CONGRESSMAN PAT RYAN DEMANDS SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION MAKE SOCIAL SECURITY MORE ACCESSIBLE FOR HUDSON VALLEY SENIORS, REOPEN FIELD OFFICE IN KINGSTON
Congressman Pat Ryan Demands Social Security Administration Make Social Security More Accessible for Hudson Valley Seniors, Reopen Field Office in Kingston
KINGSTON, NY – Today, Congressman Pat Ryan wrote a letter to Acting Social Security Administration (SSA) Commissioner Kilolo Kijakazi, demanding the SSA to reopen their field office in Kingston. Since the closure of the previous field office, thousands of seniors living in Ulster County are forced to travel upwards of an hour to reach an SSA office.
“Thousands of Ulster County seniors are forced to travel over an hour to get help from the Social Security Administration – that is a ridiculous burden to place on hard-working New Yorkers who deserve easy access to these earned benefits,” said Representative Pat Ryan. “Social Security offices provide necessary resources, including applications for Social Security cards, information on Social Security benefits, and support for limited-income Medicare beneficiaries. To close the field office and leave seniors who may not have reliable internet or access to a car without these services is completely unacceptable. I am demanding the Social Security Administration right this wrong and reopen their field office so that Hudson Valley seniors can access these much-needed services.
“For years, I regularly took neighbors and friends to the Social Security Office, helping them get their benefits and have their questions answered,” said Lori Annuziata, a Shawangunk resident. “Since the office closed, accessing these resources has been nearly impossible. My internet is spotty at best, and many of my friends are unable to drive. Forcing us to navigate the Social Security system without in-person assistance is an absolute disservice to our senior community. Thank you Congressman Ryan for bringing our voices down to Washington and fighting for the office to reopen.”
“After our Social Security office was closed, the pandemic hit, and the ability for seniors to get their Social Security questions answered became much more complicated,” said Susan C. Koppenhaver, Director of the Ulster County Office for Aging. “We were seeing up to 25 people who needed this help every single week when the Social Security personnel were here onsite. Many do not have internet expertise, and rely on our help, which was even difficult for our staff, as the Social Security offices were not manned in person for months on end. Thank you Congressman Ryan for working to address this- we are imploring all local and federal legislators to reconsider having a Social Security Administration office here in Kingston.”
A copy of Ryan’s original letter to Acting Social Security Administration Commissioner Kilolo Kijakazi appears below:
Dear Commissioner Kijakazi,
I write to request that the Social Security Administration (SSA) consider opening a field office in or near Kingston, New York. This new field office will ensure the people of the surrounding region have access to the SSA resources and personnel on which they rely.
The SSA serves millions of Americans each year, and the retirement benefits they administer constitute a significant source of income for millions of seniors. These Americans have paid into the Social Security program throughout their lives and rely on timely and accessible services. Some of the resources that field offices offer include applications for new or replacement Social Security cards, information and applications for Social Security and Supplemental Security Income benefits, and support for limited-income Medicare beneficiaries who may qualify for help with the cost of their prescription drugs under the Medicare Prescription Drug Program. While many of these services can also be found online, that is not a practical way for all beneficiaries to receive help, especially our seniors who are used to conducting business and interacting with government agencies in person.
The SSA closed the Kingston field office on Grant Avenue, shutting off services to thousands of Ulster County residents. Now, the nearest field office for someone living in Ulster is in another county, across the Hudson River, and could take over an hour to reach by car. For seniors who are unable to drive themselves, must rely on public transit, or have limited financial means, traveling such a great distance during the nearest field office’s restricted hours of operation presents a significant barrier that many cannot overcome. While the resources offered at the SSA’s field offices are essential for anyone needing to resolve an issue, they are rendered useless if those with the greatest need cannot access them.
I appreciate your agency’s dedication to providing some of the most essential federal benefits to my constituents, and I am committed to being a champion of Social Security and Medicare in Congress. Please reach out with any questions or for more information about the need for a new field office in our region, and I look forward to hearing from you.
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