For Immediate
Release: May 7, 2012
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman
Jim McDermott (D-WA) called for a halt to the planned closure of both the
Social Security Downtown field office and the Chinatown-International District
field office and their planned relocation to the Jackson Federal Building.
In a letter written to Michael Astrue,
the National Commissioner of the Social Security Administration, McDermott
wrote: “After hearing from my constituents on this matter in recent weeks, I
remain concerned about Social Security Administration’s plans to ensure access
to the Jackson Federal Building. I understand…that a community forum of more
than 300 community members and Social Security officials on this matter took
place as well. These constituents have since expressed to me their apprehension
that the Agency is not sufficiently prepared to mitigate the anticipated access
problems.”
Congressman McDermott sent a previous letter on June 20, 2011
regarding the consolidation of Social Security field offices in his district,
and in it he expressed serious concerns that the proposed Jackson Federal
Building may create barriers for the public in accessing services. According to
the Social Security Administration Congressional Statistics for December 2011,
92,000 residents of the 7th Congressional District receive Social
Security benefits and 17,600 constituents receive Supplemental Security Income.
McDermott requested the moratorium on the closure of these offices and their
relocation to the Jackson Federal Building to ensure every individual has
access to the services they need.
The full text of the letter to
Commissioner Astrue follows (for a copy of the signed letter, click here):
Dear Commissioner Astrue:
Thank you for your response to my letter dated June 20, 2011 regarding the consolidation of Social Security field offices in my district, in which I expressed serious concerns that the proposed location in the Jackson Federal Building (JFB) may create barriers for the public in accessing services. In your response dated August 1, 2011 you indicated that SSA would monitor accessibility, address any problems that arise, and engage in public education to help citizens obtain acceptable identification to gain entry. I also received a letter dated December 2, 2011, from SSA regional commissioner Stanley C. Friendship, further detailing the agency’s plans to ensure access to the more vulnerable and underserved members of the community.
After hearing from my constituents on this matter in recent weeks, I remain concerned about SSA’s plans to ensure access to the JFB. I understand that Mr. Friendship recently met with a group of community representatives to discuss the unresolved access issues, and that a community forum of more than 300 community members and SSA officials on this matter took place as well. These constituents have since expressed to me their apprehension that the Agency is not sufficiently prepared to mitigate the anticipated access problems.
Accordingly, I am requesting a moratorium on the closure of these offices and their relocation to the Jackson Federal Building, pending resolution of the access concerns. To that end, I also request that your staff continue to work with the community and my office to find a solution agreeable to both the Agency and the affected beneficiaries.
Thank you for your attention to this important matter.
Sincerely,
Congressman Jim
McDermott
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Follow McDermott on Twitter: @RepJimMcDermott.
