Keeping Our Field Offices Open Act
Keeping Our Field Offices Open Act
Plain Language Summary
# Keeping Our Field Offices Open Act - Summary **What the Bill Does:** This bill would prevent the Social Security Administration (SSA) from closing, consolidating, or reducing access to its local field offices, hearing offices, and service locations through at least January 2029. After that date, the SSA would need to submit a detailed report to Congress explaining why it wants to close or consolidate offices. The agency could only proceed 180 days after Congress receives this report. Going forward, the SSA would be required to give the public at least 120 days' notice before making any changes to office locations or services. **Who It Affects:** This primarily affects Social Security beneficiaries and people applying for Social Security benefits, particularly those who rely on in-person services at local offices.
It also affects SSA employees and operations. The bill is sponsored by a Connecticut Democrat and is currently in committee. **Current Status:** The bill has been introduced but has not yet been voted on. It remains in committee, meaning it's still in the early stages of the legislative process and would need to advance through committee review and floor votes in both the House and Senate before becoming law.
CRS Official Summary
Keeping Our Field Offices Open ActThis bill temporarily prohibits the closure or consolidation of, or other limitation of access to, Social Security Administration (SSA) offices and stations, and sets forth procedural requirements for future changes to office and station availability. Specifically, the bill prohibits through at least January 21, 2029, the closure or consolidation of, or other limitation of access to, SSA field offices, hearing offices, and resident stations. On or after that date, SSA must submit a report to Congress justifying its process for selecting stations and offices to be closed, consolidated, or limited. The prohibition is lifted 180 days after the submission of such report. The bill also sets forth requirements that must be met before SSA may close, consolidate, or otherwise limit access to an office or station after the initial moratorium expires. At least 120 days before such a change takes effect, SSA must provide public notice to individuals in affected areas, including information on how lost access to SSA services will be replaced. SSA must also conduct at least two public hearings on each such change. Further, SSA must provide a hearing to any individual who makes a timely showing that a determination to close, consolidate, or limit an office or station is arbitrary, capricious, or deficient in another specified manner. Finally, a closure, consolidation, or limitation may not result in the total number of SSA offices or stations falling below the number of such offices or stations in operation on January 20, 2025.
Latest Action
Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.