Social Security Administration

When I read the reviews about this place, I was a bit skeptical. But wow, it’s great! My husband and I got married last August and I am finally changing my name now.
I am 9 months pregnant, so I really didn’t want to mess with finding parking or extremely long wait lines or any rudeness, but this place was fantastic. The parking could be tight, but I found a spot open in the front right away.
I came in, asked the nice security guard what to do, used a computer to say I wanted an «other» SSN card. Sat down right in front of the TV that states the number that is being called and waited. I didn’t come in early at all, so I thought I would be there all day. With over 50 people ahead of me, it only took an hour (12:34pm to 1:34pm). It went pretty fast.
The people were super nice, the clientele was nice. All I needed was the application (you can fill out online and print or fill it out there), my marriage license and I think my ID. I brought like everything I had at home for my ID, just in case, and I did not need anything else. After they call your number, it takes one minute and that it’s it! :)
The following website really helped me:
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Great service. Great people. I have finished my errand in 10 mins. I couldn’t believe it:))))

I am very careful with preparing the documents and yet after three attempts I still were not able to change my last name because of marriage. Compared to this place, dmv is heaven!
The first attempt, the wait was too ridiculous and I had to go home to put my daughter to nap. The second attempt, fedexed in my documents. Got a phone call, my marriage certificate is useless because it is more than two years old. Where on their website do they say that it has to be within two years?! I was told that I had to use my driver license with new last name instead. Third time, in person, waited and waited, got to the window, this woman told me that they wanted my marriage certificate after all! Being eight month pregnant and with a toddler, I explained to her that it is hard for me to make another trip there and I can show her an electronic copy on my phone or whoever looked at it during the second attempt can certify that I had one. Beside, dmv wouldn’t have issued me a new ID without it. NO… go back home. She surely enjoyed that little power she has.
This place also closes at or before 3pm. What a joke! It is a government place, I guess they will never care what Unilocal review I write.

I came here to change my name after having gotten married.
I got in line at 8:20 on a Friday. There were 10 people in front of me. There is a parking lot with plenty of spots at that time. By the time the doors opened there were 30 people behind me!
The lobby is clean, air conditioned with natural light through the windows. The staff was courteous. I got my number. I waited five minutes.
I was done by 9:05 am!

Following the advice of other reviewers I arrived at 8:55am. There was no line around the building, only a short line for the check-​in machines. 3 minutes later I had my check-​in number in hand and 5 minutes after that my number was called. I was at the window for 3 minutes and was out of the building by 9:06am.
The staff are cordial, the system works, and if you go early you should be in and out in good time.

Really great experience here. Updating my social security card took 15-​mins. Parking is super easy in the adjacent lot and customer service was as good as could be.
Definitely go on the website and triple-​check all the forms of documentation you need before heading to the office. I feel like that’s the only reason why people have a bad experience.

I rarely review, but must echo the sentiments here. This place is fantastic. Got there about 8:40 a.m. to replace a social security card and the line was 35-​deep. I thought to myself, «oh no, here we go,» and pulled out a book. Office opened promptly at 9:00 a.m. I was out the door by 9:15. The woman who helped me couldn’t have been friendlier and was happy to be there. Absolutely astonishing. Highly recommend you skip the place on Milwaukee and head on up to Lincoln Square.

Per the advice of other reviewers, I showed up at 8:45am on a Monday only to see a line around the building. That being said, the building opened and the process started before 9! I was out in 10 minutes which was a bit surreal. Employees were very helpful and the process was speedy. Always heading here.

Best government office in Chicago hands down! I needed a replacement social security card and I was in there for less than 10 minutes. 1 min to check in on the computer, sat in the waiting room for about 3 min before my number was called, then stood at the window for about 5 min and I was outta there!
Also, they’ve updated the waiting area with two big screens since one of these reviews was posted. The tv that shows up in the photo on here has the numbers that are called scrolling across the bottom so even though sometimes it’s a little hard to understand them through the speakers, you can always just watch the screen.
Also, the guys who helped me was super friendly and fast. I wish I could do all my business at this office.

Barely had to wait 20 minutes to change my maiden name to my married name on my SS card. Parking lot on-​site, though sometimes difficult to find a spot. Overall a great experience here.

Painless, friendly, easy to deal with. I needed to change my SS card due to my married name change, and it was easy as pie. I brought all sorts of ID and items I thought I would need since I actually got married nearly 4 years ago, but all I needed was my DL and Marriage license. The lady who helped me was very friendly and I didn’t need to wait very long. I was able to do it over a (slightly extended) lunch break from work, and grab Wendy’s on the way back to the office. Score!

Overall not bad! The facility itself is clean and big and the first time I went I was able to get parking, second time it was full, so depends. This facility was much better than the Milwaukee office where everyone is crammed together like sardines. There was a little of a wait but not too long. I have been here twice and both times the workers were very nice. Alhough I did hear the worker in the booth on the side of me giving someone the third degree! If I have to go to Social Security I am going to this office because it is the best I have encountered so far!

NOTE: the location above states the address, but fails to mention the fact that this office is split into two different worlds– the workers on the right are kind, normal people while those to the left, are the equivalent of cops with bright lights and telephone books. I think this is where Kafka’s «Trial» should be filmed. He could keep taking numbers, get called on occasionally and be threatened with having to return week after week…
On my second unfortunate visit due to a purposeful reroute of my check– the first employee that waited on me told me «she had the power to take away my check», I encountered another bureaucratic dementor and while waiting for her attitudiness to get my check I witnessed another bureaucratic dementor throwing a tantrum — complete with tears– because she had to «find a check.» I resorted to terse answers, lest I imply I had any opinion, thought or feeling… any of those things would bring immediate questioning and condemnation. «WHY DID YOU NOT GET YOUR CHECK?» that question was asked to me over and over after the check was sent to this office… My first thought was of course… WHY DOES IT MATTER TO YOU? Give me my check. But that is… you know… too presumptuous…
If you have problems with the dementors– see Ms. Diaz she’s the resident Harry Potter.

I got to this office 10 minutes before it opened and there was already a line of about 8 people waiting outside the door. «Oh boy. Here we go.»
I only need my last name changed — why me???
Yes, they call numbers out of order, which makes you jumpy. But I was in and out of there in 20 minutes! I was prepared, the staff were friendly, bada-​bing, bada-​boom! I got my new card in the mail exactly one week later. I never thought I could love a government agency office! Happy day!

Took less than one week to get my new card! Very pleased.

If you need to deal with the SSA in any way, I recommend this facility to make it as painless as possible. I needed a new Social Security card for a job after I misplaced my original one. I filled out all the paperwork (and made sure to bring my passport!) before I got to the office. I arrived about 1pm on a Tuesday and there were probably about 30 people waiting. I took a number, bracing myself for an interminable wait, and they called it within twenty minutes. I was done before 1:30!
The way they work is they have different «classes» of numbers, for example, I was B-​117, which deals with new/​replacement SS cards, but for people who are there for other reasons might have «A» numbers or «C» numbers. As a result, they don’t call numbers in order, so you have to listen closely for when it’s your turn. They then call you up to a numbered window (of which there are about thirty (!), but only about eight or so were actually staffed – not that they needed all of them).
Still, there are a lot of actions you can perform online or by mail if you don’t want to wait in a physical space. I just didn’t want to risk getting my passport lost in the mail, and I figured I had some time to kill that day anyway. I ended up spending way more time on the CTA than I ever did in the SSA office, which was a surprise to me.

I didn’t go to this facility but I applied for a new social security card through the mail with this office. I had to mail in my drivers license, marriage license and my old social security card with my maiden name. Yes, I was crazy to mail in my drivers license but I didn’t want to deal with the social security office downtown and I couldn’t make it to this office because of my office job.
Needless to say, I got my license and other documents back in a week. I received my brand spanking new social security card a week after that! If you can go without your DL for a week, I HIGHLY recommend that you mail you stuff in. So much easier than going to their offices.

i got married, and needed to change my last name on my SS card. I filled out the form before hand, and got to the office a few minutes after 9, prepared to wait awhile… by 9:20, i was done and out of there! they seem to be pretty efficient,

After having my social security card stolen when my house was robbed, I knew I’d have to pay this place a visit, and I was dreading it.
On a few different occasions, I drove through their parking lot looking for a spot, and finding none, just kept going. I figured that if there are no spots to park, there are no spots to sit and I’d be waiting. forever.
One day, I just sucked it up and went in, book in hand like Colleen suggested, and I was very pleasantly surprised to be in and out in about 30 minutes.
A few things to note:
It gets very loud inside, and they have no visual cues as to what number has been called. If you are hard of hearing, sit in the front row or bring a hearing person with you.
They call numbers out of order. I couldn’t quite figure out the system, but it seemed as though they were trying to mix up quick requests with more time-​consuming ones.
The people watching here is very interesting!
My experience here could have been much, much worse. I actually left with a smile on my face.

Ok, after my experience at the Milwaukee SS office, I was bracing myself for the worst. I brought magazines, books, etc. I was prepared to wait, wait some more…
I showed up at 8:40am, 20 minutes before the 9am opening time. There were 10 people there. My soul dropped some.
However, they opened the doors at…8:45?! What? Do they not know they are a government office?! So yes, I had number in hand, and seated in the clean, newish waiting room by 8:47. But still, about 9 people ahead of me, so I figured… it’s gonna be awhile.
I was on my way by 9am. Seriously, I was so shocked, I could barely believe it.
Oh, and there are the sneering pics of Bush/​Cheney, but they are sort of hidden, for the sanity of those seeking social security assistance. :)
There is a large parking lot, easily accessible bathrooms and everyone I dealth with was helpful, albeit a bit cranky… but hey…9am at a government office, whaddygonna do?