Rep. Moore Follows Up On SSA Field Office Closure Investigation in Milwaukee
Wednesday,
July 25, 2018
Washington, DC – In response to the release of the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General’s (SSA OIG) report on the closure of the Mitchell Street field office on Milwaukee’s Southside, Congresswoman Gwen Moore (WI-04) issued the following statement:
“In the last 18 years, one out of 10 Social Security Offices has been closed, creating major complications for the millions of Americans who depend on Social Security benefits. As we have seen in Milwaukee, Social Security Administration (SSA) office closures do nothing but create hardship for seniors and other beneficiaries who may struggle to travel long distances or have medical, work, and childcare obligations that make long wait times and overcrowding prohibitive. Considering the growing scale of this problem, I am disappointed by the SSA OIG's report findings, which fail to thoroughly assess the real-world impacts on vulnerable populations and leaves critical questions unanswered. “As I continue to work to prevent the shuttering of SSA offices, I look forward to meeting with Acting Inspector General Gale Stallworth Stone to address my concerns about the SSA’s interpretations of their own closure and consolidation guidelines and to make clear my expectation that the SSA properly follow federal law, regulations, and procedures. In Congress, I am fighting to pass legislation to establish firm deadlines for public notification of any decision to eliminate or reduce services and to ensure the SSA is adequately funded. As the Baby Boom generation ages and the number of people depending on SSA services grows, it is more important than ever that the SSA has the resources it needs to serve the American public without disruption or delay.”
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