Correcting the Record about Social Security Office Closings
Reading Time: 1 MinuteLast Updated: March 27, 2025
Recent reports in the media that the Social Security Administration (SSA) is permanently closing local field offices are false. Since January 1, 2025, the agency has not permanently closed or announced the permanent closure of any local field office. From time to time, SSA must temporarily close a local field office for reasons such as weather, damage, or facilities issues, and it reopens when the issues are resolved. The agency has announced the permanent closure of one hearing office, in White Plains, NY.
SSA works closely with local congressional delegations before closing any office permanently. The agency also reassigns employees from an affected office to other locations to help communities access in-person services.
“SSA is committed to providing service where people need help and our local field offices are no exception,” said Lee Dudek, Acting Commissioner of Social Security. “We have not permanently closed any local field offices this year.”
SSA identified for the General Services Administration underutilized office space to ensure the government is spending taxpayer money as prudently as possible. The agency provided GSA a list of sites for termination. Most of these are small hearing rooms with no assigned employees. Since most hearings are held virtually, SSA no longer needs these underutilized rooms.
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Linda N.
Due to the new 2 step authorization log in program. My husband and I have both been locked out. No one answers the phone from the International office. I have sent regular postage mail and certified mail. I’ve also left voice mail messages with no response. Can someone please help us. Can’t even get our 1099s.
C.B.
Hi, Linda. Thanks for reading our blog. We are sorry to hear of your difficulties. You can access your personal my Social Security account by registering and signing in with ID.me. If you don’t have an ID.me account, you can visit here to get the process started. If you already have an ID.me account and need assistance, you may contact ID.me support. You can also visit our Office of Earnings & International Operations webpage. We hope this helps.
Patricia V.
I have heard that customers have been unable to obtain services through telephone calling; waiting hours for help in frustration. Many customers have gone as a walk-in to their offices only to be turned away because they were to request appointments by telephone to see a rep. in person. It’s a Catch-22!
More staff needs to be hired so customers unable to do applications by online or telephone Can Make Office Appointments to Go at their Social Security Office. Thank you.
Donna G.
Aging is scary & difficult enough without making access to help &/or guidance through government agencies more difficult. I grew up thinking government should be for its people, not taking a “chainsaw” approach to managing programs I spent my life expecting to be able to rely on after retirement. I recently broke my back (acute L2 fracture) doing my sit ups. How could I possibly appear in person at a SSA office if need be when not allowed to drive? Getting an appointment years ago to sign up for Social Security was daunting, discouraging & depressing. Please allow the elderly to muddle through our lives with ease, dignity & respect.
Jim #.
My local news station just announced that my local Social Security office will be closing. The information was obtained from the Social Security office.
Lex L.
I don’t believe this lie, they’re gaslighting us so all the protesting will stop around the country. America help the protesting burning 🔥 hot, don’t trust Elonia Muskie and DOGE basement boys….
Rose
Thanks for clearing that up. I looked it up locally and saw a location I never heard of closing. Probably a hearing office.
Kat
I don’t believe the SSA at all on this story. Sounds more like
Ike muskrattrump put a bug in their ear to get this story out to “calm the people down”
MWall
My goodness Mr. Dudek! You seem to be “setting the record straight” or “clarifying” issues concerning the SSA rather frequently. I am thinking that it may be safe to say at this point at least, that the issue lies squarely upon your lap vs erroneous reporting by media. Actually, I am being facetious. You know that there are (were) plans to close offices. What I think may be is you and “DOGE” and this current administration as a whole are finding that Social Security serves 70million Americans and these folks are not going to stand for back door policies nor attempts at subterfuge concerning their EARNED benefits. (Most definitely NOT an entitlement NOR a ‘ponzi scheme.’ Please make note and start being honest vs trying to undermine one of the best run government agencies ever. Privitazation of SSA is NOT going to happen bc 70 million people will simply not remain quiet—even when you think by speaking up that they must be “frauds.” They are AMERICANS exercising their First Amendment right to free speech and We the People are NOT the frauds…it is pretty clear who best fits that moniker and it is not us!
Yvonne W.
Thank you SSA for addressing this issue as some news outlets have been trying to raise public angst concerning the availability of services from the SSA by implying and in some cases, stating that the recent work by DOGE to eliminate government waste and corruption is causing closures of SSA offices and layoffs of SSA personnel. I suspected that the reports were politically motivated and false and am glad to know that was the case.
David F.
The AP and many other news outlets are listing 26 offices with their locations as slated to close during 2025. So who am I to believe?
Christie R.
If Doge, Donald Trump, and the Acting Commissioner have not closed offices yet, it’s only because the people have shouted loudly enough to slow down the process. Billions of dollars are needed to accommodate rich people who don’t want to pay taxes like everybody else, and Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid is where they can be sure they’ll get it.