CONGRESSMAN PAT RYAN BRINGS THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION BACK TO ULSTER COUNTY WITH SENIOR FAIR
Congressman Pat Ryan Brings the Social Security Administration Back to Ulster County with Senior Fair
Ryan’s Senior Fair connected seniors with community partners from across the Hudson Valley, including the Social Security Administration, Castle Point VA, New York State Office of Mental Health, and Legal Services of the Hudson Valley
KINGSTON, NY – Today, Congressman Pat Ryan held a Senior Fair in Kingston, bringing together his team of caseworkers with representatives from the Social Security Administration and community partners from across the Hudson Valley to connect senior citizens directly with the assistance and services they need. Community partners included the Ulster County Office for the Aging, the Castle Point VA, the Social Security Administration, the Ulster County Department of Health, New York State Office of Mental Health, the Statewide Senior Action Council, Westchester Medical Center, RECAP, Legal Services of the Hudson Valley, and the New York State Attorney General’s office.
“Our seniors have worked hard their entire lives to retire with dignity – they shouldn’t have to navigate a web of government agencies alone to get the support they deserve. At our Senior Fair, there’s no waiting on hold, no playing phone tag, no getting the runaround. We’re delivering direct assistance from dozens of community partners, all in one central location,” said Congressman Pat Ryan. “But our work cannot stop at simply making these benefits accessible and easily navigable. As Trump and far-right Republicans in the House continue to attack Social Security and Medicare, I’ll keep fighting every day to not just to protect these programs, but to expand them.”
“This one-stop shop for information is exactly what our seniors need to get their questions answered quickly, and to help them navigate the different sources of assistance and support that can help them,” said Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger. “We appreciate the work and dedication of Congressman Pat Ryan and his office in spearheading this resource fair, and are happy to partner with him on this valuable service to our seniors."
“Many of our seniors have lived their entire lives in the Hudson Valley and have helped build and sustain our communities. It is our responsibility to ensure they can easily access services that will make their lives healthy, happy, and affordable,” said Senator Michelle Hinchey. “My team was proud to bring state government services to Congressman Pat Ryan’s Senior Fair, and we will always fight for the well-being of our seniors, who have given so much to our region.”
“We are happy to send OFA representatives to Congressman Ryan’s Senior Fair for this successful venture,” said Susan C. Koppenhaver, Director, Ulster County Office for Aging. “Any time we can bring information to our constituents to use, is more folks becoming aware of services available to them.”
Partner Organizations Include:
- Social Security Administration
- Ulster County Office of the Aging
- Hudson Valley Hospice
- Legal Services of the Hudson Valley
- Rebuilding Together Hudson Valley
- Gateway Hudson Valley
- Aetna Medicare Solutions
- Taxpayer Advocate
- Castle Point VA
- New York State Office of Mental Health
- Statewide Senior Action Council
- Westchester Medical Center
- AARP
- New York State Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage (EPIC) Program
- Ulster County Veterans Services Agency
- RCAL
- Ulster County Department of Health
- New York State Attorney General’s Office
- American Heart Association
- Hudson Valley Center for Veteran Reintegration
- Ulster County Division of Emergency Management
- Office of State Senator Michelle Hinchey
- A4TD
- RUPCO
- New York State Comptroller’s Office
- Ulster County Mental Health
- Choice Connections New York
- American Red Cross
- Independent Home Care, Inc
- Next Step Home.
Congressman Ryan has previously organized similar resource fairs. In November, Ryan utilized his Constituent Advocacy Resources Empowerment Services (C.A.R.E.S.) Van to bring assistance from the Social Security Administration back to Ulster County for a one-day event that included many other community partners offering assistance to senior citizens. Ulster County has gone without a Social Security Administration office in recent years, since the County’s only one closed. Ryan has made repeated calls for the office to reopen.
The C.A.R.E.S. Van makes weekly visits throughout NY-18 to bring assistance with federal agencies like Social Security, VA, and the IRS directly to constituents in their own communities. The C.A.R.E.S. Van recently completed its first district tour, having visited every one of the 82 cities and towns in NY-18 in under 10 months.
Congressman Ryan has been a fierce advocate for protecting and strengthening services and benefits like Social Security and Medicare for seniors. Ryan cosponsors the Social Security Fairness Act, the Expanding Health Care Options for First Responders Act, the Metastatic Breast Cancer Access to Care Act,, the Physical Therapist Workforce and Patient Access Act, the Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act, and the Promoting Access to Diabetic Shoes Act to expand access to Social Security and Medicare.
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