Bellevue WA Social Security Office

I happened to help familyu2019s members coming here a lot.nDuring Pandemic they take reservations through stateu2019s phone numbers.nNow since theyu2019re opened back up, there is no need of making appointments. The line is long , but going by really fast. We was waiting for 45minutes total (35 minutes outside and 10 minutes inside). Totally spending time 60 minutes.nMake sure you check in at the kios for the ticket number and answer all the questions before sit down. Appreciate all the staff here as they are very patients and on task. I read some frustration reviews, and totally understand how ppl are angry, but if you communicate things will be smoother.nThere is a gentleman came and didnu2019t wait in line as he said he just wanted to drop some documents off. It was an easy fixed he talked to the securities and they were be able to help him with it. In and out within 5 minutes.

No walk ins . I went after thanks giving and was told by the security officer to make an appointment calling to the office. Came here read all the comments. No hope and never got connected to them. Called them for 4 days 1 hours of wait time. Never got connected.nnBut someone then told me that they got connected to the Customer service people. So finally had hope of getting connected and magically got connected to them after 30 min of wait. They asked few questions to make sure what service I wanted like my zip code , if it's for myself etc. Then they connected me to the answering machine to leave my details. So with in 24 hours of working hours they will call you back. They will try 2 times to reach you. If you don't pick up call while they call you , you have to call to the Customer service center again and leave the details for another call back. They called me twice and I couldn't pick up. So I called and left them another message clearly stating my name phone number and the reason for an appointment. This time they called back ,I picked the call and I got an appointment . Hope this helps someone.nnThey are understaffed I guess. They don't know you or you don't know them. They are just doing thier job. One cannot compare thier Customer service with other customer service who have 24/7 support with staffs across countries.nnI went there at the time of my appointment and this time the security person had my name in his list . The staff was very helpful. It was very fast. Every thing was smooth.nnI just want someone to find this information helpful.

Original (Jan 18): I never thought getting the SSN would be the most stressful experience after I relocated to the US. Before calling the office, make sure you stayed in the US for the last 15 days, this is their hard requirement during the COVID pendamic. Once you stayed long enough to book the appointment, it will take about 2~3 hours calling the office trying to get someone to pick up the call (from my experience if the call was not answered within 30 minutes, try redialing again), then I was fortunate enough to get a call through just to leave my details down so they can call me back with an appointment date. The automated response then says I will be getting a call back within 24 hours, which unfortunately did not happen. So I called back again, and after hours of waiting, I was told they have a huge backlog which now needs ADDITIONAL 7~10 days before they can get back to me with an appointment date.nSo If you realize you are shortstaffed, you need to at least allow people to book ahead of time. instead of telling them to wait for 15 days, then another god knows how many days. This is such a critical government service which I can't belive how it got to the current state.nThis has to change!nnUpdate (Feb 2): Seems like the process may have changed on their end, I was very lucky to have a call through after another two days of trying, the last attempt went through in 16 minutes and I explained my situation about not being able to book the appointment for a month, the person was able to directly book me for an appointment early next month. I also got a SMS confirmation right away. Although the wait time is long, it seems I would need 2 ~ 3 months after arrival to get my SSN, but I'm thankful that I can see the light at end of the tunnel! Don't give up trying!nnTips for Canadians: land travel across the border exempts you from the 14 days quarantine requirement.

I sent my passport to their office last May. Then, I had called them several times; after 2 months, I got an appointment. Although I received my SSC 3 weeks later, I haven't received back my passport. I had called them again and again, no one answered the phone. I don't know how to take my passport back. It has been 7 months.

Iu2019ve received different information from different representatives within the SSA offices. Submitted all proper documentation for last name change, got a rejection letter, with no indication of why it was rejected. Was told to call to dispute but have never been able to get someone on the line stayed on hold for an hour the first time before having the call dropped. Called a second time, waited on hold for 90 minutes (30 minutes past their closing time), gave up and hung up. Tried calling several more times and got an automated message that they were unusually busy and to try again later, disconnected.nnI would love to just walk in with my documents and get this sorted out once and for all. However, you need an apt to do so, you canu2019t scheduled apts online, and I have been unsuccessful at getting connected to an actual person on the other end of a phone call to schedule an apt and/or understand why my documents were rejected.nnTo say this is the worst process ever, would be the understatement of the century. Be prepared for a hamster wheel run around with minimal to no results.

My clients canu2019t even schedule appointment. I was trying to help my client and was patience enough to wait until someone from SS office would answer, after waiting for over an hour they hang up. How do they want people to work?!!! With technology now-days its easy to organize the system that works for everybody. Social Security office is very important office like a hospital. It should work properly. It seems like they are hiding from peopleud83eudd26ud83cudffdu200du2640ufe0fPeople wants to work, open businesses, yeah and people still retiring during pandemic! But without your help they canu2019t do it! Hopefully you know it! Our government should be much better than in other countries gov.! We are not COMMUNIST COUNTRY!!!nWe are THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!!!nPlease do something to changeud83dude4fnWe are not bad peopleud83dude05

Monday morning 2/7/22 I waited on the phone for 1 hour and 23 minutes before I hung up. I applied for Medicare Part B 2 months ago and need some sort of update. I spoke with Social Security ( the national number- they picked up after a 45 minute wait) 2 weeks ago. I was told to wait until this week and if I have not heard anything from Medicare I should get in touch again. I have tried- I am not sure if waiting 8 hours on hold will make a difference- These folks do not answer- if anyone is at work there today. I am going back to the national 1-800 number, perhaps somebody is working there. I sort of need Medical Insurance.

Nice. Got automatically signed up for Medicare, which I don't need. Charged $170 out of my disability check and nobody will answer phones so I can be sure they received my form to get it canceled before they take it out, again, next month. Pretty sure I won't be getting refunded, too. God Bless America land of the most disfunctional government.

Waited an hour and a half on the phone just to get hung up on. And after reading these reviews and hearing of a close friends experience here....Are you kidding me? This is AN ESSENTIAL government service. Hire enough people and then actually train them properly so they actually know what they are talking about. The gov expects absolute excellence when applying to be a citizen but their end of the bargain is sloppy and pathetic.

I wonu2019t give legal details, but here it goes: After waiting for ~3 hours, the lady at Window 4 told me that what I request cannot be done until [something] happens. I knew for a fact that she was wrong, but I could not find it immediately on the paper I was presenting. I asked couple times saying u201care you sure? I know it can be done, I know many people who have already had it done?u201d She walked around, dragged windows around her computer and finally told me, u201cno you canu2019t have it, until you get [something]u201d I went out to find out about it more, sat in my car for a couple minutes, searched google, found on ssa.gov website that I was right, I found the statement on the paper I was presenting that she never looked at, and knowing that I was eligible for what I was asking for, I went back to the door and asked the security that I have just come out not being able to complete my work based on the incorrect information that the lady at Window 4 gave me and wanted to talk to someone else for the same request that I had waited for ~3 hours. They said I have to get back in the line, or come back at 8:30am the next day ud83eudd26u200du2642ufe0f I told them it does not make sense and I asked for the ladyu2019s name to file a complaint. The security officer said that it wonu2019t work because u201cthey use fake names anyways.u201d I went back in the line, waited for about another hour. Finally, I had my request completed at another window. Although I eventually get my work done, I had enough negative experience to rate this place at less than 1 star. To the lady at Window 4 who rejected my request and looked the other way when I said u201cThank you!u201d Not sure what your motive was that day, but I am sure you need to get a lot more training to do your job, so better talk to your superiors.

Sent my information in (passport, marriage certificate, etc) to get my name changed 3 months ago. Finally got it back 1.5 months lateru2026with someone elseu2019s information in the envelope addressed to me. Thatu2019s right - they sent me someone elseu2019s passport, birth certificate, paperwork and marriage license. Called the office to file a complaint and to ask where my paperwork was, turns out someone had received my stuff a week prior and already called to file a complaint. We sent her info back in immediately, express mail, and 1.5 months later - still have not received any of my original paperwork.nnMy question is - where was my phone call to inform me my information was sent out to a stranger? And where is my paperwork now?

Is there a negative rating number? No humans, no answer, no return calls. My application has beenin worksince 12.24.21, it's now 3.20.22. I never, not once, had a phone call answered. Each time I drive to the physical office, it's closed during posted open hours with instructions to make an appointment. But you can only make an appointment by phone, which is NEVER answered. Start the cycle all over again, no answered calls, no online appointment system.nnI will not trust a birth certificate and proof of citizenship to the mail address. Just read the reviews and the negative experiences. They will lose them in their system, then what will I do without proof???nnSomeone wrote there's a customer service number. Ok try that for another mind numbing couple of hours of frustration.

Update April (after re-opening): no scheduling appointments anymore, not even for a new SSN. Just walk-ins now.nI was trying to call many times, eventually they told me to just walk-in.nThere was a queue of maybe 15-20 ppl in front of me (I arrived at 3:30) it took about 45 minutes to get in.nnThe officer (he was polite) advised to a woman who asked, that in the morning maybe at 8:30 it'd be faster. I myslef felt like arriving at around 4:20PM would be also very quick to get in, as after 4 not many new ppl were arriving anymore.nnYou can't go there if you were abroad in the last 5 days.nnFor new SSN: they recommend to go there 1-2 weeks after activating I-94 to get it through the system (sometimes they don't see it right away).

They reached out to my doctor for additional information regarding my disability claim during winter break time, didnu2019t tell him or I that there was a 15 day rule, he sent them the information after his winter break but before they even received it, I got a denial letter! Not to mention, preposterous wait times - if you even get connected!

I have been calling at different hours for 3 days now. I cannot get a live human being just hours of hold music. This morning I called at 9:00 on the dot and ended up being told by the recording that all agents are busy call back later and immediately hangs up. So frustrating! I miss being ablet ot just walkin and wait. Now an appointment is required and to make the appointment you have to call but no one answers!

It tooks me an hour to wait for someone to pick up the call. The staff said I canu2019t make appointment to replace the SSN card now. The only choice is to wait for more than 2 months until the office open. Heheu2026

After landing in the US, I called them twice before completion of 2 weeks quarantine even though I was completely vaccinated, I got someone speaking on the other end within 30 mins, but was asked to call on 15th day after landing.nnCalled as requested, this time I had to wait for 1 hour and 17 minutes to drop a voice mail? Why not directly put us through the voice mail?nnOkay, dropped my name and phone number in the voice mail, and it's been 10 days after dropping the voice mail, I have not received any calls from SSA office till now.nnCalled again yesterday to check the status of my voice mail, waited for 2 hours, no one picked up. Calling again today hoping no one will pick up.nnWorst service I have ever had in the US.

Please change the woman on the phone. She's not listening and helping properly.nnUpdate: I have been waiting to talk to someone over two hours! If she didnu2019t hang up the phone or call me back I would fix my small problem right away! This is insane!nnUpdate: 3 hours, still no answer. They filed completely incorrect name for SSN. I have to somehow reach them to fix this but how? They can't even handle basic phone call. (Btw, I rechecked all the documents I sent, they literally didn't even go through the documents properly, and put a completely ridiculous name...) I will try to contact them AGAIN.nnUpdate: I called the next day. After 35 mins waiting, I finally talked with a different woman, thank god. She was able to set an appointment for me. I will update once again after the appointment. My anxiety is killing me during this u2018processu2019u2026nnUpdate: I finally handled my issue but oh manu2026 The lady with short hair and black glassesu2026Iu2019m not sure if they tare training about mental illness. I have a huge anxiety problem and she made me feel scared and extremely nervous. I had SSN office experiences before but this one got me. Her attitude is so rude, arrogant and scary. She did handled the issue yet it was just correcting name change but it was an extremely bad situation.nnNote: please make online appointment available. Also retrain customer service for phone calls and people in the office.

You donu2019t deserve a single penny you earn! If youu2019re not answering the calls, quit your jobs; there are thousands of people whou2019re willing to do it! ANSWER THE CALLS!!!!!!!!nEdit: ok maybe I overreacted. The in service was great. Lady working in the kiosk was so polite. But it took a whole week to get an appointment though!!

Appalling service. Long lines 2+ hour wait because employees decide to take 30 minute breaks an hour into the work day. No one EVER picks up the phone. There needs to be an investigation made into the way this branch is staffed and managed. Would give zero if I could, and am filing a formal complaint.

I called numerous times at different days. After waiting half an hour on the phone, the call is automatically hang up. No way to make an appointment another way, they donu2019t accept email or anything. They just use Covid as an excuse to avoid their work. If you guys are worried about Covid so much, asking us to show our proof of vaccinations, instead of not answering your calls or accept walk-in!!

Offices are open now after pandemic, the officer was very patient and explained about all fields that my wife had doubts.nnOver all process took us around 25-30 min for new SSN application.nApplication form was given in office itself.

Nobody picks up the phone!! OMG, I have to get off work and spend 2-3 hrs waiting for them to pick up my call so I can get an appointment to submit paperworku2019s in person! I am going to quit my job so I can have enough time to call themu2026..

Every business is open and working in a organized ways but socail securety office is different. they shoul be open to all and making things easier because every one depends on them and they are making it difficult for everyone and blaming the pandemic. The pandemic was over when unemployment closed and they should be open for everyone, and organize their linesnThank you.

Security staff could have been much better in dealing with customers. Was literally made to wait outside in the cold wind & stood out for more than 40 mins, beyond the given appointment time. If COVID rules was their concern for not allowing customers inside, then there were hardly 3 people present inside with having more than 30 sitting capacity.

This is horrible place. Impossible to get through to them, even if you could do this after dozens of hours calling, they will screw up your SSN card delivery and you will never get it. I've been waiting for my card for 3 months now, and trying to reapply I am waisting hours to get through again! UNBIELIVABLE! man...

They are buy appointment only due to COVID, but never will actually let you set up an appointment or notify you when the have received your information. I had to call to ask which name my social security number was under. (I had just gone under a legal name change). Good news! It's under the new name. Bad news. They lost my photo ID and my name change paperwork. Which is exactly what I need to get a driver's license. (I have just past my test, and want to drive before winter hits). So now, I am stuck in limbo waiting until the documents from them arrive or my newly requested ones arrive.

Called them many times for 4 days 1 hours of wait time. Never got connected. the vice record told you to hole and end the call after you hold one hours. very bad service and frustrated. if not have enough workers, can they let clients to left massage?

Your tax dollars at work! No answer despite holding for 10 + minutes on 4 separate occasions. To imagine them in charge of anything at the behest of the tax payer is beyond comprehension. If you look at my reviews, I'm generally fair and in this case, I'm being generous....just wow!

I agree with additional restrictions during the pandemic, but they could send a family together especially when coming with kids.nnThe guard did not let us go together as a family. That did not seem fair, as one of us had to wait with the kids while the other submitted the docs inside.nnThe gentleman inside seemed pretty friendly though