NY AG addresses Social Security impacts in Hudson Valley. What to know
New York Attorney General Letitia James is calling for SSA Acting Commissioner Lee Dudek to maintain the Hudson Valley offices facing closures or reduced services.
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.
More: Mill House Brewing Company's latest venture is opening soon in Highland. What to know
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
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Los Angeles Times
35 minutes ago
- Los Angeles Times
DOGE employees can search Social Security records, Supreme Court says
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court cleared the way Friday for the DOGE team that had been led by Elon Musk to examine Social Security records that include personal information on most Americans. Acting by a 6-3 vote, the justices granted an appeal from President Trump's lawyers and lifted a court order that had barred a team of DOGE employees of freely examining Social Security records. 'We conclude that, under the present circumstances,' the Social Security Administration, or SSA, 'may proceed to afford members of the SSA DOGE Team access to the agency records in question in order for those members to do their work,' the court said in an unsigned order. In a second order, the justices blocked the disclosure of DOGE operations as agency records that could be subject to the Freedom of Information Act. The court's three liberals — Justices Ketanji Brown Jackson, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan — dissented in both cases 'Today, the court grants 'emergency' relief that allows the Social Security Administration (SSA) to hand DOGE staffers the highly sensitive data of millions of Americans,' Jackson wrote. 'The Government wants to give DOGE unfettered access to this personal, non-anonymized information right now—before the courts have time to assess whether DOGE's access is lawful.' The legal fight turned on the unusual status of the newly created Department of Governmental Efficiency. This was a not true department, but the name given to the team of aggressive outside advisors led by Musk. Were the DOGE team members presidential advisors or outsiders who should be not given access to personal data? While Social Security employees are entrusted with the records containing personal information, it was disputed whether the 11 DOGE team members could be trusted with same material. Musk had said the goal was to find evidence of fraud or misuse of government funds. He and DOGE were sued by labor unions who said the outside analysts were sifting through records with personal information which was protected by the privacy laws. Unless checked, the DOGE team could create highly personal computer profiles of every person, they said. A federal judge in Maryland agreed and issued an order restricting the work of DOGE. U.S. District Judge Ellen Hollander, Obama appointee, barred DOGE staffers from have accessing to the sensitive personal information of millions of Americans. But her order did not restrict the Social Security staff or DOGE employees from using data that did not identify persons or sensitive personal information. In late April, the divided 4th Circuit Court of Appeals refused to set aside the judge's order by a 9-6 vote. Judge Robert King said the 'government has sought to accord the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) immediate and unfettered access to all records of the Social Security Administration ('SSA') — records that include the highly sensitive personal information of essentially everyone in our country.' But Trump Solicitor Gen. D. John Sauer appealed to the Supreme Court and said a judge should not 'second guess' how the administration manages the government. He said the district judge had 'enjoined particular agency employees — the 11 members of the Social Security Administration (SSA) DOGE team—from accessing data that other agency employees can unquestionably access, and that the SSA DOGE team will use for purposes that are unquestionably lawful. ... The Executive Branch, not district courts, sets government employees' job responsibilities.' Sauer said the DOGE team were seeking to 'modernize SSA systems and identify improper payments, for instance by reviewing swaths of records and flagging unusual payment patterns or other signs of fraud. The DOGE employees 'are subject to the same strict confidentiality standards as other SSA employees,' he said. Moreover, the plaintiffs 'make no allegation that the SSA DOGE team's access will increase the risk of public disclosure.' He said checking the personal data is crucial. 'For instance, a birth date of 1900 can be telltale evidence that an individual is probably deceased and should not still receive Social Security payments, while 15 names using the same Social Security number may also point to a problem,' he said.
Newsweek
42 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Supreme Court Grants DOGE Access to Social Security Systems
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Supreme Court handed the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) a win on Friday, granting them access to Social Security Administration (SSA) systems and records. Newsweek reached out to the SSA via email for comment. Why It Matters Since his January inauguration, President Donald Trump has enacted sweeping change across the federal political landscape, mainly through executive orders and implementing DOGE. The task force has been spearheaded by billionaire Elon Musk in Trump's second term in the Oval Office before he left at the end of May. The Tesla CEO has pushed for DOGE to have access to numerous departments, and the process has led to numerous legal battles nationwide. What To Know In the 6-3 ruling, the Court wrote in part, "We conclude that, under the present circumstances, SSA may proceed to afford members of the SSA DOGE Team access to the agency records in question in order for those members to do their work." Justice Elena Kagan would deny the application, the ruling notes. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented with the ruling, and Justice Sonia Sotomayor agreed with her dissent. "Today the Court grants 'emergency' relief that allows the Social Security Administration (SSA) to hand DOGE staffers the highly sensitive data of millions of Americans. The Government wants to give DOGE unfettered access to this personal, non-anonymized information right now—before the courts have time to assess whether DOGE's access is lawful," Jackson wrote in part in her dissent. This is a developing story that will be updated with additional information.
an hour ago
Another politician who demanded Cuomo resign as governor now endorses him for NYC mayor
A growing number of Democrats who called on Andrew Cuomo to resign as governor amid sexual harassment allegations are now backing his comeback bid for New York City mayor -- including one of his opponents in the race. On Friday, state Sen. Jessica Ramos became the latest to flip-flop on Cuomo and endorse him, casting the former governor as the candidate best suited to run the city. 'We need results, we need experience and someone who knows how to deliver under pressure,' she said at a press conference held by the Cuomo campaign in Manhattan. Though she is backing Cuomo, Ramos said she will remain in the race to advocate for 'higher wages, more housing, and a stronger voice for working people.' The reversal from Ramos, who had called on Cuomo to resign in 2021, came just months after she described him a 'corrupt bully' who 'brings nothing to this race but baggage" when he entered the race. With her endorsement, Ramos joined lawmakers such as Rep. Adriano Espaillat, state Assembly member and Brooklyn Democratic Chair Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn and Rep. Gregory W. Meeks, along with others who have changed positions on Cuomo and now welcome his leadership ahead of the city's Democratic primary later this month. 'There are a lot of elected officials that have decided they want to look past any bad behavior because they want to look at more immediate needs,' said Basil Smikle, a Democratic political strategist and professor at Columbia University. 'They seem him as a strong person. They probably think he's the only one that can push back against Donald Trump.' Cuomo left office after the state attorney general released a report that determined he sexually harassed at least 11 women. He has said he did not intentionally mistreat the women but had instead fallen behind what was considered appropriate workplace conduct, while at the same criticizing the pressure for his ouster politically motivated. For Cuomo, securing the endorsements of those who once castigated him could ease voter concerns about his past scandals and bolster his long-held thesis that he was wrongfully forced to resign. In a statement, Cuomo said he was proud to have Ramos' support and looked forward to working with her to "put this city back on the right track and make this a stronger and more affordable place for all working men and women.' 'We're both proud Queens kids and with it comes a 'Queens attitude' that is both tough and protective of our families and our neighbors and by extension all New Yorkers,' he said. Ramos' endorsement came a day after U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez threw her weight behind mayoral hopeful Zohran Mamdani, a 33-year-old democratic socialist who has surged in the months leading up to the primary. Ramos has grown critical of Mamdani as the left flank of the Democratic Party has coalesced behind him. She jabbed at the social media-savvy Mamdani during a debate this week, saying she wished she'd run for mayor sooner but 'I thought I needed more experience but turns out you just need to make good videos."
