staff member. I did make sure I had everything with me. It was all processed in about 20 minutes. Prior to this, I spent 90 minutes on hold with the national number to correct something. Going in person saved me so much time! read more

So helpful over the phone and very nice in person. They are clear and easy to understand. Thanks very much. I don't hesitate to call or go there in person. read more

I called to get an answer about my ssr. I waited on hold for 18 minutes. Then they had the balls to hang up on me! So much for the government institution!!!!! read more

I seemed to have lost my social security card, and not knowing if/when I might need it again, I thought it best to get it replaced while I had a day off and the time to do it. The wait was less than 1/2 hour - but it seems I could have reserved a time ahead of time. The guard was very courteous and pointed me in the right direction. The service provider was also very courteous, professional and helpful with my documentation. I had my new SS card within a week, and it is now locked up in a safe place - HAH - I'm sure this time it will be remembered unlike like the last "safe place" I put my card. read more

Ok, it seems a bit ridiculous of me to consider giving a place like the Social Security Administration more than 3 stars, but I was pleasantly surprised by my visit to the SSA in Durham. It's most likely because my expectations were incredibly low. After reading scathing reviews about the Raleigh location, and hearing from others to avoid it like the plague, I decided to try my luck in Durham instead. It was going to be an extra 7 minutes driving from Cary, but for potentially faster and friendlier service, I thought it would be worth it. I came on a Monday at 8:55 AM (they open at 9). There was already a pretty long line, and they were slowly letting people in when I got there. I got a ticket around 9:05 AM and had to wait a little less than an hour to be served. I was out of the door by 10 AM. I had to return again that day because I had forgotten a document. I was dreading having to wait again, because the waiting area was getting packed during my first visit. I arrived back at around 11 AM, and got out at 12:15 PM - so a little over an hour total time for that visit. Not bad, in my opinion. Considering that I heard stories about people waiting 3+ hours at the Raleigh location, I consider my visits to this SSA pretty successful. The people that helped me were nice and informative - not rude at all. The waiting space is pretty small, so it might give someone with claustrophobia a little anxiety if it's packed with people, but I spent some of my waiting time outside, which worked well on a nice day. It's not a place I would ever choose to be without reason, but it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. read more

I called to make an appointment, and spoke with Ms. Brandon. She was EXTREMELY knowledgeable , and helpful. Gave websites to enroll in Extra Help, and local office to help for county 'buy in" help. And she was very nice and cared. Can't say enough nice things about my brief experience. read more

Look, I put off going here for 9 months because I was scared of having to wait there all day. I got there an hour and half after it opened, and it was full. However, they have it divided into 4 different sections so you are only waiting on the people who are there for the same reason as you are. So clever!! This made the wait a lot easier to deal with. People were friendly, and the security officer was very helpful and polite to every single person that came in. I was in and out in just over 45 minutes, which I thought was fantastic. Do have all of your paperwork and documents ready though. read more

Needed to come here to change my name since I just got married Left work at 3 to be sure I'd make it to the office before they closed at 4. Got there around 3:25. Went in, signed into the sign in machine thing, and there was only about 5 other people. Left by 3:45! Couldn't believe how fast it was. Most polite lady helped me as well. read more

Reading the previous review, I was really dreading going here to change my name after getting married. HOWEVER, I was pleasantly surprised. I went on a Monday around 1pm and was surprised to find there was NO LINE - with only one person ahead of me in the waiting room. I had all my documentation filled out ahead of time and was 5 minutes in the waiting room and 5 minutes talking to the lady once my number was called. The woman I spoke with was pleasant and efficient. I was out of there in no time. I would have given this more than 3 stars but the little YELP description for 4 stars was "Yay! I'm a fan." which is going a little bit too far when describing time spent at a government office. read more

Fact: There are a couple of places universally one should avoid like the plague. These include the DMV, the post office, and Burger King. Fact: You will have a long wait. You will have disgruntled service. And you will be seated next to a guy that smells like urine. I recently discovered that the Durham Social Security office is another such avoid-at-all-costs place. I arrived at 2:30, hoping to avoid any lunch rush, but it was still crowded, and -- an added bonus! -- full of crying infants. I took a ticket from the automated machine and had a seat. Shockingly, my number was called only a few minutes later. At least I think it was. The intercom voice was straight out of Charlie Brown. You know...milllllions of women get married. And milllllions of women change their last names. And if we can come up with the money and technology to film a state-of-the-art movie like Avatar, can't we freaking create a secure, streamlined, comprehensive name-change service for newlyweds?? Just sayin'. I started pulling the pre-filled forms from my handbag for the customer service rep when I realized (dunh, dunnh, dunnnnh) I'd accidentally brought the wrong papers. Crap. I was now marked as one of 'those' people -- attributing to a SS CS rep's many miseries. (Nobody knows the trouble they've seen, nobody knows their sorrows.) After much huffing and eye-rolling I was directed to the blank forms. I did eventually leave the office with a name-change receipt and only one mortal enemy made -- all within 60 minutes. Could have been a lot worse. :Reads new last name: Oh, I forgot. It is... read more

There are four stations and two separate rooms where they call people in to. Depending on your reason, you'll be called into the appropriate room or booth. So just because you came early doesn't mean you'll be served earlier. They were calling people by categories A, U, E and R and by names for those that did not have SS numbers yet. I was just getting my name changed so I was in the A group because I already had a SS number. I came at 9:07 and left at 10:05. About an hour wait and bc my procedure was so quick I saw the clerk for about 5-10 minutes. The man helping me said that the best time to come is after 1pm. He said that people mistakenly come early thinking that's the best time, but that's actually the busiest. So... Go after 1PM! read more

I know that state and government offices tend to get a bad rap because they're typically slow and inefficient, however this particular Social Security Administration office has a very streamlined process to get people in and out. I will recommend arriving approximately 30 minutes early because that's when the line begins. They open at 9 a.m. but I would recommend coming at 8:30 a.m. I was in and out in about 10 minutes once the doors open. Not bad. I recommend! read more

In and out in less than 15 minutes to change my last name on a Friday. I'm flabbergasted- my rep was so nice and she responded to my complimenting how organized and quickly it went..."yes, we don't play." Kudos to a well-run office! read more

Drove 1.5 hrs here to find out they are not open until 4 on Wednesday's, they actually close at noon.

I spoke with Miss Kate, who could not have been kinder or more helpful. She was extremely patient with me while I tried to connect her into a three-way call with my mother, who is in assisted living and who I cannot visit due to the pandemic. Mom is often confused and has a hard time finding words for what she is thinking, but Kate was kind and patient and encouraging with Mom and we got everything done. Excellent service from someone who I am sure has busy, stressful days. read more

This was the greatest experience signed in and got called back immediately!!! Looks like coming in the afternoon is the time for no waits. Thanks so much read more

Excellent service!!! It took about 23 min total. Address has changed so make sure you go to the right location. 3511 Shannon rd , Durham is the new location. read more

Well, consider me impressed. I mailed my passport and all forms for a replacement social security card and received the passport back on Saturday (4 days after sending it off) and my new social sec card arrived today (total of 6 days from start to finish). I thought it was going to take much longer. When I mailed my forms I did certified mail so maybe that helped, but otherwise I received my replacement card in a very timely fashion. I would highly recommend mailing rather than going into the office. See my review below for why... Yikes. Arrived at 9 am and the place was packed. Took me 20 minutes to just find a parking spot. There were no forms or instructions inside telling me how to obtain a replacement social security card (read: there were no forms LEFT at 9:30 am... I don't think they were ever even restocked). The place looked very disorganized. I left because I was not planning on waiting 2 hours to speak with someone. I plan on mailing my information and form in to hopefully receive a new card that way, however I am really worried they are going to lose my passport. read more

You know after reading the reviews on google I was tense to go here to get a replacement card but my other options was an hour away so I braved it and was really pleasantly surprised. First off, the security guard was very nice, greeted me and showed me the sign in kiosk and then told me I needed to fill out the application. He was very pleasant and helpful. Although it was very crowded, the process moved pretty quickly. The lady at the window was also very pleasant. I was pretty impressed -this was not a bad experience in any way. read more

I had to change my name and get a replacement SS card for my daughter. I barely had enough time to fill out the two SS card applications before they were calling me back! I arrived 15 mins before 9am, and they were already letting people in the door to check in so they could start calling people back right at 9. They were efficient and very friendly. It was well worth the drive from Cary! Thank you again for all your help! read more

I brought a coat with me just in case there's a need to q outside. To my surprise there's no need. I think I did the right thing drive further down to Durham rather than going to the Raleigh one. The wait was about 25mins. The officer is not too bad. No smile but have my stuff done. So no complains here. read more

I had an excellent encounter with this SS Office. They were prompt and very pleasant. I got my problems solved within 2 days.

I call the national 800 number and had horrible experience, so I then called the Durham office about coming into the office. The woman on the phone at the local Durham office was GREAT! She answered all of my questions and is mailing the necessary forms. The local office was very helpful! read more

I had to get a new social security card and I was with a friend who needed to check up on his SSI I believe it is. They were efficient and surprisingly personable, given the volume of clients there at one time. read more

I went to the social security administration this morning to get a tax form for my mother-in-law. It went very well. There were a lot of people waiting and it felt very crowded, but they kept things moving. I had talked with a Mr. Stevens on the phone and then ended up seeing him in the office. He was so nice and took care of what I needed promptly. It helps so much to deal with kind people in that situation. read more

The Durham Social Security office is not the most pleasant place in town. It can be and mostly is crowded and sometimes loud a lot like some DMV offices and hospital waiting areas. But my experience with staff there has been incredibly positive. I found them knowledgeable, engaged, efficient, and compassionate and invariably pleasant....a complete surprise from what I had expected ito deal with n my application for retirement s. s. benefits. That goes also for telephone interaction with this office. I don't know whether all s.s. offices are like this but one would hope they would be. read more

Are you kidding me??? This damn phone number is not even right! Let's get real! I tried to replace my social security card some years ago and all I got was bullshit from the Durham Social Security Office. I mailed them a photocopy of my drivers license and the original of my Naturalization paper because they told me a photocopy of the Naturalization paper would not do. What happened is my Naturalization paper, the original that I mailed to the Durham Social Security Office was lost and everyone that I spoke with at that office claimed they never received it. So I got nothing, no social security card either! Many weeks later, guess what? The Durham Social Security Office mailed me my Naturalization Paper back. No apology, and again no social security card. I gave up and still today I don't have my social security card. read more

Two Words- NAME CHANGE! If it wasn't for the scary -unprofessional security guard... I would have given five stars for service. Service was excellent, fast and efficient. Thanks for what you do. I arrived around lunch time.. lucky for me the field manager was working the front! read more