When I get my name changed and update my gender marker, do I have to go to my local social security office, or can I go to one near work? I would hate to have to take another day off just for that reason when I can just go to the one near work.

Any social security office should work but one word of warning, the lines can be pretty long at times. When I was there, one girl was working the desk and 3 or 4 where taking a coffee break in back while the line grew longer. I was out of work post surgical when I updated my card so while I had the time, I really didn't want to stand a long time.

Yes, any office should be able to help you. It was take a number, and relax in the "lounge" area when I went.

Yes any office will do.  You can schedule an appointment, which you will still have to wait, just not as long as showing up.

That's great to know. I would rather not burn a day off!

I don't know if this is just an issue here, but on the Social Security website when I searched for locations it said "Residents of counties x, y, and z must go to the card office at such and such address to request new social security cards". I was hoping to go to the office in a smaller city (in an adjacent county) closer to the court house, but after reading that I decided against it, believing I would be turned away.

The really bad part is that counties x, y, and z cover an area 100 miles from north to south and 2 million residents. The folks in the southern most city would have to drive 70 miles to reach the SS Card office. It was "only" 30 miles for me (courthouse to SS Card office), but a ridiculously long wait since they don't have an online appointment system (supposedly, you can make appointments by phone, though) like the DMV.

Remember they close at noon on Wednesdays.  Great timing, I know.