Larson Applauds Reopening Agreement for Social Security Field Offices

Hartford, CT - House Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee Chairman John B. Larson (CT-01) released the following statementafter the Social Security Administration (SSA) reached an agreement with employee unions to reopen Social Security officesto in-person visitors.

"Social Security fieldoffices are a vital service to help Americans access their earned benefits. The COVID-19 pandemic has made it harder for people to get the help they need, despite the remarkable efforts of SSA staff to adapt to work-from-homeprocedures and other COVID-19 safety measures. I am glad the SSA leadership and employee unions were able to reach an agreement to reopen safely. While many constituents can get the help they need online or on the phone, there is no substitute for the in-person services these field offices provide," said Larson.

Larson recently visited the Social Security field office in East Hartford, CT. Larson hasencouraged SSA to open as soon as possible when it is safe to do so andinitiated several audits and reports on SSA customer service during the pandemic. He strongly supported the House-passedappropriations bill led by Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), granting a $1.1 billion increase in funding for SSAto strengthen customer service, reduce delays in disability claims and resume mailing Social Security Statementsto all covered workers not yet receiving benefits. This bill is awaiting action in the Senate.

Larson has introducedthe bipartisan Know Your Social Security Act(H.R. 4143) to ensure annual statements are mailed to all workers rather than just making them available online and Social Security 2100: A Sacred Trust(H.R. 5723), landmark legislationthat would expand benefits for all Social Security beneficiaries and extend the solvency of the Social Security trust fund.

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