In previous blog posts, we have discussed some of the financial difficulties surrounding funding with the Social Security Administration, which has resulted in a number of field office closures.
Well, there is some good news for people wanting to speak directly to SSA employees—the administration announced last month that it would expand hours at neighborhood offices across the country.
According to the Baltimore Sun, the SSA plans to keep about 1,250 field offices open an hour later, allowing potential beneficiaries more time to speak to workers about claims and appeals. As the paper noted, many people are happy with the additional hour—before the change, the agency actually cut hours at field offices three times since 2011.
The SSA said that the extension means offices will stay open until 4 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, instead of closing at 3 p.m. On Wednesdays, most offices will still close early.
Will I Qualify for Social Security Disability Benefits?
This is good news for people who are disabled or retired. Often these folks have limited transportation options, relying on family members who work to take them to field offices. Any expansion when it comes to office hours locally should be well received.
It should be noted that there are more than 59 million people receiving some form of Social Security benefits, including 48 million retired workers and their dependents and nearly 11 million people who receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).
Remember, our law firm assists people who are attempting to apply for SSDI or appeal a benefit decision.
For more information about the SSDI process, you can visit our Social Security FAQ page. Essentially, to obtain SSDI benefits, you must suffer from a disability that is expected to last longer than 12 months and could result in death.
Contact us today if you have further questions about this process.
Troutman & Troutman, P.C. – Tulsa Social Security Disability attorneys
