We realize it may be a stretch for ordinary people to want to keep up with the comings and goings of the Social Security Administration, but sometimes circumstances permit where someone does want to follow the latest news regarding the agency due to a possible retirement or disability interest. This blog is an ongoing piecemeal of recent stories that have involved Social Security. Some are tidbits and some are important things that should be known in the world of retirement or disability and others are just interesting stories and nothing more.
Social Security Closed December 5
Federal agencies, including the Social Security Administration, will be closed Wednesday, December 5, 2018 in honor of the passing of former President George H.W. Bush, who died Nov. 30. President Donald Trump announced the closures December 1 as a day of national grieving to respect Bush’s passing. Bush, who died at age 94, will lie in state in the Capitol rotunda in Washington beginning at 6:30 PM Monday, December 3 through 6 AM Wednesday, December 5. A funeral service is scheduled at the National Cathedral December 5. All Social Security field offices and hearing offices will be closed to commemorate the event.
Legislation Introduced To Stop Social Security Office Closings
U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore (D-Wisconsin) introduced a bill last month that would require Social Security to operate a “sufficient” number of fully staffed field offices, as well as setup a review process for any Social Security offices that are slated to be closed. Social Security has closed a number of field offices over the last year, including a Milwaukee office that Moore said would create hardship for many of her constituents.
“My bill will help to ensure the SSA provides essential services to all communities. Requiring the SSA to operate sufficient offices, instituting a 90-day notification period before a proposed closure, and mandating at least two public hearings for those affected are commonsense proposals which will help my constituents, and all Americans, secure full access to SSA benefits they need,” Moore said in a press release from her office.
Social Security advocates are urging members of Congress to support Moore’s bill. Nancy Altman, president of Social Security Works, said now is not the time to be closing Social Security offices.
“Every member of Congress should support Representative Gwen Moore’s Maintaining Access to Vital Social Security Services Act,” Altman said. “This visionary legislation would ensure that Americans have reliable and convenient access to Social Security field offices. All of us have paid for high quality service at field offices with our Social Security contributions. With 10,000 Americans turning age 65 every day, we should be opening field offices, not closing them.”
Social Security Withdraws Proposal
Social Security has withdrawn proposed regulations regarding “Redeterminations” in cases where there is reason to believe fraud, or similar fault, was involved in an individual’s application for benefits. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has to approve proposed regulations before they are published for comments, but there was no reason given by Social Security or the OMB as to why Social Security withdrew the proposal.
