Social Security Administration

8:05am, Thursday morning.
It’s been raining, so it’s super cold.
I was about the 14^th person in line.
At 8:45am, they opened early to let people in.
I needed to replace a card so I was expecting to have a long day of filling out papers, getting back in line, waiting for them to make copies of some documents.
But it was REALLY SIMPLE.
Everyone, from security, check-​in, and to the lady who helped me, they were all friendly.
It took me less than 5min to get my things done, and I was out by 8:59am.
This place knows how to make things run smoothly and efficiently.

Unilocal Challenge 2015 ³¹⁸⁄₃₆₅
Came here, like most people do for one reason and that’s to change my last name. Super easy process, was in and out in about an hour, then went to the DMV afterwards.
Lots of different walks of people here, visiting for different reasons. Kind of depressing in a way anf makes you cherish what you have.
Documents are available online to fill out and print making the experience even easier. To save time have your paperwork ready.
#793

This one sucks. GO to Santa Ana. Off 1^st.

Probably one of the better government facilities I’ve been to. I just got married and I needed a new social security card because I changed my last name. I came on a Friday around 9:20 am. I was out by 9:35 am.
I came right as the first people started to leave, thus, I didn’t have to find parking on the street. I highly recommend you do your research online. Fill out the appropriate forms online and bring the correct documentation; it will make your life way easier. In my case, I came with my original marriage certificate, drivers license, and the completed form.
I was checked in at the front door and given a number. Literally five minutes later, they called my number. Definitely a good experience! Thank you!

parked. checked in. did what I needed to do. ALL IN 15 Minutes…
probably the best run government agency I have experienced
was at a different social security administration location and waited for over 1.5 hours and I didn’t even get close to getting my number called …
next time I m coming back to this location

I had to come here to change my last name after getting married. Parking was terrible and there is street sweeping on Monday so you can’t park on the neighborhood street. :(
When I got in at 9:05 it was better and more efficient than I thought it would be. I took a number and it was moving very quickly. The office is new and not run down which is a plus. I was out of there before 10am! Score!!!

Excellent service, as long as you have an appointment.

Way better than I had imagined! I was ready for a dreaded horrible experience but I’m okay being here right now. I got in the door very quickly & was helped right away to get going with forms. The security guys are both friendly (one scared the crap out of me bc I didn’t know he was right behind me & had a good sense of humor ab it– that added to being comfortable in here while waiting, non of the bogus stick up a butt stuff)
You should deff get an appointment, it does cut down your time by a great deal. You don’t have to wait in the reg line & that’s where some waiting takes place. With that said though, I did not make one & I’m doing okay (so far). It’s still early though so I think I beat any hassle that will take place later in the day.
The parking lot is small, every small. But I had no problem getting parked within seconds of pulling into the lot.
Oh yeah, don’t take their pens. Apparently they really like them & want them back (:
Probably would have been 5 stars, but the smell of pee is so bad in here. :/

The security guards are so kind. The social worker was sweet and caring. Parking sucks.

I was dreading going here to update my citizenship status. My friend told me it was worse than DMV. I arrived 8:50 am and left 9:30 am without an appointment. This place is clean and well organized. Needless to say, my experience was painless! Good job, Anaheim!!!

Lost my ssn and have to go get a replacement –’
I dread and dread going there, but in the end just gotta do it, I was there around 3, maybe, n that day they close at 4.
Good amount of people waiting. Got my number and wait. The wait is long, but I m already expecting that… It’s a clean place. The door man was nice enough to help with the number.
My turn, the lady who help me was very friendly. The process was fast and I was done under 10 min :))
Going home a happy camper ^^

came here multiple times. 2 security guards are nice and respectful. 2 of the employees were jerks (they just tripping over little power), 1 was helpful and nice even after a long day.
lines are ridiculous.
they open 9 to 3, except Wednesday, 9 to 12.
as long as you are inside by 3 you can wait for your turn.
COME EARLY AND TRY TO MAKE APPOINTMENT OF POSSIBLE
parking is OK. close to the 5 FWY.
minus the grumpy employees, there is ALWAYS a crazy, or homeless guy mumbling inside. although I feel bad, they smell and talk so loudly to everyone. or argue with the employees, which probably makes them grumpy.

For a government office I must say these people have it figured out. After reading other reviews I got to the office at 8:30 to wait in line. It was before 9 when they started moving people forward so that was a nice start. They pulled those with an appointment out of line to get in right away. Once the line started moving it was pretty quick. They screen before they take you in which also helps speed things up. Once I was in the door it was a matter of less than 5 minutes before I was taken into an office and helped. All in all, once in there I was out and on my way home at 9:05. Very nice and helpful staff. Great experience.

I showed up ridiculously early like at 6am and was first in line, I thought it was a mistake to go so early but by 7 there was about 15 people in line and 20 mins before opening, oh boy… the awesome part was I was able to go in 10 mins before they opened and was welcomed with friendly staff and was out before the time they legitimately openeded.

This place is sorta like the DMV. If you can, handle your business either online or through to mail, so you can avoid coming here. I mailed in a copy of my naturalization certificate to get a new social security card, since I had my name legally changed. They mailed it back to me, making sure that they highlighted the part about not making copies «without lawful authority». I must have misunderstood what that means, since I was under the assumption that getting a new social security card gave me the lawful authority to do so. Nope. They want the original.
I did not want to mail the original since if it gets lost, I have to pay $ 300-​something to get a new one, which can take several months. In fact, the folks at the US district court (where I was naturalized) told me it was fine to make a copy and mail it in. This is where I go the info from. Anyway, I went into the office with my original certificate, since they mailed me a pamphlet saying that I needed to bring the original certificate showing my new name.
I get there, and I show Mr. Rivera the following: my passport with my new name, my old SS card with my previous name, and my driver’s license also showing my previous name. Mr. Rivera tells me that he needs both on one document. I showed him the letter they mailed me stating that to PROVE MY LEGAL NAME CHANGE, I can show my «CERTIFICATE OF NATURALIZATION SHOWING A NEW NAME. I was a bit frustrated walking out of there, but I understood.
I called the USCIS to tell them my situation, and discover that they have not run into this issue before. They tell me that the certificate of naturalization should suffice. They also do not have the document I requested and advise me to write a letter to the US Department of Homeland Security to tell them that the Social Security office will not accept my naturalization certificate as proof of my name change, and that I need a petition for name change sent to me. I called the Social Security Administration, and was automatically transferred to the Anaheim office. Mr. Lin said that if I come down with the same documents I brought last time, everything should be fine. I asked him «ARE YOU SURE, BECAUSE I WOULD HATE TO COME AGAIN AND BE SENT AWAY.» He said the naturalization certificate would suffice.
I take another afternoon off of work to go to the office again. The line was a little bit longer today. I waited closer to an hour and a half. I speak with Mrs. Santos and she tells me the same thing Mr. Rivera told me. I asked to see Mr. Lin, but she has no idea who this is. She tells me to call immigration. I told her my story, but she doesn’t seem to care.
There is no number for the local offices, so you have to go through the centralized call center (866−657−3133). The folks there and the folks at the local offices need to get on the same page, because it doesn’t seem like they know what they’re doing. They also need to UPDATE THEIR DOCUMENTS. The one star review is because Mr. Lin told me to come back, and wasted my time. Looks like I’ll have two legal names for awhile.

I don’t know why the hours aren’t noted on Unilocal… but usually they open at 9AM I believe for most days. You can call in at any time for the hours to be told to you by the automated machine. I came here yesterday around 8AM. There was already a short line outside but that’s expected at such a place. Still, they opened 15 minutes early and I was done by 9AM. I was there for a social security card replacement. The staff and security were polite and helpful. Good experience. :) I suggest setting up an appointment, however they were pretty efficient regardless.

NOTE: This location CLOSES at NOON (12:00pm PST) on Wednesdays.
With that said, with any Government Office, the best thing to do is go early and get it done as soon as possible — if you procrastinate and decide to go later in the day, then you’re going to have to sacrifice your SWEET time.
This SSA Location is fairly new, so hence, it’s CLEAN. Believe me, I went to one in LA County once, and I still shudder at the thought.

Timing is everything with any government owned establishment. I had no appointment and I got here about two hours before closing. Only 3 windows were open and many people were waiting. On the last hour, ALL windows opened to speed up the process.
Bottom line: This place is pretty organized. Anyone needing SS related assistance should come here.

Super nice staff!!!
But you have to wait in a room full of weirdos for about an hour before you’re called… but that’s not their fault

I will go out of my way to come to this office instead of the Santa Ana office.
VERY EASY PARKING and FREE.
Clean and open waiting area.
FAST
And dare I say… Friendly!
I had to come in for a new card because I’m an idiot and lost mine somewhere along the way. I waited for about 10 minutes, sat down with a friendly man at a window, chatted for a bit, and walked out feeling as though I just had great service at a café.
Is it possible? A government building has provided pleasant customer service?
Now I’m not saying that I’d take my lunch break here or anything, but I would definitely recommend coming here instead of the Santa Ana office. Sure it may be a little bit out of the way if you’re coming from south OC, but it’s well worth it.
How worth it is it?
Well, I have to go back to take care of some other stuff and I’m almost looking forward to it.
Yeah, it’s just *that* easy.