Venting: Went to SSA office, Security Guard
 

Hi, I took my now 18 year old for his appointment with SSA on Friday. I had some unexpected company, my almost 3 year old grandson, and my 4 year old granddaughter. Of course we were doing the best we could. And I can tell you that I didn't take them because I wanted to. But because my daughter-in-law's appt couldn't be cancelled either.

But we were doing this appointment, and the girl was not nice for one.
And seemed to not realize when asking my son questions that she would need to rephrase. Hmmm, what do they think you apply for SSI because of usually.

Anyway, I'd been occupying my grandson by any way possible, at times taking him for walks in other areas. The girls one good thought.

We have to take 5 minutes I have to make copies. And we will recovene.

1. Well we did, I couldn't hold grandson anymore. Hip was having problems.
a. Guard who had been hassling others, decided to walk in back were we were.
b. Got ahold of grandson, who was walking around but not touching or bothering anyone. I could see whole time.
1. We were getting information on last minute things needed.
2. Guard came up told me, that I had to keep him under control or we would have to leave.

2. Gosh if he had just been listening. Instead of harassing a little one.
He would have realized instead of being a nuisance. Help for a couple of
minutes. And I'm out of your hair.

a. Not sure what I didn't get from those 5 minutes. Thanks to guard,
and now crying grandson.


Poor son, thought it was his fault. They all need a lesson in humility.
Guard needs a different job.

Took my son out of school. To be told not to be there pretty much.

Donna

I noticed you are in Indiana the guard where I went to here in Indiana was awful. He was so nosey. He followed me around like I was a spy or terrorist. He also went into the interview areas while the lady was interviewing me about benefits. That was uncalled for. He did not need to know my personal life. I do not know his!

Well, maybe in places you have worked, people don't threaten you with following you to your car after work, you don't have to deal with a lot of felons or *edit*, and guards are not shot and killed.

All of those things have happened in Social Security offices. Felons and *edit* are in the office every day, there are occasional threats from violent sociopathic type claimants that are so serious that the Federal Police make a visit and ban some people from going into a Social Security office (it is a federal offense to threaten a federal employee), and at least once this decade a guard was shot and killed by a disgruntled claimant.

Guards are not babysitters, they are not receptionists, they are not there to make your life easier. Their job is to make sure the staff and the public who visit the office are safe.

Guards
 

I am glad the guards are there doing their job. However when me and my wife met with the lady going over our case, I did not see any reason for him to listen to my whole life history the ups and the mostly downs that have occured in my life. Once we were searched he should of left us alone.

I honestly appreciate the fact that the guard is needed.

What I didn't appreciate was that instead of being part of the equation the
whole time I was back with the worker, which he could have been. And probably should have been. He wasn't. He was not paying attention to
us. Except for this last 5 minutes that I had to spend listening to the
lady give the instructions. I had ahold of my grandson when we started,
but so there would not be a screaming scene. Because others were having
meeting too. I let go of his hand, knowing we were just about done.

But he walked to the end of the hall. These were cubicles not rooms.
The dividers, were nothing. So if I were to go after him, or to chase him,
he would giggle or laugh. And probably yell, or run in the building.

Taking off the other halls. There were two technically, because you just
turned a corner and returned another way. But with my grandson, if you
let him go, and he see's you aren't going to chase he returns.

It was the best for us both, and my 18 year old.

But the guard that had been harassing some folks who couldn't speak english
from the time I walked in, till about the time I left. Was now harassing a 2 year old instead. And told me that if I couldn't keep him quiet we would
have to leave.

Gosh if he had just asked how long we were going to be first, he would have
known it was going to be less than 2 minutes.

It was not necessary to be so rude.
He may have been having a rough day. But so do those who have to ask for SSI sometimes. And they thought because I'm not on SSI and haven't had
to ask for my benefits yet. Thanks to my employer being pro handicap.
That I'm not handicapped, I need to have some of my sons' paperwork changed.

I'm handicapped, just not on SSI, I am the one with the sticker for the
car. And I'm the one that uses the cane, and has to have the breathing
treatments when necessary. Also the one that has to worry about my
hip giving out, because my legs aren't working right.

So handicapped is different for all. My things are just not reason's for
benefits, I work for IN*SOURCE and I can still do my job.

Donna

So, when you work at IN*SOURCE, do your clients bring toddlers to your place of employment and let them run around for two or three or ten minutes, disturbing not just you but everyone else within earshot? And what would have happened if this child was injured while playing with the cubicle walls or the computer or the office chair? Do you think you (or someone else who is more litigious than you) might blame SSA for some kind of negligence? Anytime there is any kind of accident at SSA or the police or paramedics are called, the guards and the management have to complete long complicated incident reports and have to explain everything up several chains of command. And they have to explain what SSA could or should have done to prevent the incident.

The guard may not have acted like a pre-school teacher, but government offices are places for adults to conduct business and it is your job to keep your children under control or take them out.

The good part is you were just there for 5 minutes. It took me 6 hours to provide my information! Those offices are overwhelmed. That doesn't excuse their rudeness but is one of the reasons for it. Everybody's actions are colored by their perceptions. Working people are usually working so hard, esp. in offices like SSA, that it's hard for them not to resent those who are qualifying for an income they don't have to work for. THIS IS NOT RIGHT. It's just the way it is. Maybe the younger children can stay home next time. Sorry for your bad experience. billie

Sorry for miss understanding we were there for over 1 hour.

I asked for the last 5 minutes that we were getting the directions for information to be returned. I should just have taken both grandkids, and
my son to the car. And returned, but then they might not have liked that
at the time, because I was only just permission to talk by son.

But its me that has to make sure the proper things are returned. And to
answer the questions of the person about IN*SOURCE. If a parent with
disabled children brings other children to our meeting.

1. I always try to make sure I know this is going to happen ahead of time.
So I can arrange our meeting at a place the children will be welcome. I don't have a office. And its against IN*SOURCE's Policies for me to meet at my house or theirs.

a. I will meet at libraries, restaurants, or other service agencies. But I always make sure when I make a appointment of the following
1. The parent is able to come were we are meeting. (cost wise)
2. If children are coming its appropriate, a play area. (close by)
3. If we need to recovene later, we do.

2. Remember I'm a Parent with disabiled children and grandchildren. And now have a couple of my own disabilities. Luckily I can still work.

Donna

I think working people want to get their work done so they can go home and be with their families and don't like their time wasted by making sure other people's children are behaving properly in an office situation. I also don't think most working people would willingly give up their income and jobs and potential in order to qualify for fixed or low income lifestyle. So I don't think there is resentment on the side of SSA employees wishing they could be on the other side of the desk. Never met a person yet who liked the experience of going to the Social Security office.

Children can run around on playgrounds or at home. It is up to the caregiver to control them in an office. Not the office staff.

I agree its my part to do the taking care of during the time there.

But I had been. I was trying to get the last minute instructions. And I mean exactly that. She was in the last sentences. And if I didn't get them.
Then it could mean my son who just turned 18 and hasn't qualified, might
not get his disability because I had to walk away at a that specific moment.

He wasn't bothering anyone. The place was pretty much deserted, and the
couple of places having people were not close to were we were. To make him scream in my arms would have made it worse. And it was just that.

So my wrong choice yes. But sometimes, you can't chose you have to take a toddler with a disability also into this kind of place.
Donna:grouphug:

p.s. I'm done with this one. If you can't understand a vent then sorry.
ITs all it was. And my son deserve his chance at SSI as much as the next.