Sullivan Secures Improved Social Security Administration Service for Alaskans
WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) today announced that the Social Security Administration (SSA) has committed to a series of service improvements for Alaskans following meetings between Sen. Sullivan and SSA Commissioner Martin O’Malley. In his letter to Sen. Sullivan, Commissioner O’Malley committed to increasing the number of virtual appointment days in the Mat-Su, placing five new hires in Alaska, and launching a new awareness campaign to educate Alaskans about the availability of virtual SSA services. The improvements are slated to begin next month.
“My team and I have heard the frustrations of many Alaskans encountering unacceptable hurdles and delays as they try to schedule appointments and secure the Social Security benefits they are entitled to,” said Sen. Sullivan. “I brought these issues directly to Commissioner O’Malley on multiple occasions, including prior to his confirmation. I also emphasized the fact that, unlike a state like Maryland or Delaware, Alaska has hundreds of communities not connected by roads—and, the Alaska communities that do have road access can still be hundreds of miles from the nearest field office. I commend Commissioner O’Malley for recognizing Alaska’s unique challenges and following through with policy changes that will better deliver on this essential function and responsibility of the federal government. While the increase in services and new SSA staffers are important steps, there’s more work to do. I will also continue to press for additional field office locations in Alaska, especially in regions that have experienced significant population growth, like the Mat-Su.”
Alaska is currently served by three SSA field offices in Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau, and five virtual appointment centers in Nome, Kodiak, Kenai, Ketchikan, and Wasilla.
# # #
Next Article Previous Article
