Social Security Farce

[arwensun1965 1]

Hi Everyone, I arrive here in Seattle on the 1st of March 2006, on the 2nd of March 2006 I went with Jon to the local Social Security Office, when we were eventually seen I handed over my passport and birth certificate and the lady put it all in the system, received a letter from her with a reference number on the top and told to expect my Social Security card within 4/6 weeks. I thought ok I'm in no hurry.

So I left it and waited, then on the 23rd of March 2006 I rang the Local Social Security office and informed them that I had now married Jon and the lady I spoke too said that is ok we will just send you your card with your married name on it (This was the WRONG information that she gave me)

I rang the main Social Security office today 1-800-772-1213 and I explained the situation to her and the conversation I had on the phone with the local Social Security office, she told me that I had infact been misinformed. I then said is there anyone that I could legitmally complain to? She suggested that I go back to the Local Social Security office and ask to speak to a manager. So I phoned the Local Social Security office and could not get through to a live person, so I left a message on the answer phone for them to get in touch with me. This afternoon I got a phone call from a gentleman from the Social Security office (and I thought at first it was because of the call I made to the local office) but NO it was from the main office, he asked me to explain to him what had happened, I did explain and he said ok let me check the immigration computer because he can access my information from there, I was put on hold, he came back a couple of minutes later and said that I had been approved and that he was personally going to sort this mess out. He also went through everything with me (which was brilliant) and assured me that my Social Security number would be with me within two weeks.

Then about 10 after I put the phone down I received another phone call this time it was the Local Social Security office, "oh I said I've just had a phone call from the Social Security office" she said oh you did, and then asked me what I had said to which I gave candid replys and also I said that the man was sorting it all out for me.

So all in all a good result for me

Janice

[cheeky^Wolf 0]

Result!!

I was told 4-5 weeks too, so I'll keep an eye on it and might go down the same lines as you did.

Helen

[I'm Gone 60]

Hi Everyone, I arrive here in Seattle on the 1st of March 2006, on the 2nd of March 2006 I went with Jon to the local Social Security Office, when we were eventually seen I handed over my passport and birth certificate and the lady put it all in the system, received a letter from her with a reference number on the top and told to expect my Social Security card within 4/6 weeks. I thought ok I'm in no hurry.

So I left it and waited, then on the 23rd of March 2006 I rang the Local Social Security office and informed them that I had now married Jon and the lady I spoke too said that is ok we will just send you your card with your married name on it (This was the WRONG information that she gave me)

I rang the main Social Security office today 1-800-772-1213 and I explained the situation to her and the conversation I had on the phone with the local Social Security office, she told me that I had infact been misinformed. I then said is there anyone that I could legitmally complain to? She suggested that I go back to the Local Social Security office and ask to speak to a manager. So I phoned the Local Social Security office and could not get through to a live person, so I left a message on the answer phone for them to get in touch with me. This afternoon I got a phone call from a gentleman from the Social Security office (and I thought at first it was because of the call I made to the local office) but NO it was from the main office, he asked me to explain to him what had happened, I did explain and he said ok let me check the immigration computer because he can access my information from there, I was put on hold, he came back a couple of minutes later and said that I had been approved and that he was personally going to sort this mess out. He also went through everything with me (which was brilliant) and assured me that my Social Security number would be with me within two weeks.

Then about 10 after I put the phone down I received another phone call this time it was the Local Social Security office, "oh I said I've just had a phone call from the Social Security office" she said oh you did, and then asked me what I had said to which I gave candid replys and also I said that the man was sorting it all out for me.

So with which SSA office did the guy that called you work for? I find it hard to believe that SSA headquarters would call you about your SSN application, since those are handled by local field offices. When you say he said you have been approved, do you mean an SSN has been assigned?

You aren't going to get a card with your married name unless you go into an SSA office and show them some proof of the name change, i.e. your marriage certificate.

1-800-772-1213 isn't the number to an SSA office, it connects you to one of the SSA teleservice centers and I would take anything they tell you for something like this with a grain of salt.

[arwensun1965 1]

You aren't going to get a card with your married name unless you go into an SSA office and show them some proof of the name change, i.e. your marriage certificate.

Yes I know that now, but that is not what the woman said the first time I phoned the local Social security office. The free phone number people told me that this morning and the gentleman confirmed it this afternoon when he phoned me.

So with which SSA office did the guy that called you work for? I find it hard to believe that SSA headquarters would call you about your SSN application, since those are handled by local field offices. When you say he said you have been approved, do you mean an SSN has been assigned?

No, his words to me were.."could you hold for a minute because I can access the immigration computer from my desk" I said " oh gooood" so I waited he came back on the phone and his exact words to me were " You are approved a Social Security card and a Tempary work permit will be sent to you" at this point I thought oooooooh k but let the gentleman continue. He then said " I will make sure that the lady who is dealing with your claim get all the paper work on her desk ASAP, without the need to take another look at the computer, at this point I just said how long do you think I will get my Social Security card and he said two weeks. I will let you know just exactly what I receive in the post.

Janice