Social Security to close earlier starting Aug. 15
The Saipan Social Security Office will begin closing at 2:30pm daily due to congressional budget cuts that are forcing the reduced public hours, according to a statement yesterday.
Effective Aug. 15, 2011, the Saipan Social Security office will be open to the public Monday through Friday, from 8am to 2: 30pm—a reduction of 30 minutes each weekday.
While agency employees will continue to work their hours, this shorter public window will allow them to complete face–to-face service with the visiting public without incurring the cost of overtime.
Congress provided Social Security with nearly $1 billion less than President Barack Obama requested for the budget this fiscal year, “which makes it impossible for the agency to provide the amount of overtime needed to handle service to the public as we have in the past,” the Saipan office statement said.
Most Social Security services do not require a visit to an office. For example, anyone wishing to apply for benefits, sign up for direct deposit, replace a Medicare card, obtain a proof of income letter or inform Social Security of a change of address or telephone number may do so at www.socialsecurity.gov or by dialing the toll-free number 1-800-722-1213. People who are deaf or hard of hearing may call the TTY number 1-800-3250778. [B][I](PR)[/I][/B]
