The Social Security Administration Office in Chemung County will not have its annual lease renewed. That’s according to Senator Charles Schumer who said the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, has placed the Big Flats office on a list of leases to be terminated. WETM TV in Elmira reports the annual lease cost is $311,000.
“The Big Flats Social Security office is the only location in Chemung County, and with no clarity about the future of the office’s over a dozen employees or assurances about continuity of operations for the Southern Tier local residents deserve answers and – above all – they deserve an open office that continues to provide vital in-person services,” said Schumer.
“Social Security allows seniors in New York and across the country to retire in dignity and provides vital support for those who become disabled, and tens of millions of seniors, families, and children depend on these hard-earned benefits. Closing the Big Flats Social Security office could result in untenable reductions in local staff, and will make it harder for New Yorkers to get the benefits they are owed and deserve,” said Senator Schumer. “Social Security is a lifeline and we can’t have it cut. That’s why I’m demanding answers on why this office was listed for closure and to ensure Southern Tier residents can access their hard-earned Social Security benefits uninterrupted.”
“The potential closure of our local Social Security office would have a significant impact on Chemung County’s older and most vulnerable adults, many of whom rely on in-person services and have limited access to transportation,” said Chemung County Dept. of Aging & Long Term Care Director Beth Stranges. “This decision would create unnecessary barriers, increasing the already lengthy wait times and reducing access to the vital resources that our most vulnerable residents, which include our friends, neighbors, parents, grandparents, and many children, depend on. We must continue to advocate to keep access to these essential services within our county to ensure all older adults receive the access to support they need without added hardship.”
Schumer’s letter to Acting Commissioner of the Social Security Administration LeLand Dudek below:
Dear Acting Commissioner Dudek,
I write with deep concerns about the potential closure of the Social Security Administration office in Big Flats, NY. Social Security offices in New York and across the country are essential to ensuring that Americans can access their hard-earned benefits. The Big Flats office is the only office in Chemung County and serves New Yorkers across New York’s Southern Tier, and its closure will make it more difficult for New Yorkers to access the benefits they have earned and depend on.
People in New York and across the country depend on local Social Security offices. Social Security field offices offer a full range of Social Security services, including applying for new or replacement Social Security cards, applying for Social Security and Supplemental Security Income benefits, making changes to benefits information and more.
Your plans for the future of the Big Flats Social Security office remain unclear, jeopardizing the payments for New Yorkers across the Southern Tier. The office was placed on a list of leased offices that will no longer have leases renewed. There has been no communication from ‘DOGE’ about how New Yorkers can receive help with their Social Security benefits if this office closes.
I am also concerned about the office’s 14 staff members. They deserve clarity about the future of their work and where they should go if this building is sold.
In an effort to cut through this chaos and get answers for New Yorkers, I seek answers on the following:
- What factors led to the Big Flats Social Security office’s placement on this list of properties not to have leases reviewed?
- Who is making the decisions on this lease, and what involvement does DOGE have in that process?
- Where should this office’s 14 employees report to work if this building is sold?
- Is there an alternative plan for this office’s operations to ensure New Yorkers across the Southern Tier can access Social Security services?
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