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In Kansas, Boyda, Moore Block Attempt to Close Social Security Offices Plan Would Limit Public Access

Congresswoman Nancy Boyda (Kansas Second District) and Congressman Dennis Moore (Kansas Third District) praised the decision by the Social Security Administration (SSA) to suspend its plans to institute a pilot program that would limit public office hours in Kansas City’s SSA field offices.

In October 2007, the SSA announced their proposed pilot program to close public office hours of selected field offices, including those in Kansas.  According to SSA, this effort was created to help address their current backlog of benefits and disability cases by improving the processing of claims and inquiries.

The American Association of People with Disabilities released a report in August 2007, showing that of Social Security disability beneficiaries residing in Kansas, over 26 percent of those are still waiting for their cases to be heard – the worst rate of disability backlogs in the country.

"Kansans already wait an average of two years to have their Social Security appeals heard.  The Social Security Administration’s proposal to cut their Kansas office hours could have made a bad situation much worse,” Congresswoman Boyda said.  “Congressman Moore and I appreciate the SSA’s willingness to address our concerns.  We look forward to finding ways to reduce the backlog while keeping the doors of the federal government open to Kansans.”

In response to the proposed pilot project, Moore and Boyda authored an October 2007 letter to SSA Commissioner Michael Astrue, expressing their deep reservations about the pilot program and asking that the SSA not only delay the start of the pilot program, but that the SSA field offices in Kansas be removed from the pilot program completely.  Moore and Boyda reiterated their strong reservations in a November 7, 2007, meeting they organized with Commissioner Astrue and the Kansas congressional delegation.

“This pilot program had the potential to make Kansas beneficiaries worse off, not better,” Moore said.  “We’re pleased that this project has been delayed indefinitely, but that alone doesn’t improve the current backlog for Kansans.  Congresswoman Boyda and I will continue to find ways to improve the efficiency and quality of service so that beneficiaries aren’t unduly punished by extended delays.”