Queens Social Security Card Center

A old Chinese woman so bad, I ask questions about that form, she didn’t answer I can forgive her but she said «are you a retard? Are you a deaf? „then I just take three minutes she said“ are you idiot? You waste time! Then over and over again said idiot retard deaf, I just checked my address she said „could you please stop waste time!“ Then I saw my watch, just passed 4 minutes. I first time come America, so that it? So this is public center? Easier to name-​calling right? I don’t know that old woman waste time or me. I just want she answered then I’ll finished it very fast but… You know what? I gonna to say» that old Chinese woman, you are a one who waste time and ruin America public form.

Based on the long line I just waited on outside it looks like am going to be here a while. When I reached the front of the line I had to go through airport type security. They have you remove jewelry, hats, coats, jackets, shoes, belts, empty pockets and place all items in an X-​ray machines and walk through a metal detector. I spoke to one of the security officers and she informed me that the line gets even longer in the mornings so I can’t pinpoint what’s the best time to come here and I think it also depends on what service you are here for. Am here to change my name so am prepared to be here until closing. Staff friendly and helpfulness all depends on who you get. The lady I got today was not rude but she sure was not friendly either. When I approached the counter I greeted her with a «Hello» she responded with a stern «Ticket please» When she was done with all the formalities I said «Thank you, have a nice day… again she did not respond. The entire process from entry to exit took about an hour and a half.

I will preface this review with the fact that I went to this office for a name change since I got married — it seems like the experience if you are there for this kind of service is very different from others.
But — the process for updating my name could not have been easier. As others have written — make sure that you tell the guard at the door that you are there for a name change and you need to go to the 2^nd floor. There are two lines then once you walk inside — a line of people who are waiting for security and a line of people who are waiting for the other card services that are in the building. Make sure you get on the security line.
I went straight upstairs, waited for maybe 15 minutes and was in and out maybe 15 minutes after that. And the gentleman who helped me was really just delightful and nice.
Come with your form filled out and make sure that you have all the documents they ask for and it should be a pretty easy process.

After we wasted 2 hours in the Mineola office, we thought the wait here is going to be even worse or just as bad. Once you get into the building, you have to go through security check just like the one in the airport. We were surprised on how quick it is to get the stuff done here. We came here in the afternoon, there was definitely a lot of people in front of us but we were done in about an hour. Some of the staff here were also very friendly.

A piece of advice for people deciding to go to this office: DON’T.
Skip this office and just go straight to the one in Fulton instead! I won’t bother to explain why since almost everyone here has already said the same negative thoughts that I have. After 3 hours of waiting in Jamaica, I decided to just leave and go to the Fulton SS office instead. Got there around 1:30, took a ticket and even before I got a chance to sit down my number was already called. Best decision ever!

If you can avoid this location, avoid it, It seem that no matter what time you get here, you will have to wait! I am not sure if anything changed, I was there early in 2015, and I am glad I didn’t need to come here again. I don’t know what time the people here get to the place, but I arrived at 7:00, and there were more than 20 people ahead of me in line. Maybe you should aim for 6:30 if you are planning to get here.
It took me 3 hours to complete the process for which I arrived, and I can say that my problem was solved. But I missed an important appointment I had planned that day at 11, since I assumed that if I arrive at 7, I will be out by 9.

Despite all the terrible reviews, I needed to come here and change my last name due to marriage. I don’t know who these people dealed with but everyone I met was extremely nice and helpful! The guards, the application people, everyone. I arrived very early at 7:15 walked right in the front door, waited to check in about 3 min and my number was called in about 30 minutes. At the window it only took about 5 minutes. Anyone who tells you different doesn’t know what they are talking about, by 9 am when I was leaving the line just to get in the door was up the block. The key is get there early and research what you need ahead of time so you can bring everything with you and you will have a good experience.

JUST DON’T GO THEIR unless you have too, other offices in deferent state & county way better, and they treat you as human bien. NOT in Jamaica Office.

They get people in and out. Yea there’s a little wait but if you have what you’re suppose to come with, it’s a smooth process

I went there on a Friday morning at 7:30. Was out by 8:30. They give u a token number and ask u to wait. I thought it was an efficient place!

Came on a Monday to get a detailed earnings report, the look of the line can be deceiving, I say I was waiting for 15 – 20 minutes outside, once inside get ready for the medal detector please take the Change out your pockets please it will make yours and everyone else’s day go faster. Get on the elevator and get ready for a wait. The people there were polite to me, I have zero complaints. GET THERE EARLY

After reading the review on Unilocal about this place I was SKEPTIC. I had to go here due to my school requirement letter. I was called in a few seconds and then handed over a form to fill. Just when I was about to fill the form a LADY at WINDOW 12A CALLED MY NUMBER. She was extremely HELPFUL. The first letter of her Name I believe starts from M. I was so worried that I would not get my letter due to some issues. But she was so helpful and patience and she did her best and I can’t believe that I came out impressed. I guess it was my LUCKY DAY. ;0) GOD BLESS HER.

I don’t know why another Unilocaler said you don’t need to wait outside if getting a new card, I went this morning at 8:45 am and told the guard we were getting a new card and he told me to wait in line.
Maybe because it was a chill rainy day so less people went there, I spent 15 – 20 minutes waiting outside, another 15 – 20 minutes for security checkpoint. And I was able to get out by 10:20am. I guess getting a new card might be faster, because I saw the person who sat next to me in the waiting room was holding a ticket printed at 8:18am, and he was still waiting when we left.
The security guards were not as horrible as I expected, they let my 70 years old father-​in-​law went through the check point without his shoes taken off and gave him another cane to hold on (his own cane needed to go through the scanner). And they also let my husband feed the meter and came back without going through the security again.

Moved to Queens recently and had to switch over my state driver’s license. Low and behold, one of the reqs is that I need to show my SS card which I haven’t pulled out in years. It’s lost in the abyss so had to make the trek out to the SS office.
Unfortunately Jamaica was my only option for card services. Even if you go before it opens, there’s already a line forming. Then when they start letting folks in, it feels like you’re going through airport security. Some ppl even had to remove their shoes!!! Besides the painful wait (got there at 7am and left about 930a it was a easy application and interview process.
When it was over, I was told I would receive my replacement card within 2 weeks. It actually arrived earlier but my experience gave me the sense that I need to safeguard my SS card with my life so I never have to go through that ordeal again.

Horrible. I am convinced they tell you the wait is wayyy longer than it is just to keep the already overcrowding down a bit. This place is hit or miss but with alot more misses than hits.
I came here once at the end of the day on friday and maybe waited 30min. I am thinking this is because they scared off everyone earlier by telling them the wait is ALOT longer than it actually is. Becuase, I came here at 2:30 last friday and they told me its a 3 hour wait! Which would put me at 5:30 and if they dont get to me, then I am sent home until Monday. (Meanwhile they told someone else 2 hour wait). I decided to not take the chance of wasting my Friday to possibly not even be seen.
And it turned out I did the right thing because I went to the SS office in the city and it took me 40min including round trip travel time from Penn station to William Street with a pleasant bunch of workers.

I just got home and I promise to safeguard my social security card forever and ever so I don’t have to go back to that dreaded place again.
Watch the movie Beetlejuice and you’ll know what I’m talking about.
My total wait time was 5 ½ hours because I had to visit 2 different floors, but
IF YOURE GOING FOR A NAME CHANGE, A NEW CARD OR A REPLACEMENT CARD, DO NOT WAIT ON THE OUTSIDE LINE. GO STRAIGHT INSIDE.
KUDOS TO THE OTHER UnilocalERS WHO GAVE THIS TIP. I LITERALLY SAVED A GOOD 2 HOURS +.
The two stars are for the way the place is set up. It is absolutely senseless. I’d give 4.5 stars to the persons who helped me. Blame the half a star on the lady who spoke to me as if I was some sort of an idiot. The rest of the staff was nice, personable and helpful.
*if you ever call the 800 number, please know, you’ll get 4 different answers from 4 different agents and none are right. Good luck with that.

I read the reviews and decided to chance it anyway. Originally I went in on Friday around 4 after reading a review that suggested it. The wait was two hours. I was told that if I wanted I could come in at exactly 7 Monday and it wouldn’t take more than 40 mins. I got there Monday around 6:50 AM and it was already a line outside. They have a system inside that I don’t think is very effective. I won’t even bother trying to explain it. I encountered two window workers who were somewhat brash, rude whatever you want to call it. After getting there at 6:50 I left at 9. If I EVER have to go back. I’ll go to the one in the financial district and travel further. The two stars I did give was only for the security. They were a lot more pleasant and helpful.

I checked in and got a number at 2:50 pm. They made an announcement at 5:45 pm that everybody get the hell out of here and come back next Monday. After almost 3 hours wait I got kicked out of this dysfunctional place. I was about to have nervous breakdown. This is all the government offices do at tax payer’s expenses.
God damn those scumbags who manage this places. That is why i hate socialism and government-​owned entities.

I’m not sure why there’s a bunch of people who gave 1 stars. I went there around 3:00 and got out an hour later to replace my social security card. The whole wait time really has to be done strategically. Majority of people would go in the morning so I went during their last hour when all the crowds died down. The staff was friendly and very helpful.

As the other Unilocal reviews state it is best if you are coming here for a name change that you go straight to the 2^nd floor.
Do not wait on the line outside.
So we got to this office at 745 and I am here writing this review at 923 still in this office.
We were sitting down and were ore registered rather quick. However, while waiting we began to notice almost every person before us, and many new people who arrived after us were being attended to and gone.
An hour later. A security guard came up to is and said go to window 23 and check in the status of your ticket number.
When I get to the window the women behind the glass tells me that our number was called.
Really, I doubt it. They have me a new number and I was called to another window within 2 minutes. After another pre-​registration, we waited another 5 minutes and were called to another window 12A.
After about 3 – 5 minutes of standing at the window, the representative tells me to have a seat and she was being called away from her desk.
Every window shut down and we waited 30 mins.
It’s now 9:29 and they just returned calling us back to the window. Let’s see what happens.
Terrible management in this place.
Good luck if you have to come here.