Social Security Administration

The security guard is a complete jerk! I just spent the last 2.5 hours on the floor of the office keeping my toddler entertained and the guard just nit picked at any chance he could. He seemed to take great pleasure from telling people what to do and making up arbitrary rules.
2.5 hours for a SSN for my son is just far too long to wait.
Thankfully my interactions with the clerks were better but could not make up for the guard’s rudeness.

I went at 11:40, my appointment was at 12:00 and it took 1 ½ hr after my number was called
Even though I had an appointment and only few people were waiting. Will not recommend this place

Been here like 4 times for the past month. I need help for my grandmother’s ssi. They can’t help me and keep telling the the ppl i need to see is busy each time. Really? Why give me a number and made me wait 2 hours to just tell me that? Waste of my time and gas. They’re rude, attitude, dunno wth they’re talking about. Keep saying not enough staff. Well, dam hire more ppl. I called the 888 and complained also. Not okay. I need help, not for someone to give me an attitude. And oh boy, i gave it back. Believe it.

I went at 8:50 and there was a line around 6 deep, the pleasant security guard came out at 9:00 on the money and let the first group of 4 in to register. About 5 minutes later my group was let in. I registered and grabbed a seat, 5 minutes later I was called up again to register a second time. Sat down for a couple minutes and was called uP to process my replacement card. All in all took around 20 minutes, not too bad in my book

Don’t go hear. The wait was nearly 2 hours. I had to update my address and wanted to confirm what I did on line. The man said they had my address of 4 years ago yet I had gotten mail to my last address from last month… he had it wrong. I told him my address changed recently and he said that he cant update my address without proof of citizenship… WTH? Before he even spoke to me my birth place was confirmed to be in Santa Clara to prove my identity in the first place… IDIOT. I left and called customer service to complain and they said that my last address was successfully updated on line the day before and not to worry. They had no idea what the man was talking about and that he was wrong. What a waste of time. The man also said that it takes months for ss to update their records… really? I think he should be fired because he has no clue what he is doing or saying. He is giving people wrong information and wasting everyone’s time.

I was this morning at this social security office trying to get a document, a racist biitch from window 3 did nothing except showing her true hate for minorities. You heard all kind of crap about this office you ignore it until it happens to you. On top of all she made fun of me and said «you have to wait over an hour» She needs to work else where as citizen do come in all colors now days, don’t like it tough!!! Spoke with others in that office they too experience horrible attitude, then when a majority comes to their windows they are sweet as pie. Fckng racist!!!

Came here on a Thursday at 1030am, there appeared to be 20 people ahead of me. Needed to use the machine in the lobby to get a number. Waited for 30 minutes just to get checked in by the clerk. I needed to change my new last name. I had the paperwork filled out before i got there. I waited a total of 1hr 40minutes for a 5 minute transaction.

ATTITUDE problem. I stopped calling my case worker because she was getting annoyed with me (Sorry I’m not an SSI expert so I ask a lot of questions)
So I call the people answering the main line, just as rude, I don’t understand why government employees act like they hate their lives. Seriously get into another profession people. My daughter has speech impairment and mild hearing loss, so I thought the social security administration would be able to help us. I am a single mother, I work, I go to SJSU, and have been living on my own for years, I might just say screw SSI and stop taking the dam payments just because this office is so freaking rude and seriously have no EMPATHY whatsoever.

If I could give it less then 1 start I would. Please make sure you tell everyone you know to STAY AWAY from the Cottle Rd San Jose social security office. I went in with what I thought I needed, they said they needed something else so, I brought that days later and the lady yelled at me in front of my 3 year old and baby and told me she was going to throw me out because I was interrupting and asking questions. Her name is Janice. I started crying and she got more angry at me.

If you wanna be first in line then be missed called. To end up like you were the 20^th in line. Then come here they ended up telling me they called me in accident even do they checked my id. They were telling all kinds of info on some one else’s account.

I came here at about 11am on a Tuesday with no appointment. I had tried to make an appointment and was told they didn’t make appointments for name changes. I came in, got registered and took a number, and was seen in about 45 minutes. My transaction took about 10 minutes and I was presented with a letter stating my name had been changed and I was free to go. Not too bad for a government office.

Was there on a Thursday morning around 10am. Contrary to online reviews, the wait is an hour. Had to leave as I did not have enough time.
On top of that the security guard on duty that day was rude. Talk about having the illusion of power just because he had a gun and a badge. Seemed to think he gets a license to be rude to people.

I needed a new Social Security card, so I did some searches online and found this Social Security office about 5 minutes from my house. I pulled into the building’s parking lot at 2:15 pm on a Thursday afternoon. I was a little worried because the office closes at 3:00 pm and I heard that there could sometimes be a long wait. (In fact, there’s a 1-​Star review from earlier today that I had just finished reading.)
Anyway, I checked in and got my number, sat down, and prepared for a long wait. In less than 5 minutes, my number was called. (They have an electronic board where your number id displayed, similar to the DMV or your Kaiser pharmacy). I approached the window, handed over my forms which had already been filled out, handed the woman behind the glass my Driver’s License for identification purposes, and waited while she clicked away on her keyboard. By 2:29 pm, she handed me a «receipt» telling me what to expect, when I should receive my new card, and so on.
Was the security guard friendly? Not especially. Did the woman behind the glass greet me with a smile and ask me how my day was going? Nope. But here’s the thing. None of that matters. I was in and out in less than FIFTEEN minutes! That’s what really matters to me and that’s why I’m giving this office a 5-​Star rating.

My first time was a surprisingly pleasant experience. Even without an appointment. I arrived a little early so waited outside for a bit but once the doors opened I was in and out within 20 minutes! My second time however, didn’t get so lucky. Arrived around 9:45−10 a. m & didn’t leave until 11:45. Again, that’s without an appointment. So your best bet is to make an appointment online beforehand if you mind waiting! Staff is helpful & some are friendly if you get lucky. My ONLY complaint is about the «security guard» that was working there on the morning of July 29^th. I didn’t see a name tag but from the moment I walked inside he kept staring at me to the point where I started to feel uncomfortable/​annoyed & long enough for my boyfriend to take notice & acknowledge it. Definite CREEP. Not only that he was also very rude & seemed annoyed with people who needed assistance at the kiosk & almost everyone he came in contact with. I understand that people have bad days but don’t take it out on others just because you hate your life. & believe me I wasn’t the only person there who took notice that morning.

My wife and I have been to the Cottle Road office several times for guidance, and we have always been treated courteously and professionally, and all of our questions have been answered. I NEVER expected to find a government agency as well-​run as this one! You get the feeling that they REALLY care about you and your problems.

thank you fellow Unilocalers for saving me a trip from the center on tully and fontaine. It was crowded and I came here without an appointment to replace my lost social security card, but I only waited 20 minutes. There are many attentive employees here willing to help and keep the wait to a minumum. Very impressive!

I went when they opened about 5 minutes to 9 and the building was packed already. I had all my paper work prepared to go in order to change my name and I was there about 15minutes before they called my name. I definitely recommend if you do not have an appointment to get there at least 10 minutes early to check-​in and get settled.

Just got back from the SSA office on Cottle Road after the quickest interaction with govt services EVER! I am very impressed :)
I was dubious after seeing a full car park outside, but luckily there was a space by the entrance, which I grabbed. Once inside, you have to get a ticket according to the purpose of your visit. Then an officer looks through your purse or any other bag you may have on your person.
I settled down with a good book expecting my number to take forever to come up on the screen. Before I knew it (less than a minute later) a lady called my number and asked me to go to Window 2. You should listen carefully and not get engrossed in your book cos I barely heard her & my number never came up on the screen simultaneously!
No complaints however, as I handed over all the documents the lady requested and answered any questions that she had. Perhaps I had an easy request (update info on social security card) or perhaps I was well prepared with all the docs that she needed (definitely recommend looking at docs required for whatever you’re going in to see them for)?! Whatever the reason, I was over the moon at having spent less than 10mins when I was expecting a 2−3hr wait!
Very happy overall and I really hope the SJ City cuts don’t impact these individuals as I really think they’re doing a fabulous job of being on top of things & providing a fast service. Service isn’t always with a smile, but get over it! They’re not there to hand hold and be nice, they’re there to do the service you came in to request. I really don’t think they were rude because I was a minority (most people who work there seem to be from a non-​Caucasian ethnic minority), so I think your experience will really depend on your attitude and expectations.

The employees at this SS office have, to a one, always been courteous and helpful. Went in yesterday to change my tax withholding status and was in and out in a very short time. The representative who helped me was friendly and helpful and handled by transaction very efficiently.
This has always been the case over the past few years.
Perhaps I’m prejudiced, as I’ve found the California DMV employees to be pretty good people, too.

When you enter the office, you’ll see a self-​service kiosk where you select 1 if you have questions about a social security card or a name change and 2 if you have any other question. After you select 1 or 2, a receipt prints with a number printed on it. Have a seat, and wait a few minutes for your number to be called. I’ve been here twice, and never waited for more than 5 minutes.
The system is pretty good, and works efficiently. The customer service we received today and was good, and so I would be giving it 4 stars except for my previous experience, which knocks the rating down a notch.
A couple of weeks ago, I came here with a question about my newborn daughter’s social security card. The issue was that her name was cut off on the card — there was a missing letter, and I wanted to know if they had just run out of space when they printed the card or if they really had the name in their system incorrectly. The lady who helped me had a little bit of an attitude. The agent suggested that my daughter would end up shortening her name herself and that I should just do that for her right now. Ummm, I don’t think parents need naming advice from social security agents. I tried to ask her if there were any implications for my daughter in the future if she had one letter missing from her middle name on her card, and although I asked several times in different ways, I don’t think the agent really understood the question.