When I retired a few years ago I made several trips to my local small town Social Security Administration office. The first thing you notice is the armed security guard. Then you scan the room and realize you are the only person waiting who has a meaningful work history.
I listened to the conversations at the service windows and realized that the SSA agents were actually pushing disability eligibility. It was very disheartening. Even worse, as a lifetime taxpayer I was treated like the enemy. Agents who were willing to spend ample time with disability cases were very short with me. In fairness, I was probably overdressed (khakis and a dress shirt).
I can top your story, Ha ha!......I needed a replacement SS card and had to go to the Marietta, GA office. An entitlement miasma if I ever saw one. Much like you describe. I waited HOURS! After negotiating through the armed guard, their bullshit process and being incarcerated with the local lowlife.
I hear my name called, this woman calls me through the double doors and escorts me to this obviously blind f@cker, and she proceeds to “translate” my need to him repeating every word so this joker can try to type it into the computer. The effing SS replacement card NEVER came. I had to go back. This time I got this nice black lady that acted like I was James Earl Ray trying to pull a fast one over on them. “I didn’t get the damned card, lady!”
ALL the documentation ALL over again, repeat the process, SWEAR I wasn’t illegal and say a bunch of sh!t in English before she would believe me.
All because SS could check off on some “We hire disabled people” checklist. I wasted two whole days on that.