Schumer Requests in-Person Meeting with Head of Social Security Admin. to Raise Serious Concerns about the Slated Closure of the Kingston SS Office - Will Push Colvin to Reverse Course

Press Release

Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer requested an in-person meeting with the Acting Commissioner of the Social Security Administration (SSA) Carolyn Colvin to raise concerns about the slated closure of the Kingston Social Security Office. Schumer will make the case that the Kingston Office is efficient and has sufficient demand to warrant continued operation. In addition, Schumer will argue that Kingston is already trying to reduce costs by moving to a new office space at half the cost. Schumer is pressing Acting Commissioner Colvin to hear out his arguments and he will urge the Acting Commissioner to reverse course and keep Kingston open. Approximately 25,000 beneficiaries a year obtain their retirement and disability services at the social security office in Kingston. On average, they receive roughly 95 people per day, 15 with prescheduled appointments and about 80 walk-ins, but handle even more over the phone or online.

"Closing this social security office will unduly burden tens of thousands of Kingston and Ulster County seniors, forcing the elderly and disabled to travel much further to access their essential and hard-earned social security services," said Schumer. "That is why I'm urging the Acting Commissioner of the Social Security Administration to meet with me to hear out the argument for keeping Kingston open. It is a popular and efficient office, serving over 25,000 people per year -- and they are already making great strides in reducing costs. These seniors have worked hard their whole lives and earned these benefits, they have earned first-class service. Commissioner Colvin should come hear out the arguments in favor of keeping Kingston operating before continuing with any plans to the contrary."

Schumer has formally requested Acting Commissioner Colvin to meet with him in Washington DC, at a time based on the officials' schedules, to discuss the planned closure of the Kingston Social Security Office. Schumer is responding to an outpouring of local support for the office, which services a high volume of Ulster County's total social security claims and a high number of annual beneficiaries. If the Kingston office were to close, seniors would have to travel to either Poughkeepsie or Monticello to reach the next closest SSA office.

Source