SYRACUSE -- If you need to go to a Social Security Office, you'll have less time to get your business taken care of.
Starting Monday, August 15th, Social Security offices will no longer be open until 4pm Monday through Friday. The new hours are set at 9:00am to 3:30pm. According to the Social Security Office, this will allow workers to complete their daily duties without earning overtime.
The agency says this is a direct consequence of Congress' decision to cut the agency's budget by nearly $1 billion. That means there's a lot less money to pay employees overtime.
There are seven social security offices in the Central New York region: Syracuse, Utica, Rome, Watertown, Oswego, Ithaca and Geneva.How often do you need to go to the social security office? Do you agree with Congress' decision to go against President Obama and cut the office's budget?
This announcement comes on the same day some local voters plan on protesting outside Congresswoman Ann Marie Buerkle's office in downtown Syracuse to speak out against cuts to Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security.
If you can't make it to one of the offices some services can be handled online i.e. applying for benefits, direct deposit, Medicare card replacement, obtain a proof of income letter or inform us of a change of address or telephone number. You can also call toll-free, 1-800-772-1213. People who are deaf or hard of hearing may call our TTY number, 1-800-325-0778.
