| y"> | | | | longer in the office. The supervisor has the authority to |
| Have you ever been to a Social Security Office? | | | | locate and reassign or deal with the problem |
| Have you been getting the run around? Do you feel | | | | themselves. |
| angry and frustrated when you leave? If you have | | | | SUGGESTIONS: |
| said yes or no to any of these questions, read on. | | | | (1) Keep all your paperwork about the Social Security |
| When you need to make a trip to the Social Security | | | | Office together in one folder. Take it with you every |
| Office there are certain things which you need to | | | | time you call or go to the office. |
| know ahead of time. | | | | (2) When you fill out paperwork at the Social Security |
| (1) What goal are you trying to achieve? | | | | Office have it stamped by the Customer Service |
| (2) What information do you need to get or bring with | | | | Representative to show it was completed, and keep a |
| you. Example: Drivers License and Social Security | | | | copy. Next time you won't have to fill it out again. |
| Card. | | | | (3) Keep notes of every visit, the date, time, the |
| (3) Do you need forms to fill out? | | | | person you spoke to, and the conversation in your |
| When you get to the Social Security Office it is | | | | Social Security folder. |
| always very confusing. You are a step ahead if you | | | | (4) ALWAYS be sure that the next step is explained |
| call first and make an appointment. If not, you have to | | | | so you understand it. |
| take a ticket and wait your turn. | | | | (5) Never assume since you filled out the paperwork |
| Waiting your turn could take hours since you never | | | | and handed it in, that it was actually inputted into the |
| know when someone is going to have a complicated | | | | computer system. |
| problem and take a lot of time to solve. | | | | (6) Call the Social Security Office three days later to |
| I have found since making several trips to the Social | | | | see if your paperwork has been updated in their |
| Security Office with a friend to try and straighten out | | | | computer system. (Or another visit will be required.) |
| her particular problem that when you get to the office, | | | | (7) Keep your sense of humor, be patient, and you |
| you have to start explaining your entire story from the | | | | may survive, and actually achieve your goal. |
| beginning, (as you have done on every previous visit). | | | | The Social Security Office is a very important |
| Then you may be told to fill out more paperwork | | | | government agency. It serves many purposes and |
| (which you might have already filled out), or are told | | | | thousands of consumers a day. Unfortunately, our |
| everything is taken care of and you will receive a | | | | experience is that it doesn't usually run smoothly and |
| letter in the mail in about two weeks. | | | | that is a shame. The people working there may be |
| When you never receive the letter you were | | | | very nice, but it is the system that is disorganized. |
| promised it is time for another trip to the Social | | | | I ask this question. Why does it have to be this way? |
| Security Office circus once again, to begin your | | | | Why can't the Social Security Office be restructured |
| explanation of why you are there. Sometimes it is | | | | to work for the consumers without hassle, a migraine |
| worth it to ask for the supervisor so you can finally | | | | headache and definitely less stress. |
| come to a conclusion to your problem. We have | | | | Thank you for reading my article. Please feel free to |
| learned several times that our paperwork was sitting | | | | read any of my numerous articles on many various |
| on the desk of someone who was transferred, no | | | | and interesting subjects. |