Shocked and Amazed

[Johnnu2]

I normally can't find anything good to say about the various government-run agencies/offices; BUT a few days ago, I had to go to the Social Security office after delaying it literally years.... (for a minor correction to my name......long story from the 1960's). When I got inside, I was immediately surprised by the cleanliness of the waiting area, and the FRIENDLY officer (I think most government offices now have armed officers in the lobby?) who helped me get started. Even though there were people sitting in the waiting area, I was surprised by the quiet. The guard pointed me to a kiosk which always strikes fear into my old heart; he told me it was very EASY to use. I did have my wife with me so she helped me thru the prompts. The kiosk asked a few questions re: why "we" were there. That made sense in order to assign us to the right person, AND, perhaps told them the level of difficulty/simplicity of our case (?). The next BIG surprise was before I could even complete the necessary (one page/simple) form, we were called to go to window 17. Another big surprise, we followed a QUIET, CLEAN office corridor away from the waiting area into another long corridor with individual (clearly numbered) windows. Each window had two chairs and a work shelf with a very presentable person waiting for us (behind bullet proof glass). Within LESS than 10....maybe 15 minutes, we were done and presented with a letter describing that I would get my new card sent to my home in TWO WEEKS. BIGGER SURPRISE than the 2 week turnaround, the young lady wrote her office phone number on the letter and told me to call her if: 1) my card did not arrive in two weeks; 2) if I didn't receive a new MEDICARE card within two months.
I tried to leave them a super positive review, but wasn't able to do so without registering an on-line account with SSA.... as many of you know, I don't do ANYTHING like that on-line, so, I thought I would give them a great review here.
p.s. The last government office I went to was the VA for a new "registration" when I moved back to NYS (mandated move). It took me three trips to that office and well over 6 months to get my new VA card.....
GOD BLESS my new SAA office.......... no, not saying where
J.

 

[6GUNSONLY]

I also had a very pleasant, efficient, and effective visit to my local SS office a few months ago. As you, I was very pleasantly surprised.

 

[eveled]

Very nice to hear.

 

[Jeepnik]

I can pretty much echo the good experiences. When I applied it went very smooth. When my wife did the same there was a minor glitch. They needed to see both her birth and marriage certificates.

Showed up at the appointed time and place. Maybe a five minute wait and we sat down with the representative. Turned out someone with the same name had also applied and they wanted to just check the documents.

 

[pawncop]

I also was very pleased with my local SSA office. She really had customer service down pat and was most helpful. Have not had a reason to return but feel confident about it, if I needed to.

 

[NC FNS]

Nice to hear good stories.
After my wallet was stolen in 1982, it was so difficult to get a replacement SS card that I just gave up. Fast-forward to 2011 when I moved to NC. Found out you MUST have a SS card to get a NC driver’s license. I dreaded the long trip to Asheville to finally replace mine, but it turned out to be an easy, pleasant, painless experience. Ditto for my next trip there, after I had been marked dead by SSA.

 

[Aqualung]

Mrs Aqualung is now eligible to collect. Can she get set up and apply online, or do we have to go to an office?

Aqualung

 

[Jeepnik]

Mrs Aqualung is now eligible to collect. Can she get set up and apply online, or do we have to go to an office?

Aqualung

What I found was that if she is drawing SS from an account she paid into you can do it on line. If she is drawing it on your account you can start it on line, but they will want to see certified copies of your marriage certificate and her birth certificate. I guess they are doing that to confirm her eligibility. It was no bit deal and like I said took only a very few minutes. Most of that was them making copies of those documents. Social Security is probably the only governmental department that actually works for the citizens.

 

[Aqualung]

Thanks. We'll look into it, then.

She's 7 years older than I am, so can't pull from mine (or at "my rate") yet.

Aqualung

 

[Armybrat]

We both had efficient experiences at our local SS office.
Then again, the employees were all Texans.

 

[Johnnu2]

UPDATE: in LESS THAN A WEEK, my new Soc. Sec. card arrived..... !!!
In NY State no less.....
I'm totally AMAZED and wondering if there is some mistake....
p.s. Mr. Aqualung...... my personal preference will ALWAYS be IN PERSON..... I do nothing "financial" on line.....that's just me !!!

J.