If you have business that requires a physical visit to a Social Security office, DO NOT use the Albany office. I had to show a certified copy of a birth certificate. I duly parked, went through security, took a number and waited, was called to a window, the claim was looked up, the representative took it away and brought it back and said everything was okay.
A few days later the main Social Security processing office contacted me to say the document had never been received and they were about to deny my claim. After some investigation they were able to determine that the Albany office had "faxed" the document but it was never received. They advised me to visit the Schenectady office instead.
I did that and it was a totally different experience. This time the rep entered my document electronically into the system (no "faxing") and let me wait while she called the processing center to confirm that the file had been added to the record. Why couldn't the Albany office do that?
There are other reasons to go to Schenectady, even if the competence level were identical which iit certainly is not. Schenectady office is right in the heart of downtown so you can grab a bite or go to a show while you're there. Street parking is easy. That's compared to the Albany office which feels like it is in the middle of a frozen steppe in the gulag, with security barriers everywhere and a metal detector to go through.
I thought I'd never type these non-original words into a Yelp review but: avoid the Albany Social Security office at all costs. read more