Even though during the presidential campaign Donald Trump promised not to touch Social Security, his new administration is making moves that have affected some of its operations and the ability of people to receive services from the Social Security Administration (SSA).
Effective Feb. 14, many Social Security offices around the country were abruptly closed to in-person services, including the Social Security offices in Poughkeepsie and West Nyack. The White Plains Social Security Hearing Office at 75 South Broadway has been scheduled to close on May 31 when the facility’s lease expires.
People seeking help with Social Security issues from various offices around the country including the ones in Poughkeepsie and West Nyack are being told they can no longer go in-person and need to contact the agency by telephone.
The Association of Administrative Law Judges (AALJ) notified U.S. Senators and members of the House of Representatives who represent the Hudson Valley about the closing of the White Plains SSA hearing office. AALJ said this creates a significant inconvenience and loss of services for residents of Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, Orange, Duchess, Ulster and Sullivan Counties.
Sen. Kristen Gillibrand of New York sent a letter on Feb. 14 to Michelle King, the Trump Administration’s acting Social Security commissioner demanding answers about what is going on.
“At a time when President Trump is trying to gut the federal workforce, this closure would affect the staff who strive every day to provide the American people with high-quality service. Maintaining and improving the services that SSA offers to the public is essential to ensuring that Americans can access their earned benefits,” Gillibrand said. “Despite pleas from Democrats in the House and Senate, Republicans have resisted increases to SSA’s operational budget, and have in fact, suggested cuts. Current estimates indicate that if SSA funding is cut back below 2022 levels, the agency will be forced to lay off additional staff and add to an already large backlog.”
Gillibrand pointed out that with the White Plains hearing office gone, people would have to travel from 24 to 135 miles to find an open Social Security hearing office. She said that as of now the White Plains office has about 2,000 cases pending and that she is aware that some people have been waiting eight months to have their cases heard.
“Access to SSA’s hearing offices is critical for those who were denied eligibility for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI),” Gillibrand said. “Initial denials occur fairly frequently in the disability determination process, with many individuals receiving an initial denial and ultimately receiving approval for benefits.”
Gillibrand told King that she wants answers about what led to the decision to close the White Plains office and asked: “Did the Administration’s directive to the General Services Administration to revoke all leases for federal offices nationwide have an impact on SSA’s decision to close the White Plains hearing office? Does the Administration have plans to close additional SSA offices?”
