The upcoming closure of the Hearing of Social Insurance of White Growth in New York, is scheduled for 31. May, it has set significant concerns among local seniors, individuals with low incomes, people without reliable transport and employees in the SSA. U.S. Kirsten Gillibrand addressed these issues in the Social Security Directorate (SSA), emphasizing harmful effects on users, including hearing delays and had to travel up to 135 miles to the next closest office.
Why is it important
In the recent directive, the President Donald Trump, Elon Musk and the Government’s Efficiency Department (Doge) sent general rental services to about 7,500 federal offices around the world. This initiative aims to reduce government expenditures by consolidating office space.
The Doge Website reports that the White PlaIns office has an annual lease cost of $ 511,908, and the abolition of that lease savings $ 162,689. Website also records “Lease Interruptor Notice sent on 29.09.25.” However, the closing can cause delays and force many social security users to travel significant distances for access to basic services.
What to know
Doge aggressive cost reduction measures allegedly saved US taxpayers estimated $ 55 billion Since Trump’s inauguration. However, these savings come with compensation, including potential impairments on social security services, which many Americans rely on.
Andrew Kharnik / Staff / Getty Images
The White Plains hearing serves as the only SSA hearing facility for seven counties in Donje Hudson Valley: Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, Orange, Dutchess, Ulster and Sullivan. Toward a Letter Gillibrand for the acting of the SSA Commissioner Michelle KingHis closure can force thousands of people waiting for SSA hearings to travel between 24 and 135 miles to access the closest offices in New York, Albany, New Jersey or Connecticut. This increased road distance represents significant challenges, especially for individuals with disabilities, older and people lacking reliable transport.
Gillibrant’s letter also notes that about 2,000 cases are currently waiting for a white plain, and individuals are already waiting for almost eight months for hearing. Closing could worsen these delays, further interference with essential services.
The Senator also calls into question whether the decision on the closure of the White Plain Office is directly linked to the GSA Administration Directive for the abolition of the federal lease office in the entire country. This connection arises concerns about the broader strategy for reducing government business premises without entirely due to the impact on the delivery of public services.
Mark Hinkle was told, the Social Security Administration Officer Newsweek That the hearing surgery will close when his lease expires 31. May 2025. Years. He said the General Service administration informed the SSA that the landlord was not renewing the lease, not restoring the lease and there are no plans to replace the Office. Judges and staff will be assigned to other local hearing offices, and most hearings that will be carried out online through videos and sound.
What do people say
Said Adrien less, Gillibrand spokesman Newsweek: “There is only one administration that can keep the hearing, and their responsibility is to do so. Users and their representatives scheduled in this office already needed to contact the Alternative Options Administration. If the ingredients on the closing facility needed assistance, you should would appear in our office via a website or email CaseWork@gillibrand.senate.gov. “
Mark Hinkle was told, the Social Security Administration Officer Newsweek: “SSA’s business hearing in white plains, NY will close when his lease expires 31. May 2025. years. The general administration informed the agency that the landlord was not renewing the lease.
Judges and staff will be allocated to other local hearing offices, and these listen offices will process the load of the case pending, the vast majority of which are on network video and audio hearings, as opposed to personality. Please see our publications How to attend your hearing and Your right to the Administrative Law Judge and the Appeals Review of the Council of Your Social Insurance Case For more information on social security hearing.
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand stated in the Social Security Administration letter: “As the only auditory office in the Donja Valley, its closure will negatively affect the thousands of voters who reside in these seven counties. If the SSA does not open the alternative place, that it will be necessary to travel between 24 and 135 miles serviced in the nearest New York offices, Albany, New Jersey and Connecticut. Traveling with private vehicle or public transport to any of these alternative locations Why would be greater difficulty ingredients, and at the same time, they significantly increase costs and time associated with travel. “
“To date, in the Bijele Rabce Office there are approximately 2,000 cases, and individuals are waiting for almost eight months for the redemaric hearing. The access of SSA’s hearing is critical for those who are deprived of social security insurance (SSDI) or supplementary insurance or supplementary insurance (SSI). Initial rejections occur quite often in the process of determining disability, and many individuals receive initial denial and on end receiving benefits for benefits. “
What happens next
Senator Gillibrand requested a response from the SSA until 3. March 2025, asking for clarification on the explanation of the explanation behind the closing office and plans to mitigate his influence.
2025-02-19 22:21:00
