Sen. Gillibrand calls on Social Security Administration for answers on planned closure of White Plains Social Security hearing office
According to U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, that office is slated to close on May 31. She's now calling on the Social Security Administration for more answers.
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Concerns are sparking about a proposed closure to the downtown White Plains Social Security hearing office.
"People have worked all their lives so they can get their social security checks at a certain age and it’s just frightening," says Brant Anderson, a Bedford resident.
The hearing office is located at 75 South Broadway.
According to U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, that office is slated to close on May 31. She's now calling on the Social Security Administration for more answers.
Gillibrand says this is the only hearing office in the lower Hudson Valley and that it would negatively impact thousands of constituents.
Residents and a Westchester County Legislator tell News 12 they agree.
“A lot of old people like me can’t get around that well so I guess closing the one in white plains isn’t such a good idea," says Carlos Soares, a White Plains resident.
"Without an alternate site and without a backup plan are hurting the most vulnerable people," says Benjamin Boykin, Westchester County Board of Legislator for District 5.
Gillibrand says if the SSA doesn't open another site, residents could have to travel between 24 and 135 miles to their closest hearing office.
Gillibrand's letter says the hearing office has about 2,000 pending cases with individuals waiting almost eight months for a redetermination hearing.
"Some of those go back for years. What are those individuals going to do?" says Boykin.
Sen. Gillibrand is asking for a response to her letter by March 3.
News 12 reached out to the Social Security Administration for comment, but hasn't heard back yet.
MORE: Letter-to-SSA-re-White-Plains-Office-Closure.pdf
