I recommend recording ALL conversations with the Berkeley Social Security Office when considering important decisions about your social security payments. I also recommend asking if any pertinent recent changes to rules, regulations or laws apply to the decision you are contemplating. Today I learned that I was not informed of an important pertinent recent change when making a decision recently about my Social Security with the Berkeley Social Security Office. This is the THIRD time such a thing has happened to me with the Berkeley Office. Their failure to inform me has cost me tens of thousands of dollars in benefits. I have no recourse because I have no recording to prove the misinformation I was given and the information that was withheld. I also recommend informing yourself about all aspects of filing for benefits or suspending benefits before you approach the Berkeley Office.. read more

Got here at 10:30am on a Monday for a name change. About 15 people were waiting. I waited about 40 mins to be called, and was done in 10. Street parking in the area is $3.25/hour for meters. read more

very very rude people work at front here. They don't have smile at their faces at all. When you talk to these peple you feel like you've done something horrible to them. You feel like they heat you. Are you work for free here? Or this is your job and you get paid for it? Its a shame. read more

Fat white lady that works the window must hate her job she was so rude to me and all the people who went before me. The security guard was the only person being nice to people coming in even answering some questions they had. I suggest getting some people with better people skills than the ones they have working the Windows. read more

I avoid the Berkeley office as much as I can. They have the most rudest employees. Every time I've had to deal with them, they act as if you are bothering them. I had a question the other day and did not have time to wait on hold with the national toll free number. The representative answered my question in a nasty manner as if I was bothering her. This is the same response I get when I go into the office. Someone needs to give them sensitivity training and better. And teach them better customer service skills when dealing with the public. read more

I wanted to begin my name changing process as soon as I could, so as soon as my marriage license arrived, I headed to the SS Office. I didn't have an appointment, but everything took perhaps 10 minutes. There were even 7 people ahead of me, but everyone working there was friendly and very efficient with their time. Just make sure you get there before they close at 3:30. read more

Don't ever let these people send original documents back to you. They send back important documents un-registered by UPS to you and they vanish or are stolen. My wifes citizenship papers, drivers id, german birth certificate, marital documents all where lost. It is cost me over $1500.00 to replace every- thing. And when you call them in Berkeley some nasty person answers like your the problem. Call your congressman he says, we don't set policy. If its important documents send it registered mail or don't ask for original documents for a stupid social security replacement card. I would have picked the documents my self if you all weren't hiding under your desks from the virus boggie man. Maybe your stupidvisor should start using his brain. How about mailing me check since, I have to use walker and pay for your mistakes out of my social security, after I pay my tax to pay for idiots who don't care. read more

Remember they are only open until 3:30 every weekday. I saw many people come to the door after closing. But the guard went behind the counter to get forms for a woman in a wheelchair who came late. She didn't get in but she got what she needed and didn't have to come back. read more

Congratulations to the Berkeley Social Security office for their prompt & efficient public service. A couple of months ago, I came at 8:30am to stand in line outside before the 9:00 opening. I was 2nd in line, applied for my SS-card, was out by 9:20 & received my card within the promised time (1 to 2 weeks I think). Today, I called the Berkeley SS office website for other information, registered my call by voice mail & was called back within 10mn as their voice message had promised. Impressive for a public administration who deserved to be credited, instead of decried as is often the case for public service. read more

Came at 3:24 and closed! New hours are until 3:00pm Monday to Friday except Wednesday only open until 12 noon. Pain in ... To waste my time coming down here. read more

Usually I hate DMV, USPS, SSN, and those places... but this SSN Office is surprisingly efficient. Go in, get a number, and get called within 10 mins. People who work here don't act like them biatches at DMV. They act patient and willing to help. Got my SSN within a week!!! read more

Had to do some business today at this office, and was so pleasantly surprised how smoothly it went. I didn't have an appointment, and waited only about five minutes. read more

Very cranky group. Perhaps they need to retire? Social Security sent paperwork which the suggested turning into local office. But there is no way to simply turn in paperwork. You have to wait to check in, then talk to a surly lady, then wait again in an unpleasant room. Only pleasant person is the guard, who is helpful. Have waited an hour and am still waiting. Am looking to make an appointment and return. another time. read more

My husband and I went in together to get our names changed, since we took each other's names when we married. We completed our paperwork prior to going in and had our marriage certificate ready. Everyone was very pleasant and we had a good experience, but one thing we wish we had done differently is to take just one number for the both of us, so we didn't have to do a big pass off of the certificate. We opted for safe, rather than sorry, but both people helping us said that they would've completed both transactions if we hadn't taken two tickets. Arrived 15 minutes after opening on a Tuesday, and we were in and out in a little over an hour. read more

Such a bad customer service! Omg! One of the lady who was helping us, started rolling her eyeballs when we said we are here to apply for social security. Correct me if i deserve a rolling eyeball at a SS office to apply for a social security number??!! And then the, guy at the front, don't even know if he is a security guard or just sits there to check his phone. The government pays him to sit on that chair and be rude to customers who have questions??! SAD*! . If he doesn't like his job, he should Just quit. Just to ask a question, we need to take a number??!! He just sits there on his phone. They are slower than sloths,incompetent, misuses authority and most importantly "LAZY! not worth it! read more

Unless you have a very straight forward case, do not go there. They do not know what they are doing. My issue got resolved right away at a SS office in SF when two people + their boss from the Berkeley office said, they can not help me at all. It is not "they can not help me, but it is "they do not want to help me." read more

We had to get our infant a ssn bc we had a home birth. Depending on who is working, your midwife's affidavit should be enough to prove that you had a baby but it isn't. Bring a note from the pediatrician or vaccine records as well as the birth certificate. The redundancy of the social security office would be comical except I actually need to deal with it. They require medical documents to prove the birth (but not your midwives affidavit, or the pku test). Smh, that's the worst part of a home birth: getting a ssn. read more

I've been putting off changing my name because I was dreading the trip to the Social Security Administration Office. I arrived at 0950 on a Friday, noticed there were a lot of people waiting, checked in with the guard who was helpful, used the machine to pull a ticket, sat down, and after about 40 minutes, my number was called to the window. My transaction was pretty straight forward and what I appreciated the most was Ms. Harris' friendliness, professionalism, and home remedy ideas for my lingering cough. read more

I was third in line at 8:35 and the doors opened at 8:50. Both the guard and the person who helped with my name change application were friendly and helpful. It was a bit disconcerting when people who came later than me without an appointment were called first, but I was out of there by 9:25. The ticket machine asks why you are there and I guess they sort people by what their business is because I was still one of the first people to leave (along with the person who was first in line). Unlike the DMV, they seem to take appointment times seriously, but you can't get an appointment for some things. read more

There is this one lady who works at the desks where you go when you get your number called. Last few years I have noticed that she is always either rude or in a bad mood. I hope she leaves because every time I go there I am praying not to get her. read more

Honestly, 10 minutes and I was done changing my name. Take a ticket at the front, watch the guard clip his nails or the homeless talk to themselves - disorienting but pain free. Didn't need to pay for any more than a quarter at the meter either. Woo Hoo! read more

The calm efficiency of this office restores one's faith in governmental administration. I went there with a complex name-change problem and they solved it in under an hour. I didn't have an appointment (though you can make one by calling the office), but they started working on my problem within ten minutes. After few consultations with a supervisor -- prest-O change-O -- the computer relented, problem solved. Everyone there, from the people behind the counter to the security guard to the dozen customers in not-so-comfortable folding chairs, were friendly and considerate. No one goes to a Social Security Office for a good time, but at least it was pleasant! And quick! read more

I am sorry to see so many negative reviews. My wife and I have gone to this office four times in the past five years (to enroll for Medicare at 65; to do a "file and suspend" at 66; file for spousal benefits the next year; and most recently, to "unsuspend" and both of us to file for full benefits at 70. The Berkeley Office was recommended to us by a financial advisor based on his clients' experiences at other Bay Area offices. On each visit, the service was incredibly good - knowledgeable, courteous and respectful, starting with the security guard, and the window clerks, and on up to the counselors in the back. The bad news is that they because of their reputation as the "go-to" office to get things done, and done correctly the first time, they're now 5 weeks out to schedule an appointment, but even as a "walk-in" yesterday at 9:45 AM, it was not much of a wait. read more

My hustband called the SS office regarding my disability, the one in Oakland California and spoke to the rudest person, Her demeanor was horrible and she was extremely rude to him. Does anyone know where to call to make a formal complaint? If so please post. We had the phone on speaker and she totally freaked out about it. What a very unhappy person she must be. read more

I can't believe I am writing a review for a social security office, but hells yes. This was the best interaction I have had with a government office. We had our baby girl a little over two month ago, and in my very sleep deprived state, I tossed away her social security card. After getting no where with the main social security office on the phone (my 2 month old daughter has to have a ca issued ID card to prove she is who she is !?? The birth certificate is no good!??). I arrived at the berkeley office expecting a fight. Got a number, waited 2 mins before I was called. Turned in my forms to a very pleasant lady, waited another 10 mins and got the ssn!! Yay! read more

Since I first applied for Medicare in early January LAST year, I have been dealing with a bureaucratic mess. Despite several dozen calls to the 800 number over months and months, and three submissions of "high-priority" (15-business days each!) requests for correction, it was never fixed. My health care coverage was under threat for months due to the inaccurate information that Medicare was providing to them! One of the Social Security phone reps finally booked me an appointment in November at the Berkeley office, because tho she was sympathetic, she said she could not do anything by phone. The guard who greeted me was very pleasant and helpful. And the three different representatives who have helped me have been competent, knowledgeable, and understanding of my predicament. While I can't say everything is squared away yet, I am confident that it WILL be soon! I highly recommend this office! read more

I needed to get a replacement social security card--didn't have an appointment, but was able to get everything done in 20 minutes. Convenient, simple, staff were courteous and helpful. read more

Extremely long waits and poorly trained staff. They told my wife all we would need to apply for a SSID for my newborn daughter was birth certificate and an affidavit from the midwife. When we got the affidavit they changed their minds and said it would have to be a letter from an MD, and that our letter from a California board certified midwife, written more than 2 months after the birth, did not count as evidence that our daughter (who was with my wife when she showed up here) was alive, according to the representative's (Ms. Valle) opinion. read more

I received efficient, courteous, helpful service by the initial screener and the interview personnel. I t was a quiet, clean office. It was very, very, entertaining, for lack of a better word. All, ALL kinds of personalities in varies attire; many fascinating people with different dimensions to life. The security person was very effective and aware of every dynamic. I felt safe and confident that I could get through with my business as I sat reading the paper. read more

Do they purposely hire rude, ignorant women to answer the phones? Why do I have to call multiple times just to get an answer? Why did I get 2 different answer on 2 different people? Why am I not allowed to speak with a supervisor when I ask? I just had to call them twice. Both times a rude woman answered. Both times the woman was rude, abrupt and had zero knowledge of how things work at social security. People call you for help, when they are in the middle of the most painful time of their lives, and what they are greeted with is open hostility and rudeness. read more

i need help i got approved a few days ago do anyone no how long it will take to get my first check i took everything the social security office needed just now waiting on the check please need help read more

My Sister took my Mom there she about 89 years old.They treated her like she was on trail and they were going to burn her at the stake.Made her think she was going to loose her social security and become homeless.The guy calling the number for when it was your turn talked like a mouse so you could not hear him so he would call the next number and you would have to get another number and wait longer.These guys work for us and any body that goes there for help should be treated with respect not yell at a little old lady and make here go home were she can't even sleep this office SUCKS and I mite contact my congress man on this issue. read more

I had never and ever seen such a slow service, unprofessional behave from the staff. Its been six weeks that I applied for SSN card. The guy gave me the receipt that I would be getting it within 4 weeks. I followed up in person and by phone for several times. Nobody can tell me anything except its pending. On the receipt its written that I would have been received either card or the reason why I am not receiving. But I haven't received it anything yet. Now I am tired of waiting. I have submitted all my required documents but now why they are taking so longer to issue the SSN card. I personally recommend the management level should supervise well to the staff and give the well training how to deal with the customers. read more

I came in to the Berkeley SSA this morning to review my future retirement benefits. Because I could not make an appointment ahead of time (I was not applying that day) I had to wait about an hour. It's Berkeley, what can I say. There were some people with very odd behavior and some with unnerving appearances to say the least. I felt secure though, and I will tell you why. PSO Kenner (I asked for his name) was the security guard. He was not only responsive to any impropriety (asking a man to pull up his pants) but had an extraordinary ability to watch over the many people waiting to be called and if they were hard of hearing or English was their second language and they did not respond to the call, he always let them know they were just called. He even asked a blind women who looked confused if she needed additional assistance. I don't know what PSO Kenner gets paid but he should get a raise. read more