F’nAround Review: The Federal Government Just Beat the DMV… and I Wasn’t Ready for That

F’nAround Review: The Federal Government Just Beat the DMV… and I Wasn’t Ready for That

The other day I reviewed my surprisingly positive experience at the Illinois Secretary of State DMV. Today, I unintentionally found myself comparing it to another government office, the Social Security Administration at 605 W. Washington Blvd. in Chicago.

And somehow…

The federal government won.

It all started on June 22, 2026, when I tried handling everything online. Instead of completing my request, the website informed me I’d need to verify my identity in person.

Fantastic.

After my DMV experience, I figured I’d used up all my government office luck for the year.

Surely this would be the one with the endless lines, packed waiting room, and three-hour commitment.

Then something unexpected happened.

The day before my appointment, I received a text message letting me know I’d get another text an hour before my appointment to virtually check in.

That’s actually pretty smart.

Being the punctual person I am, I arrived about 45 minutes early… only to discover the office wasn’t even open yet.

Perfect.

Just my luck.

Since I’d already completed my virtual check-in and there was only one other person hanging around, I figured I had time to kill.

So I walked over to the Mariano’s in Greektown and grabbed a large mocha latte from Stan’s Donuts.

Simple.

Quick.

Exactly what I wanted.

If you’re a basic mocha latte person like I am, Stan’s gets the job done without trying to reinvent coffee.

By the time I returned to the Social Security office, there was finally something I expected to see.

A line.

“Ah,” I thought.

“Here’s the government office I was waiting for.”

At exactly 9:00 a.m., the doors opened.

Security moved everyone through the metal detectors.

People started lining up at the self-service kiosks to check in.

Except…

I never even made it to the kiosk.

Before I could find a seat, my number was already being called.

Window 8.

The employee helping me was wearing what might have been the greatest government-office shirt I’ve ever seen, a Star Wars Hawaiian shirt covered in spaceships.

Naturally, I asked if I could take a picture because it deserved recognition.

He politely laughed and said photos weren’t allowed inside the office, but thanked me for appreciating it.

Fair enough.

He checked my driver’s license.

Verified my identity.

Printed a confirmation showing they received my documents.

Handed it to me.

“You’re all set.”

That was it.

Less than a minute.

I spent more time deciding what size coffee to get than I spent conducting official business with the federal government. I got a large of course.

Meanwhile, the waiting room was filling with people checking in the traditional way.

And that’s what really stood out.

If you need immediate service, by all means, walk in.

But if your situation allows you to schedule an appointment and complete the online pre-check process first, do it.

The difference in efficiency was remarkable.

This wasn’t about cutting corners.

It was about rewarding people who planned ahead.

Walking out of the building, I couldn’t help but laugh.

Twenty years ago, I never thought I’d write the sentence:

“The federal government was one of the most efficient customer service experiences I’ve had all year.”

Yet here we are.

The other day  the Illinois DMV completely shattered my expectations.

Today the Social Security Administration somehow raised the bar even higher.

Maybe government offices are finally figuring out that people value one thing above almost everything else:

Respect for their time.

F’nAround Rating:

Lost half a point only because they wouldn’t let me photograph what may have been the coolest Star Wars Hawaiian shirt ever worn behind a federal service window.

Sometimes planning ahead really does pay off and this was one of those times.