Social Security Administration

I came here so many times to get my social security card that I became the Unilocal Duchess of this place. As much as I like having dukedoms on Unilocal,I don’t think it’s a good sign that I returned here so often to solve a simple problem.
I find it a little odd — and disgusting — that you have to remove your shoes to enter the building. Granted, it is for our safety. But the floor looks so yucky!
The place is full of weird people, of course. I have seen people talking loudly, people having arguments, people showing their underwear… But the security is pretty good and solves the situation fast.
All the employees are pretty polite and friendly. However, when you came back for the same problem, service can be a little annoying. I really don’t like when they ask «Who was the person that talked to you last time?» or when you ask them why it’s taking so long and the answer is a vague «They are still processing it».
All the times I came here, I didn’t have to wait long, which is great! But, I really wish they had faster and better solutions to your problems.

Super fast… I just went there for a new social securitynumber. I could say that I didn’t stay more than 25 minutes.

In and out in 20 mins or less, yay!
Got there by 8.30, and there were already 20 people waiting in line to get in. Security checking was alright, you have to empty your pockets, take off your jacket and shoes, and let them scan your belongings just like at the airports.
There’s 2 kiosk to get your number, so don’t be stuck behind a group of people huddling around the first machine.
The employees that helped me was very nice and friendly. I do wish they have more non-​English speak staffs around to help out, this is San Francisco afterall.
And if your older relatives needs to come here, please accompany them. It’s a little overwhelming for those that can’t speak English.

I was dreading coming to the Social Security Office to change my name thinking it would be a nightmare experience. However, it turned out to be extremely pleasant and my entire trip lasted 30 mins. I arrived on a Friday morning at 8:30 and there were about 10 people waiting in line. At 8:40 the extremely efficient and friendly security guards started letting people in 2 by 2 to go through the security screening. I was sitting down by 8:50, my number was called at 9am and I was walking out by 9:02am. It was fast and easy.

Please choose other SSA.
The officer provided wrong information for me. This situation made me extremely inconvenience. I expected government officers to be professional and accountable. Sadly, sometimes things just happended.
The environment is dirty and smelly. The whole environment makes me feel very insecure, even the name of the office is «Social Security» office.
TL; DR–
(1) If you have choice, please choose another social security office.
(2) They open to 4:00pm. NOT 4:30pm.
It’s called the social security office, but I don’t feel secure of feel someone taking care my security. The officer even provided wrong information for me.
Watch out your personal belongings.
This is an office that needs to be improved a lot.

I cannot give enough praise for Danielle Warren! She is ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL and a true ANGEL!!!
I originally had lukewarm pre-​conceived notions about dealing with government agencies, and these notions were shattered within a few minutes of talking with this exceptional woman. She has worked with the agency for 19 years, and yet she is not burnt out at all and is the opposite of apathetic.
Danielle Warren genuinely cares about helping people and for that I am certain she will continue to have an auspicious career. She has all of the qualities for senior management. She’s hard-​working, intelligent, efficient, energetic, professional, has a lovely temperament & excellent problem-​solving skills, and she truly cares about people and her work.
She is also one of the kindest people I have ever encountered in government. I am completely in awe of her :)

I arrived at 8:30 am to get my name changed. The security guards opened up the building for me and I got my ticket from the kiosk and sat for about 20 minutes until my number was called. I was out by 9:00. It was surprisingly painless! :)

Barely any traffic (relative to other offices), get in by opening at 9 and you’ll most likely be served within 15 minutes. They messed up my SSN delivery and as such, I had to come back here not once but twice (hence my dukedom). But I spent no more than half an hour each time, so if I had to go again I’d go to this branch.

RE: the 560 Kearny Street in San Francisco location was almost enjoyable. They’re organized and helpful.

Rude employees. The area is full of trash and occasional syringes.
Come here to be harassed by security guards and by drug addicts.

I had a great experience here today dealing with some paperwork issues. I was seen quickly (arriving early is best) and the person who took care of us was courteous and got us exactly what we needed. Thank you! :)

I worked with a young man at the SF Downtown office named Toni who has been extremely helpful and courteous and professional. There have been complications in my application process and he is working with me to fix them. I am very grateful for his assistance.

My partner just received his temporary Employment Authorization Card while we were waiting for our green card interview. With the EAD he was able to get a temporary social security number which allowed us to set up his and our joint bank account. He went in and without much wait requested it and then received it in the mail the next week (about 5 business days later). AWESOME, thanks government! :)

Wow excellent service from the staff here including the friendly security guards! Didn’t have to wait long and the security told me which forms I needed to fill out while I was waiting for my number to be cal, Ed which made it a lot easier when I got to the window and the lovely well dressed and well spoken Chinese American man helped me with no hassle at all and I was on my way within minutes! Thank you!

I needed to change my name on my card and didn’t make an appointment. I went in around 1 pm, grabbed a ticket and was called 45 minutes later. After waiting, the actually process took about 5 minutes or so and the lady was pretty friendly. The worst part was waiting, it’s quite the place and there are many characters around, but it didn’t take too horrendously long.

1. I called the 800 number to make an appointment for a replacement social security card and was given the option of leaving my phone number (rather than wait on hold) and getting a return call when I was at the front of the line.
2. I received a return call from SSA about 45 minutes later and was able to make a 10:30 a.m. appointment several weeks later.
3. On the day of my appointment, I arrived at 10:15 a.m., checked in at a computer screen and was called to a window within several minutes.
4. The security officers as well as the representative at the window were friendly and helpful.
5. I left the office with my business matters complete within 15 minutes.

6. I received my replacement card in the mail four business days later!
Yes, it absolutely helps not to be in desperate need for a document from SSA; I could afford to wait several weeks for an appointment. And yes, I brought all the necessary paperwork and documentation with me. These things certainly helped, but my recent interactions with SSA were very positive and resulted in a surprisingly great customer experience.

I went here to file a disability retirement application.
The people in the waiting area ranged from quiet and patient to deranged and impossible to please. One man had to be escorted out because he created a ruckus.
The check-​in process is not obvious, but a security guard pointed out the computer screen and helped me check in. Then I had to wait about 40 minutes before my number was called.
The clerk at the counter was very helpful and pointed out a computer that I could use to start the application process.
Then I had to wait about 20 minutes before a man opened the office door and called my name. We went to his cubicle and he was pleased because my forms had been filled out in advance by the Positive Resource Center.
Still, it took time for him to enter the data into the SSA computer. In the meantime, I chatted with the worker, Tony Garcia, who was courteous, patient and extremely helpful. He even worked into his lunch hour so complete the process.
He not only filed the disability retirement application, but also a supplemental security income form and explained the difference very carefully.
Tony definitely did his best to do all he could for me and I appreciate his time and extraordinary effort. He even took steps to correct my name, which was incorrectly entered in the SSA system. He is definitely an asset to the office.

I honestly wish the state went undercover and checked out how the employees treated their «customers» here. I seriously walked in the building and was escorted out (while being screamed at) for not reading the sign posted on the door. There were about 15 signs posted on the door (I kid you not) so no, I didn’t have a chance to read all of them. Apparently only two people at a time are allowed to go through the medal detector and security screen point at one time. Take note.
When I walked into the seating area, another security guard yelled at me and asked what I was doing there. When I told him the reason why I came, he barked at me and told me he didn’t understand me. I’m not sure what the problem was, I’m a native born english speaker; I grew up in Boston so maybe my accent was a bit thick? Either way, he yelled at me some more, jammed a ticket in my hand and told me to take a seat. There was no one behind me, why did he have to be so rude?
I’m used to working with an underserved population so the variety of people I witnessed didn’t bother me one bit. I don’t think it’s fair to rate this establishment based on the population that frequent it, so that does not contribute to the low score. I came on the first of the month (I suggest you avoid those days) and everyone was trying to sort out their financial problems. The wait was about an hour and a half so I’d also suggest you get there first thing in the morning, not around noon time like I did.
My number was called and I spoke with the woman at the window and she was extremely polite and helpful. Absolutely no problems with her. I wish something could be done about the security guards because it’s apparent they have such a power issue. I hope to never come back, just not a place you want to be.

I don’t think that reviewing this place depending on the customers is representing of the service you get.
Sure, the crowd is rough, but what do you expect at 7^th and Market?
Having said that, this is the SSN office that I went to, and Ms Love, with whom I had an appointment with, actually fixed my problem (problem of name on SSN card). When all other SSN offices (Mission and he one in FiDi) dismissed me and told me I needed to go back to Europe to change my name to match their records (!!) or my favourite «get a court order to change YourName to YourName for us to fix this mistake», this woman, just looked at what the regulations were and fixed it for me in 10 minutes flat.
I have nothing but praise and big thanks!
And the security guard nside the building was very friendly and made me feel he had my back.
It is hard to believe, but a very easy 5 out of 5 for a government office :)

Looks can be deceiving: Although the building is spanking brand new with the most excellent architecture, it is pretty scary (oh gawd some of the clients) once you get inside .
Thank goodness I did not have to wait in this newly designed building that has some very strange people as clients. I felt like I was in an insane asylum, the kind that I used to see in the movies; thank goodness I only had to pick up some literature.
Get ready to go through metal detectors and have some burly and mean security guards take you through the hoops. Be ready for a lot of strange characters straight out of central casting to act out in low class, smelly ways, and maybe act out violently.
The majority of the clients look like they are living a a pretty hard life; the majority are pretty messed up emotionally and physically. Many of them are either ex-​substance abusers, on drugs, have seriously emotionally disabilities, and some don’t have much education.
Of course there are those regular folks that are just attempting to get their names changed (marriage etc) Social Security cards replaced, check on their retirement benefits, or just apply for a card if they are new immigrants, or either lost their original. I would suggest getting in line at little before 9:00 am during a mid week day. Don’t take anything that will be confiscated by the security guards because they won’t hold it for you at their desk and you won’t be able to enter. I had a loud 911 noise maker and I could not take it in and had to go out side and hide it in the bushes. Also, don’t go on the 3^rd or 4^th (distribution of benefits) of the month.
Remember to take a book or take your IPOD to listen too. Make sure to be hyper-​vigilant and protect yourself when you are waiting there. Self-​protection is key.
If at all possible, try to take care of your business over the phone. Also, it you have to leave something off, you can leave it in the secure drop box (it is located on the left right when you some into the facilities entry doors.

Scary place. Not the staff, though — just the people in line next to you. Hold your purse close to you and be aware of your suuroundings. Try not to let the smell bother you.
I recommend you CALL AHEAD TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT. Find out what forms you need to fill out and download them online, and have them filled out when you get there, along with amy necessary documentation. If you do all of this, your appointment will be done in 10 minutes. Allow yourself an extra 15 minutes prior to your appointment to go through security (similar to what you go through at the courthouse).
I just went to get my last name changed, and I hope I never have to go back again. Eeek. But like I said, the staff was great which is why I’m giving the place 3 stars. It’s just a shady area, so be prepared.

It used to be great but not no more since now they have new security guards working at the entrance doing a bag search and I noticed they changed the hours of the weekdays. It used to open as early as 7am and close at 4pm. I went there and this one lady employee working at one of the windows was incredibly rude to me. I’m not gonna go into details but she could care less if you’re having a bad day or great day. Well, at least I was having a great day before then. I also didn’t like the fact that I could not bring in my pepper spray. So I had to go outside and left it hidden in the bushes where I know I could find it. The one time I did that. Someone had found it and took it while I was inside on a busy week.
I don’t know if I can ever set foot into that hell hole again but unfortunately I have to.