More Social Security Administration Advice

[MineralMan]

If you end up having to call a Social Security Administration office or go to one to get something corrected, there are some things you should keep in mind:

1. Things are messed up right now, with DOGE coming in and laying off a bunch of probationary workers.
2. The people you're going to talk to at the SSA will try to help you. It's not their fault that things are screwed up.
3. However you deal with representatives, things are often not simple to fix when something isn't going right.
4. Make sure you can log in successfully to your SS.GOV account. That is going to be essential, regardless of anything else. Get that squared away immediately if there is a problem.
5. Put on your best patience hat. You may need it. Try not to get frustrated with the person who is trying to help you. Take deep breaths.
6. Say "Thank you" often.
7. If you don't understand something you are told, ask politely for more explanation. SSA has its own jargon, and you may not be familiar with it. Say,
"I'm sorry. I don't quite understand what xxx is. Can you explain it again, please."
8. You will be answering questions. The person trying to help you isn't trying to be snoopy or intrusive. Do your best to answer them, calmly and fully. Remember, they know lots about you already. They're trying to help fix something for you.
9. Remember that the person you're talking to wants to help you so they can move on to the next person who needs help. They're also under a lot of stress. Give them every chance you can to get your situation straightened out.
10. Say thank you again before you get off the call.

[SWBTATTReg]

1. Thanks!

[mimitabby]

2. I haven't been able to log in for two years

The ssa send me a password in the mail which I try to use and it sends me to a window that says “ this isn’t working right now”
Months went by and I forgot the specific issue, got another password and ended up with the same result
They keep sending my check, that’s all I care about

[MineralMan]

4. I suggest you keep working on getting that ss.gov account working.

It's best to do that at a time when you don't need it immediately. That gives you time to get things set up successfully for when you do need it. I advise not just shrugging it off because you're getting your payments.

[Ritabert]

6. I've had the same problem.

They won't accept the authorization code they sent me.

[MineralMan]

3. By the way, I just heard from a friend of my wife.

She is just now signing up to start getting SS benefits. She had a question and is still not fully set up on ss.gov. So, she called the local SS office in St. Paul, MN. At 3:40 PM on Friday. Guess what? She immediately got connected with a person there. She asked her question and got an answer. Then, she made an appointment for Monday. Now, she has a list of what she needs to bring into that office with her. The person she talked to said that they would get everything set up for her on Monday.

So, apparently it is possible to make contact with someone and actually get an appointment for an in -person meeting. Maybe we're getting some wrong information about this in some cases.

I know that in the Twin Cities Metro area, there are several Social Security office locations around the area. My wife has used the one nearest to us a couple of times, both in person and on the phone. They resolved a complicated issue she was having with about three contact occasions.

Patience, however, is needed sometimes.

[redstatebluegirl]

5. I had to call the other day.

The young woman was very nice. Apologized for the long wait. I thanked her often and told her if I lived closer I would bake her cookies. She laughed and said she would love that! She thanked me for being so nice.

I got the feeling she had some nasty calls that day. Be nice people!

[MineralMan]

7. Yes, absolutely. That's part of my point.

It never, ever hurts to be nice to people who you hope are going to help you. Even if it is their job to help you.

My favorite story about that happened at a DMV office in California. I went in there to register a used UHaul truck I bought from UHaul. I had all the paperwork with me, but it was sort of a complicated transfer since it was a corporate owned commercial vehicle and not a passenger car or truck. I stood in line holding my number, like I always did, and listened to people whine about how much they hated the DMV. I just nodded my head absently.

So, finally, I made it to the counter. First words out of my mouth were, "I know this is a complicated transfer, so I'd like to thank you in advance for your help." Well, it was complicated, even more than I thought. We had to go out and double check the numbers on the truck, which were not where they usually are. I finally found the VIN number and pointed it out to the clerk. She laughed and said, "Well, you know more about this stuff than I do."

Anyhow, after about 45 minutes, we finally got the transfer taken care of. No doubt the process annoyed a lot of other people who had to wait. So, I thanked her again profusely.

Then, after I got home, I wrote up a letter to the head of the office there in my city, praising the good service I had received and thanked her again that way.

I did have to go back again a week later with smog papers after another smog check. I got back in line again, and happened to get the same clerk when my number was called. Surprisingly, she recognized me, and thanked me for the letter I had sent. She pointed to it, pinned to a bulletin board on the wall. Apparently, such letters aren't common there.

The point is that people who work in places like that get lots of complaints and very little praise. Every little bit helps.

[redstatebluegirl]

9. My Mother taught us to always treat others as we would like to be treated.

The Golden Rule is always a good rule to follow. I love your story Mineral Man.

[MineralMan]

10. My mother, too. My dad was like that also.

It's a good way to be raised, I think.

[redstatebluegirl]

12. Yes, my Dad was the same. Great way to be raised.

[mobeau69]

8. If Harris was president we wouldn't even be having these discussions. None.

[MineralMan]

11. Yes, indeed. A pity.

[Cheezoholic]

13. I've been waiting patiently for over 3 years on an SSDI claim that finally got approved last week

As someone who's worked nearly every day since 14 it was a very very tough decision to even try. But my last attempt at working resulted in a second heart attack from stress on top of several other issues I already had so I bit the bullet and waited patiently using most of my savings to get by. I figured once the "let them die" party came into power I was done but to my surprise I was approved. Your advice is correct, they are hammered with less and less help. I was contacted Friday by a very nice individual from the local office who set up an appointment next week because I have no idea how this stuff works. I feel blessed that there is still some compassion left in our government, even though it's dwindling with these wretched monsters running us off a cliff.