A local Massachusetts media outlet reported Tuesday that the Social Security office in Springfield had to be evacuated after a report was made of a suspicious package.
The city’s fire department was called to investigate after a Social Security employee opened a package that contained an unidentified white powder. Bernard Calvi, a spokesperson for the city said three different Social Security employees were exposed to the powder, but they did not show any symptoms of being injured despite the fact that they were being isolated from the public until a hazardous materials evaluation could be done. Officials decided to close the Social Security office for the remainder of the day to ensure the public’s safety. There is no official update as to the identification of the suspicious power.
Unfortunately these kinds of threats are not uncommon at Social Security offices. When a government agency is in charge of deciding who is entitled to benefits and who is not, there are going to be angry people who sometimes act in such a manner.
Get To Know Social Security Publications
Social Security wants people to be aware that online information you find on Social Security’s website is not all it has to offer regarding valuable information related to its programs. Social Security has published over 100 documents online related to retirement, disability and other services. It might not be at the top of your reading list, but these publications can answer a lot of questions people have regarding the agency’s different programs. Because getting a Social Security employee on the phone or visiting a Social Security office in person can be difficult and time consuming, a good first step in answering questions related to retirement, disability or other programs Social Security offers is checking Social Security’s publications.
