OH KIM! Ya beat me! I was in here about a week ago and was lagging on my review. +1 to Kim D! I must agree with my Yelping sister on this one. Although I was just in for a replacement social security card, it was pretty painless. If the DMV is Hell than the Social Security office is Purgatory for sure. It isn't a great place to be, but beats the lower alternative. I came in here prepared to do the same 2hour stint I suffered thru at the DMV...But I was in and out of here in 15min I think. The guard at the door nicely asked what I "was in for", then directed me to a nearby computer screen where I hit a color coded number and received a paper number. I was called within about 5min and the gentleman at that window had my application processed in about 5min and had me going. I do recommend to visit the Social Security website to print out and fill in any needed forms before heading over here as this will greatly reduce your time in purgatory! :) read more

Came here to change my last name, showed up at 9:05 and was out the door at 10:00! Waiting to be called was the longest part. But other than that super easy and organized. read more

Came in fully prepared to wait 2 hours at 1235PM on a Thursday. Walked out 15 mins later with a new name! Very kind security guard and the Hispanic woman who assisted me was quick and very pleasant. Someone had even turned in a phone to her and she made sure that the person who lost it knew they could come back for it (with some SSA advice on their issue too!). Great experience! read more

Went there without an appointment, standard DMV numbers but the wait time was a fraction of it. I've heard so many horror stories on getting a replacement SSN card. So I had my birth certificate, passport, license, wondering if I needed to donate a DNA sample. My number gets called, walked up to the window with every Identity card under the sun, including my Costco card. "I just need to see your drivers license, where you were born and mothers maiden name"...Wait, that's all I needed? What witchcraft is this? It took a minute to order the card and get a receipt. I've now experienced a real miracle. Only down side were the usual suspects in the seating area (ADD kid racing around the waiting room screaming like a tea kettle, The sick person you're convinced might have the Plague, then the phone gamers that need the volume maxed out). But that's to be expected. read more

Quickly in and out to get a new social security card for my name change. All the staff was pleasant.

worst service ever! they are closed and I can only speak to them by phone. each one of them tells me something different. after 3 months I am still here that I did not understand what to do for my social. Unacceptable read more

Went in today, no appointment . My wife and I were in and out in about 1 hour. The office was full but we spent only about 15 minutes waiting. The facility is nice, clean with plenty of seating. The staff was polite and well informed. It was best experience I have ever had in a government office. read more

Checked in at 1:58 today (Thursday) and was walking out of the door by 2:15. I went in to get replacement cards for my kids and was in and out in no time. Great customer service too. read more

A little confusing when getting to the Social Security office having to sign in on the computer security guard was really kind and helpful getting you signing and instructions I was a little upset when I got there their parking lot it's a little small and you can't really park next door in the bank because they will tow your car but the security officer was really kind as well as the other people who helped me change my name the security officer even offer to hold my number while I move my car to parking space when one became open spent about 2 hours waiting to change my name I expected to be a little bit more crowded and possibly waiting 5 hour I expected the process to be a lot slower so they exceeded my expectations only bad part is the parking was really small and I can't believe your car will get towed if you park next door read more

My daughter called the Social Security office in San Marcos and she spoke to Mrs. Magana. This lady was very rude to her and didn't help her needs and questions. She accused me of coaching my daughter over the phone who has a learning/mental disability and I tried to explain to her that she has short term memory. After discussing my frustrations with being accused of coaching my daughter this representative Mrs. MAGANA hung up the phone. She is very rude and shouldn't be working for public service if this is how she treats people with disabilities. read more

I came to this office to apply for my Retirement (I am 66yrs 3mo. of age), I didn't make an appointment (big mistake), so I waited with about seventy other hapless souls for 1-1/2 hours OUTSIDE in the sun before we could get to some shade nearer the door. There were very elderly and disabled people frying out there. See that thumbnail pic. above? well add seventy angry exhausted pissed off people to that picture stretching twice as wide as this photo and into the parking lot and that's how it actually looked. I would suggest an awning like real businesses have for their customers BUT, painting a t**d never fooled anyone. I am so happy to award the one star for the Security Guard and none whatsoever for the office itself. AND THAT was before I was given a number and went inside, that's when the real fun started. Please check back over the next few days for the rest of this HIDEOUS and well earned review. read more

Went 2 local Soc. Sec. Admin. office without an appointment Parking available, security person gave instructions on getting service. Business completed in about a half hour from entering. Polite, clean office, intelligent people who work for us citizens TY (San Marcos, CA) read more

Mike Via was very considerate, kind, and thoughtful. Mike helped me with a very serious situation with poise and understanding. I could not be more grateful. I am sad to report that I can not remember the name of the tall African American security guard who, recognizing my medical condition, came to my aid and comfort. Thank you. Bob (My visit was on 6/28/2012.) read more

Terrible place! For starters, there is a rude, bullying security guard who attempts to intimidate people as soon as they arrive. Second, the waiting time can be quite long-45 minutes in my case. Third, and most importantly, the personnel at the windows are often (but not always, depending upon whom you get) incompetent and impatient: as long as your situation is simple, they should be able to assist you, but if your question is complex, forget about it and write your congressman (I did and it worked), My recommendation: Better supervision, better training, and a new, politer security guard. read more

S Zarate you are incredibly rude and have zero people skills. Thank you for not returning any of my grandmothers calls. She missed her appointment because she never received notice of an appointment because the mail notice never came. Now her benefits have stopped and S Zarate just doesn't seem to want to help. We've made two visit to this office trying to see what it is she needs from my grandmother to reinstate her social security benefits but all she managed to help us with was "I told you not to come, I will call you". Wow! read more

How wonderful it was to be helped by kind and competent staff who listened to my problem and corrected an error that would have prevented me from continuing my Medicare D insurance plan. I want to give special mention to the claims specialist, Brett, who was able to fix what was wrong by writing their center in Richmond, CA. He told me it should take 2 weeks to correct. I did receive a letter and he also phoned me to let me know it was taken care of. Previously I had made 3 separate trips a couple of months apart to the Oceanside office and they were unable to figure out what was wrong. I had almost given up. So glad I went to this location. The security guard is friendly and helpful and the staff person I initially spoke with was willing to refer me to Brett all in one visit. Thank you! read more

It took forever at this office. I was there two days in a row. The first day after waiting for two hours the guy told me that I had to get certified copies of the papers I had. I drove to San Diego and spent $50 to have two photocopied papers stamped as certified. I went back only to be told that they close at noon. The next day I got there a half an hour early and there was already a line at the door. One by one we were asked why we were there, purses and bages examined, and given a number. We were told to stand in another line. That line took 20 minutes. The next window took the number that didn't seem to matter, again asked why I was, and looked at the documents. I decided I would do two things at once, big mistake. I was told to sit down and I would be called by name (not number). After another 30 minutes, I was called to a window. That woman was nice and helped me fix the name on my SS card. I found it funny. She asked me for something with my maiden name on it. I laughed and told her that had not been my name for 40 years. The guy the day before did not tell me I needed this. She was going to send me away but took pity and did the name fix. I asked her my next question and was told "I don't do that" I was told that I would be put back on the wait list to see the person that did that. I asked about the wait and she told me an hour. I left. So done. read more

If yelp allowed me to mark zero or negative stars, I would use that option here. One can safely call this office medieval and the staff ignorant. Around 7 weeks back I went to this office along with my spouse to apply for the new SS card for my spouse. Though the office has plenty of the windows available, none but few (less than 5) are open at any time, which indicates the office is under staffed. What does that mean to me ??. That means, the wait times are longer. After hours of wait and an apology from the lady at the window, we applied for the new SS card for my spouse. That was 7 weeks back. 4 weeks after dropping the application, and having not received the card, I called the office and I was told, by a rude staff member, that the new card generally takes about 4-6 weeks, so I could wait a couple of weeks. Now that 7 weeks were over, yesterday, I called up the office and I was told that the card had already been dispatched to us 3 weeks back and it might have got misplaced in post. And I was asked to visit the office again to check this and we may have to re-apply. Today morning, I and my spouse visited the office. After we entered the office, we got the ticket number from the security officer, who had been kind and polite and he asked us to wait in a queue for verification of the documents etc. at Window 1. After the wait in the queue, the lady at the Window-1 checked the documents and asked us to wait until we be called at another window. After hours of wait, when we (myself and my spouse) landed at the window, the gentleman sitting there told us that we will have to re-apply, but can't apply at this office because our zip code doesn't fall under the jurisdiction of this office. When I showed him the previous acknowledgement receipt and asked how they processed the application the previous time, he began to say that the application was never processed because our zip code didn't fall in the said office's jurisdiction. When I mentioned that I spoke to one of the staff yesterday over phone who told me that SS card had already been dispatched to us 3 weeks ago, indicating that our application was processed, he went off the window to check this with some senior staff and came back saying that our application can't be processed in this office and we will have to visit the other office. When I again insisted how the application was processed earlier, he began to say that the staff at that time might not be knowing this fact. Huh, I thought to myself, and how can I be sure that you know the fact (but didn't say, not to be rude). The conclusion that one can draw from this is that the staff at this office are ignorant and are not exactly sure what they are doing. I also thought to myself that the information, that we require to visit another office, could have been given to us by the staff at window 1 (or better still 7 weeks ago) and saved us time. The only good thing about this office is that there are no issues parking, the rest is all crap. If possible, don't visit this office unless you have ample spare time and want to kill it sitting in the office's lobby and dealing with the incompetent staff. read more

So my name is Ken Stanley and I brought a friend down here to re-establish his benefits and Social Security and while I'm still here I have to tell you about a security guard by the name of Victor magana flight helpful courteous and informative that's him I want to think the Social Security Administration providing a professional who has empathy in his heart he knows how to deal with people thank you read more

I waited for nearly 4 (yes, 4) hours to have my 90 year old mother seen for her issues. The security guard from hell is officious and rude. At one point, he refused to do his job when I asked him a question. They must not pay very well to get this awful caliber of person. The people behind their windows were a bit better although when I complained about waiting, the woman who finally served us just laughed and said that everyone comes in at that time (who knew?). I was unimpressed with the empathy they showed towards their customers. One woman at one of the windows was just sobbing, another was visibly angry and yet another told me her story of total non-helpfulness by current staff. No, this agency is not even good enough for government work! read more

I waited for ever as to get assistance. The first woman who had to find what window to go to was very nice and said I should hot have waited a long time. The guard only guards the place do not ask him any questions. The woman who took my medical information was very snarky and rude and impatient with me. I knew nothing about disability insurance and she rolled her eyes back when I asked questions. I have to go again, I hope I do not get her. read more

The Filipino lady that works here is extremely rude and sarcastic. I would hate to get her again!

ARRIVE VERY EARLY!!! I was there at 8:25 a.m. and 15 people were ahead of me. I was promptly served but then told I would have to wait another 1-2 hours to be helped or I could have a telephone appointment! Make sure you write down your social security number. They ask you for it and it should not be spoken out loud for everyone to hear. Also beware of the kiosk where they have you log your social security number because EVERYONE CAN SEE THE NUMBER YOU ARE LOGGING IN! There is no privacy screen on it and I could see everyone's number as they were logging in. No "security" of social security numbers here. Been this way for years. I just can't figure out who to complain to. read more

Very good service. I went today @7 because the automated message said that 7 was the time they opened. We got there.. they open at 9. We waited since we were going to be the 2nd in line anyway. Everything took about 15, of course.. after the 2 hour wait in the car. read more

Hidden--could not find this place and live not too far away, several attempts. Mail service is quite good and I suggest writing to transact whenever possible until US Postal Service collapses. read more