Security

[bindyb]

Does anyone know what security is like at the SSA offices? I work for another federal agency which is located in a secure federal building. Is that the norm for the SSA offices or are they generally located in private office buildings?

[snowman]

My experience is that sometimes hearings are held in federal buildings, which have security guards and metal detectors upon entry. Some require ID. Some don't check it. But other times, at local ODARs, there is minimal security. Maybe a security guard with a wand. Sometimes hearings are held in remote locations in hotels, with no security. We are able to request a federal marshall for potentially violent or unstable claimants.

[travis]

I reckon the days of hotel rooms are behind us with the introduction of videohearings. We have claimants who are in prison and now we're doing those hearings by video in many cases. However, ALJs still have to occasionally travel to prison to conduct an in person hearing. Security depends on the office. If you're situated in a federal bldng, then there are layers of security. However, a federal bldng is a more likely target of anti-govt nuts. Many offices have a single security guard, but all the doors to the interior of the building feature codes so they're pretty secure. In the hearing rooms, you'll find a little button you can push if you need assistance. Plus, as snowman mentioned, you can get security for a hearing with a claimant who has signs of being violent. That said, ALJs typically don't need to get a guard for the hearing room and in incidents of actual violence are very rare. There are occasional threats to ALJs, but the fed protective srvcs in this post 911 world takes them very seriously. Any claimant who makes a threat can expect a visit from the g-men. So, overall, I wouldn't be worried about security.

[globalpanda]

Security depends on several factors, such as whether your building is free standing, co-located with private sector tenants, or in a Federal Building, etc. Generally speaking most Social Security offices are DHS Level Three facilities. They have an armed Security Guard provided by a private contractor. The guard may or may not have a metal detection wand. Newer facilities will generally have barriers such as locked doors and limited access between public areas and federal work spaces. In limited instances, offices located in problem areas will have additional security measures in place.

If your "new" office is located in a Federal Bldg the building is generally a level 2 facility, a lucky few are level 1. Generally there will be multiple guards, metal detectors, and, building will have some sort of barriers between the streets and the facilities. (Think Oklahoma City.) The only downside to working in "the Federal Building" is that they are often the target of political protesters. Nothing like wading through a large mass of "insert name political protest of the day here" protesters on the way to work in the morning.

As someone else mentioned, Federal facilities are protected by Federal Protective Services. They have little to no sense of humor about threats to either the facilities or the folks in them. The Administration tries to identify potential problem applicants, particularly those that have made a threats, and let the folks who have to deal with them know in advance so that appropriate security measures can be put in place.

In a nutshell, security is generally good in federal facilities.