Have you ever been to a Social Security Office? Have you been getting the run around? Do you feel angry and frustrated when you leave?

When you need to make a trip to the Social Security Office there are certain things which you need to know ahead of time.

 

(1) What goal are you trying to achieve?

(2) What information do you need to get or bring with you. Example: Drivers License and Social Security Card.

(3) Do you need forms to fill out?

When you get to the Social Security Office it is always very confusing. You are a step ahead if you call first and make an appointment. If not, you have to take a ticket and wait your turn.

Waiting your turn could take hours since you never know when someone is going to have a complicated problem and take a lot of time to solve.

I have found since making several trips to the Social Security Office with a friend to try and straighten out her particular problem that when you get to the office, you have to start explaining your entire story from the beginning, (as you have done on every previous visit).

Then you may be told to fill out more paperwork (which you might have already filled out), or are told everything is taken care of and you will receive a letter in the mail in about two weeks.

When you never receive the letter you were promised it is time for another trip to the Social Security Office circus once again, to begin your explanation of why you are there. Sometimes it is worth it to ask for the supervisor so you can finally come to a conclusion to your problem.

We have learned several times that our paperwork was sitting on the desk of someone who was transferred, no longer in the office. The supervisor has the authority to locate and reassign or deal with the problem themselves.

SUGGESTIONS:

(1) Keep all your paperwork about the Social Security Office together in one folder. Take it with you every time you call or go to the office.

(2) When you fill out paperwork at the Social Security Office have it stamped by the Customer Service Representative to show it was completed, and keep a copy. Next time you won’t have to fill it out again.

(3) Keep notes of every visit, the date, time, the person you spoke to, and the conversation in your Social Security folder.

(4) ALWAYS be sure that the next step is explained so you understand it.

(5) Never assume since you filled out the paperwork and handed it in, that it was actually inputted into the computer system.

(6) Call the Social Security Office three days later to see if your paperwork has been updated in their computer system. (Or another visit will be required.)

(7) Keep your sense of humor, be patient, and you may survive, and actually achieve your goal.

The Social Security Office is a very important government agency. It serves many purposes and thousands of consumers a day.

Unfortunately, our experience is that it doesn’t usually run smoothly and that is a shame. The people working there may be very nice, but it is the system that is disorganized.

I ask this question. Why does it have to be this way? Why can’t the Social Security Office be restructured to work for the consumers without hassle, a migraine headache and definitely less stress.

Thank you for reading my article. Please feel free to read any of my numerous articles on many various and interesting subjects.

Copyright Linda E. Meckler 2007

www.lmeckler.com
author Ghost Kids Trilogy
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