For Immediate Release
New Orleans, LA

News Release
SOCIAL SECURITY

Social Security Offices to Begin Closing at 3:30 pm Daily

Congressional Budget Cuts Force Reduced Public Hours

Effective August 15, 2011, Social Security offices will be open to the
public Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. a reduction of 30 minutes each weekday.

While agency employees will continue to work their regular 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 the
President 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.

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 us of a change of address or telephone number may do so at
www.socialsecurity.gov> or by dialing our toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213. People who are deaf or hard of hearing may call our TTY number, 1-800-325-0778.

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