It’s been more than a year since many of the Social Security Administration (SSA) offices closed down. This originally happened in early March of 2020. That means this has been going on for nearly two years, and those offices are still closed.
The offices aren’t entirely non-functional. They’re simply closed to the public. People cannot come visit in person and work with officials regarding their cases. They can do so online or use other remote tactics. There are still agents on the job. However, closing the offices has wreaked havoc with the system and caused a lot of delays. It’s also made it harder for people who need benefits to get their applications processed.
Those in dire situations may be able to get a meeting. However, this is being done on an incredibly limited basis. It’s far harder to get in than it used to be, and there are more hurdles in a situation that is already known for being complex.
Will they open again?
Right now, the plan is to attempt to open the offices, to one degree or another, in the beginning of 2022. This should happen in January, meaning that they will not reach the two-year mark. However, it is very hard to predict what that’s going to look like or if the offices will be able to stay open safely for very long.
Things could be more difficult for those who need service has the most
One of the biggest problems here is that those who need assistance the most may be most impacted by having the offices remain closed. For instance, an elderly person may need to seek benefits and have no real knowledge of how to do so online. This isn’t their fault; they just don’t have the experience and technical knowledge necessary. This can lead to a lot of mistakes, or people can just look at it as too complicated to even attempt, meaning they don’t apply for benefits that they do deserve and would have been approved for.
Considering how chaotic things are right now, it’s very important for all who are looking into their social security disability options to know exactly what steps to take.
