Social Security Administration — Local services in Bridgeport

This facility is AWFUL!! My mother applied for disability a full YEAR before she died from a severe illness and she was DENIED disability due to an incompetent employee's error. She wasn't informed about it for MONTHS but after months of nonstop issues with trying to access/use her benefits, my mom FINALLY gets on the phone with someone who tells her she's gotta start the process completely over. She does so but unfortunately she dies before she receives anything. DAYS AFTER HER DEATH we recieve a letter explaining that there was an error made on her account and that SSA is trying to send her funds. Once I am able to (I was out for a while with medical issues) I inform them that she's passed and I begin the process of claiming the funds on her behalf... Now, here's where I have the issue. My mom died in January 2023, I physically brought in the paperwork into the office in April 2023, they somehow LOST that paperwork and made me fill it out AGAIN in May. In June 2023 I started calling every month to check the progress and never got any information beyond "I don't know" or "I can't access the file", in October of 2023 I started coming into the office every month to check for any updates. I was told by an employee that something is wrong in the payment department because it shouldn't take this long but that I should give them until December to get it sorted out. I DID wait until December and was told AGAIN to "come back next month". I've been coming back EVERY SINGLE MONTH just to be told "come back next month"! In March 2024 I recieved a letter saying the funds for 2022 had been paid through check or direct deposit in 2023 but that was not true in any way shape or form. I bring in every single bit of paperwork that I have regarding the case, as I'd been doing for months, and tell them I have NOT received ANYTHING of what she was owed. They type on the computer for a while and I'm told another error has happened ON THE PAYROLL DEPARTMENT'S BEHALF. I was told to wait a month and I was promised a manager to manager call (between the SSA office manager and the Payment Department manager) would happen in APRIL 2024 because it SHOULD NOT TAKE THIS LONG TO RECIEVE THE FUNDS MY MOTHER WAS DUE. I am writing this in the MIDDLE OF JUNE 2024 because my mother has been dead nearly 2 years, come October I'll have been coming in every single month for a full year, I STILL have not had this manager to manager call, I haven't received a phonecall or ANYTHING in the mail regarding ANYTHING about this case, I still don't have a SINGLE UPDATE on this case, and I'm fed the absolute heck up. If it took ANYONE ELSE in ANY OTHER FIELD OF WORK more than a year to do their job CORRECTLY/COMPLETELY, when it should only take a few MONTHS, they would be FIRED, so WHY is it acceptable for the people HERE NOT to do THEIR JOBS and WHY are WE just EXPECTED to TOLERATE it?! If this facility is understaffed, WHY are they NOT HIRING ENOUGH PEOPLE to FIX THE FREAKING PROBLEM?! WHAT...

A great help for what I needed. I had a check from us treasury I needed information about. The guy who serviced me wasn't sure, but he said he was new and went to his supervisor for help. The super went and did a little research and got me more insight into what the check was for and advised me how to move forward with it. I didn't even really know this office was over here at first, but once I parked, I realized I have seen it in my many walks that sometimes go down this street. It's on the serving floor, there's an elevator. You enter your info on the touch screen and get a ticket. Take a seat and wait to be called. There's a number of booths but maybe only 5 of them were manned with staff. I got called rather quickly, but it was midday, midweek. I'm not sure of their busy time. Parking is street meter parking. But...

My experience was outstanding with this office! I was given accurate information from knowledgeable people who also gave me practical advice, including how much better it would be to come in person (not my usual preference). But I was very impressed with the efficiency of the office! And Security personnel deserves a compliment as well - very courteous!

And, when I called with a question later, the staff person I spoke with walked me through to the answer so effectively!

Compliments to the entire staff of the Bridgeport office...