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January 24th, 2006
09:26 am - advice
After a mere hour's office wait yesterday (truly, I had expected longer) I proved to the Social Security Administration that I was indeed born at the temporal-spacial coordinates I claimed to be, provided them with a few other pieces of paperwork (2 years of insurance receipts and my W2), and thus completed my application for SSA disability benefits. A proof of application receipt is being mailed to me, and when I have that in hand, a major item on the list of Things Required for Disability Retirement will have been accomplished.
A gentleman conversing with me in the waiting area expressed surprise at the length of time things were taking - saying he was glad to be forewarned, that he'd be back in about five months for himself and his retirement arrangements (this visit being accompanying his daughter and her new offspring to obtain a SSN for the latter). I suppose regularly waiting for buses that only come twice an hour has taught me patience, or at least fortitude in the face of delay. Or perhaps working for another Federal agency is what did it. But even though he said he'd never dealt with the government much, I would have thought the idea government == slow was common enough currency that a long line of customers inching through the afternoon should have been expected.
So, a hint for the betterment of humanity: if you have dealings with official offices and you don't have an appointment, expect to take a number and wait. If you do have an appointment, expect a wait anyway, especially if it is Monday or Friday - things get behind. Take a book, or prepare to entertain yourself quietly in some fashion, and you'll have a much happier time of it.
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![[User Picture]](https://l-userpic.livejournal.com/59829414/7718066) | | From: |  gpq |
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| Date: | January 24th, 2006 06:04 pm (UTC) |
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SSA and I have been in negotiations for years now about the year of my birth. They acknowledge that my number was issued to me in 1982 and that I have a record of earnings going back to 1984, but they insist that I was born in 1996 rather than 1966.
The wheels of government turn slowly, but stupidly. | From: | (Anonymous) |
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| Date: | January 25th, 2006 04:03 pm (UTC) |
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| | So, Joy | (Link) |
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If you get those SSA benefits are you in a position to travel across country in a Volkswagon van converted to run on veggie-diesel -- um -- following Neil Gaiman's next book signing tour? ![[User Picture]](https://l-userpic.livejournal.com/3426898/446447) | | From: | cithra |
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| Date: | January 25th, 2006 04:27 pm (UTC) |
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| | Re: So, Joy | (Link) |
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With an anonymous stranger, probably not. |
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