Social Security Administration

Ceara Struck _{on Google}

Jan 29th, 2024

I've been helping clients come and get documents straightened out at SSA, and I just want to give props to the main officer there, Mr. Breed. He is so nice, explains everything simply, and welcomes people well. The office can be a little intimidating when you first walk in, and he makes you feel at ease. Way to go!

Siri Seavey _{on Google}

Oct 20th, 2023

We went into this office yesterday to prove identity and update info as we have recently moved to the Petoskey area. The lady who was supposed to ''help" us was exceptionally rude and condescending from the moment she began speaking. This was completely uncalled for. She assumed we were trying to scam her (and even said this) before we were able to even explain that we had been told by the social security administration, over the phone, to go into this office. When I told her that she was being rude, this seemed to calm her down a bit but I am hoping that she was just having a really bad day and that this is not how she is towards the general public considering her job is to assist folks.

Caraleyn Smith _{on Google}

Jun 12th, 2023

Eugenia was amazing, she made the process so easy and seamless. Such a friendly face

Jeremy R. Hammond _{on Google}

Dec 12th, 2023

The female clerk was rude, condescending, and pointlessly argumentative with me. Here's the story: I got an email from SS saying my statement was updated, with a link to log in online. So I looked and noticed the numbers for my income didn't match my tax returns going back to 2013. The webpage said if there's a discrepancy to call a number, which I did. I was told on the phone that I just need to print out my 1040s and bring them into the local SS office to get that corrected, which I did.
In the office, I explained the situation to the clerk, who then asked whether I'd paid my quarterlies in each of those past years. I said I hadn't because I wasn't always required to, and that I had paid quarterlies in the years in which I was required to. Then she argued rather condescendingly, "Well, you've had to pay them since 2013." So, I explained again that, no, most years I didn't meet the requirements to have to pay quarterly taxes, and, again, for every year that my income met the requirements, I had done so, and I had otherwise filed my tax returns on time every year.
Next, to move forward toward getting some help, I asked whether my SS statement should match the "total income" or the "adjusted gross income" on my 1040s because what SS had matched neither. She answered again rather condescendingly, as though it was a stupid question that I should already know the answer to, that it was neither of those, that it should rather be my "taxable income" because I don't owe taxes on all my income (duh!). So, with the example of my 2022 1040, I showed her how that made absolutely no sense because at least what was on my SS statement was roughly in the ballpark of my adjusted gross income, off by a couple thousand, whereas it wasn't even remotely close to my taxable income, differing by tens of thousands.
She had me wait a minute while evidently looking something up online. Then she asked me whether the IRS received my tax returns, and I said of course. She said she needed to see the receipt confirmations from the IRS. So, I reminded her that I was told on the phone that the only thing I would need to bring into the office to get this taken care of was my 1040s, which I had printed and brought, and instead of acknowledging this legitimate complaint, such as apologizing on behalf of SS admin for having been given incorrect information that resulted in me having my precious time wasted, she repeated that I needed to bring in the IRS confirmations as though it had been my own mistake that I hadn't brought the proper documentation.
Before I left, I made sure to get clarification on my question about which number from my 1040 should match what SS has, and asked again, "So, just to be clear, what my Social Security statement says should match the adjusted gross income from my tax return?", and she finally confirmed that this was correct, but again with no apology for having provided me with incorrect information the first time I'd asked, much less for the attitude with which she had insisted it should be my taxable income.
I also made sure to be absolutely clear on what I would need to bring so that I didn't waste my time again by having her confirm that the printouts of my 1040s that I had brought plus the email confirmations of receipt from the IRS would be all I'd need to get this taken care of, and she said yes. I remarked that it would have been nice to have been told that on the phone, but again instead of simply acknowledging my legitimate complaint of having my time wasted by having been given wrong information by the SS admin, she flippantly remarked, "Well, it's all straightened out now." I begged to differ! But with that, I up and left.
Horrible customer service! Horrible!