Social Security AdministrationReviews of ssa.gov

1 Star – Horrible, broken system. Nobody helps. I have been trying to log into my account for months now and nobody will fix this. Even the Social Security office told me they can’t help me directly and just gave me a phone number for Login.gov. When I call Login.gov, they claim they don't handle this type of issue. The system is asking to send a verification code to a phone number I haven't had in over 3 years. That number doesn't even exist anymore, but there is no way to update it or get past it. It is completely horrible. I can’t view my Social Security benefits online, yet they keep telling me that all my important information is being sent directly to this online account that I am locked out of! Heartless people and a completely broken system. I am a 65-year-old widow going through this stress, and no one cares or takes responsibility. Shame on the Social Security Administration and shame on Login.gov.

**She is the district manager** I arrived at the Social Security office this morning before opening and waited in line, as several people had already lined up before the doors opened. This was not my first time applying for a Social Security card for a newborn, so I came fully prepared with all of the required documentation and understood the process. When the doors opened, an employee, Elisa Alcala, came outside to ask each person in line why they were there. From the moment she walked out, her attitude toward the public was hostile, impatient, and unnecessarily confrontational. The first couple in line explained why they were there, but before they could finish, Ms. Alcala interrupted them and told them they needed an appointment. When they attempted to ask follow-up questions, she talked over them and sarcastically asked if they were "listening today or going to ignore her." Instead of providing guidance, she belittled them until they left the office entirely. Unfortunately, this behavior continued with nearly every person she spoke to. Throughout the line, she repeatedly made comments such as, "Are you going to listen today?" and "You're not listening to me," speaking to people as though they were inconveniencing her rather than seeking assistance from a public agency. Her demeanor suggested she had no interest in helping anyone and simply wanted to turn people away. When she reached my family, she asked why we were there. I explained that I needed a replacement Social Security card as well as a Social Security card for my newborn. She immediately responded, with the same dismissive attitude, that I needed identification for the newborn. As I attempted to show her the birth certificate and other required documents and explain what I had, she literally put her hand up, started walking away, and said, "Not doing it," before I had even finished speaking. I continued trying to show her the documentation, and her response was, "I wouldn't consider that valid." Rather than reviewing the documents or explaining the requirements professionally, she dismissed me outright without making any genuine effort to help. At that point, I asked to borrow her pen so I could write down her name because I knew I would be filing a formal complaint. Instead of reflecting on her conduct, she rolled her eyes, continued making unnecessary remarks, and maintained the same rude, dismissive attitude. Once inside the office, I was assisted by a gentleman at the service window who was courteous, respectful, and professional. He reviewed my documents, confirmed that I had everything required, and processed my requests without any issue. When I explained how I had been treated by Ms. Alcala, his reaction gave me the impression that this was not the first complaint he had heard regarding her behavior. What concerns me most is how many people Ms. Alcala likely turned away incorrectly. If my documentation was sufficient despite her insistence that it was not, how many other individuals were denied service or left believing they lacked the required documents simply because she refused to listen? The office appeared relatively quiet after opening, and it was hard not to notice that many people had already been turned away before they ever had the opportunity to speak with someone willing to actually assist them. The purpose of having an employee greet the public should be to provide accurate information and direct people appropriately—not to intimidate, dismiss, or discourage them from seeking services they are legally entitled to receive. Ms. Alcala's conduct was unprofessional, disrespectful, and completely unacceptable for someone serving the public. After reading numerous reviews describing the same issues—poor attitudes, lack of professionalism, and dismissive treatment—it is clear this is not an isolated incident. This appears to be a broader management problem. Leadership needs to take these complaints seriously, provide meaningful customer service training, and hold employees accountable for how they treat the public. Ms. Alcala's behavior reflects poorly on the entire office. If she is unwilling or unable to treat people with basic respect and professionalism, she should not be the first point of contact for members of the public. People visit the Social Security office because they need assistance—not to be spoken down to, interrupted, or treated with contempt.

SSA sends out a Form 7162 and gives you 60-days to answer. When I received the Form 7162 on July 12, 2026 (and given until September 2, 2026 to file the form), From Canada, where I live, I sent out the Form to the Wilkes Barre, PA office on July 16, 2026, and utilized Canada Post's registered, tracking mail service. On August 3, 2026, when the Canada Post tracking information did not establish delivery of the Form, I attempted to find out if the Form had been delivered to the office at Wilkes Barre, PA. After waiting 1 hour to speak to the SSA call center, Suzette gave me the wrong number for the Wilkes Barre, PA office. She provided a local Wilkes Barre office number rather than the appropriate telephone number to the Direct Operations Center where my Form should have been processed. She also told me to call the Office of Earning and International Operations in Baltimore, MD. First, I called the Maryland Office, but although it was business hours, no one answered the telephone. Then I called the Wilkes Barre local office and waited another hour only to be told by Lisa that I should have called the Direct Operations Center and that the SSA call center consistently gives out wrong numbers regarding where the Form 7162 is sent. After waiting for another 15-minutes to speak to Colleen at the Direct Operations Center, I was told that she had no idea if my Form 7162 had been received. She told me to just call back 2-weeks later. I asked if she would waive the 60-day requirement for delivey and she stated, "no." This customer service is atrocious and incompetent. I will now attempt to send my Form 7162 to a Washington State SSA Field Office, given that I live in British Columbia, Canada. First, SSA should provide more time to serve the Form 7162, if it is being sent internationally. Sometimes, the international mail is not reliable and timely. Yet, most of the international mail that I send to family in the USA arrives timely. Only the mail to the Wilkes Barre, PA SSA Direct Operations Center fails to arrive. This is not the first time that mail sent to this Wilkes Barre center has not been acknowledged by the center. I hope that SSA will rectify the poor performance of the Wilkes Barre, PA Direct Operations Center. Thank you

I have spent MONTHS documenting unreturned phone calls. I turned the same information in TWICE in THREE years and after being told it would be honored the FIRST time, Im now being asked for it a THIRD time. I also had to drive over an hour to get to the closest office, only to have the representative be rude with me, ignore everything I brought with me and tell me the case manager I have no longer worked there only to have that same manager be the person I was supposed to call per the new letter I just got to re give them that info for the THIRD TIME. Every little bit of documentation I brought to the last appointment would've given them all the info they needed but instead I was ignored and told I "didn't need to go into the whole story and that these were only 10 minute appointments". By the time we were done, she gave me the extension of the new person who supposedly was the case manager even though the letter I got said differently, and was promised a phone call to resolve everything, which has never come before OR after the paperwork that I now have to submit a third time in THREE YEARS. Not months. YEARS. Yet, I'm given days to a couple of weeks to get information in every time they need it? I need aomw other way to speak with a manager rather than the hours Ive spent on the phone and now driving, wasting time away from work, money on gas,only to have someone be rude and ignore me. The last phone calls I made had a recording saying the office was closed due to maintenance, yet when I go online to now make another in person appointment, it says that they cant tell what I need and that I need to call!! I also went online to leave a review and as soon as I checked the boxes thar said it was a negative review, the web page refused to let me go any further! This is RIDICULOUS!!

I understand completely that sometimes things go askew and myself included in a myriad of other people we might get a little edgy when we don't get answers or we get stupid answers like you need to go to the office and sit there for eight and a half hours to get an appointment two weeks from that day I might be over publicizing this a bit but I have to tell you when someone at Social Security tells me that I'm wrong then I'm very concerned they stopped my payments one day before my due date because they claim my address changed and I've been in the same place for 69 years and they won't listen to me on the phone I have to go into the office sit there with 8,000 other people and probably get an appointment 3 months I've only been floating around the United States for 69 years born here raised here die here I've been in the White House I've been in the CIA I've been in the FBI none of it makes any difference because it all it is is words but when I call the Social Security Administration I'm reminded of how bad the world treats people sometimes including me and I might add my family made the rifles that they used in the American Revolution and I can't even get a decent person on the phone thank you and good luck to you

The office in Gadsden alabama is so slow during my visit they failed to give me the correct form to get my drivers license so when I came back we had to wait over 3 hours. I took 3 days off work and came 3 different times. I’m editing my review because I had to come back a 4th time because of error on paper-work. I also was given misinformation by the security officer who also made a comment about the reason for the error the clerks are making are because of who is in our office and pointed towards our President and Vice- President! I am unsure how the clerk making error was due to our President? By the way I support our President!

I scheduled an appointment with the expectation that I would receive assistance from a Social Security representative. Instead, I was handed a stack of forms and instructed to return to the lobby, complete them on my own, and place everything in the drop box. The employee assigned to assist me would not answer my questions and told me that I only had five minutes. I left without receiving the guidance or assistance that was the purpose of my appointment. I find this unacceptable. If appointments are offered to the public, they should provide meaningful assistance, especially for individuals with complex cases. I needed answers to my questions and help completing the required paperwork, but I received neither. Then why making an appointment if you only have five minutes (5) minutes, and does not help with paperwork.

I have called the social security administration exactly 10 times requesting income verification for the last 2 months and it still has not been mailed to me, y'all are pathetic every one of you should be fired