NY AG addresses Social Security impacts in Hudson Valley. What to know
On Jan. 30, the Poughkeepsie Social Security office, located at 332 Main St., temporarily closed to undergo renovations. A small contact station has been set up at the space for limited services, but residents have largely been directed to instead use the Middletown office for their needs, and no reopening timeline has been given for the Poughkeepsie office.
In White Plains, the Social Security Office of Hearings Operations — a central hub for seven counties including Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster and Westchester — is set to close on May 31.
"Social security is a sacred promise that this country makes to its citizens," James said in a statement. "Seniors and people with disabilities throughout the Hudson Valley rely on the White Plains and Poughkeepsie offices to ensure they receive the support they deserve."
"Protecting access to social security and the rights of vulnerable New Yorkers must transcend politics and be a principle that all those in public service support," James continued.
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The White Plains OHO schedules and hosts hearings for people who have filed a Request for Hearing and live within the service areas of the Middletown, Monticello, New Rochelle, Peekskill, Poughkeepsie, West Nyack, White Plains and Yonkers SSA offices.
The lease at the White Plans office building is expiring, and SSA does not intend to extend the lease, according to an email statement from Everett Lo, regional communications director for the SSA.
Instead, those seeking services at that office will be assigned to one of the following OHO offices in New York and Connecticut:
12 Corporate Woods Blvd., Albany.
220 East 161 St., Second Floor, Suite 2, Bronx.
Jacob K. Javits Federal Building, 26 Federal Plaza, Room 2909, New York.
201 Varick St., Third Floor, Room 315, New York.
Joseph P. Addabbo Federal Building, 155-10 Jamaica Ave., Second Floor, Jamaica.
157 Church St., Seventh Floor, New Haven.
Most of the hearings held are virtual, Lo said, and SSA will continue to offer virtual, phone and in-person hearings, just not at the White Plains OHO.
According to the attorney general's office, the White Plains OHO has a massive backlog of cases, given the number of elderly and disabled New Yorkers who rely on its services.
In a letter to the SSA acting commissioner, James said, "Recent reports show that currently, without the devastating impact of this reported closure, the White Plains office has a roughly 2,000-case backlog and that redetermination hearings come with an eight-month wait. It is simply unconscionable to strip away the services altogether rather than trying to fix an already challenging situation."
In Poughkeepsie, James said, those who require services not provided at the temporary office while its SSA space is under renovation will have to travel at least an hour to another office.
Local government leaders had previously called on SSA for more information regarding the closure, including what in-person services may still be available and how long the closure is expected to last, but said the SSA response only directed residents to call or fax the office with their questions.
Numerous lawmakers joined James in voicing their concerns over the offices' closures on Thursday, including New York State Senator Michelle Hinchey.
"Shuttering our Poughkeepsie Social Security office and the pending closure in White Plains puts an unconscionable burden on our neighbors, from seniors to wounded veterans, and individuals with disabilities, who rely on these vital benefits and the convenience of local services," Hinchey said in a statement. "It's the federal government's job to administer Social Security — that job includes making sure no one is left behind or subject to delays and roadblocks."
"We need clarity from the SSA on their plans and a commitment to ensuring these facilities remain available locally," Hinchey continued.
This article originally appeared on Poughkeepsie Journal: NY AG addresses Hudson Valley Social Security closures: What to know
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