The impending closure of the White Plains Social Security hearing office in New York, scheduled for May 31, has raised significant concerns among local seniors, individuals with disabilities, low-income beneficiaries, people without reliable transportation and SSA employees. U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand has formally addressed these issues in a letter to the Social Security Administration (SSA), highlighting the adverse effects on beneficiaries, including delays for hearings and having to travel up to 135 miles to the next nearest office.

Why It Matters

In a recent directive, President Donald Trump, Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), have instructed the General Services Administration (GSA) to terminate leases on approximately 7,500 federal offices nationwide. This initiative aims to reduce government expenditures by consolidating office spaces.

The DOGE website reports the White Plains office has an annual lease cost of $511,908 and terminating that lease will save $162,689. The website also notes a “lease termination notice sent 1/29/25.” However, the closure could cause delays and force many Social Security beneficiaries to travel considerable distances to access essential services.

What To Know

The DOGE’s aggressive cost-cutting measures have reportedly saved U.S. taxpayers an estimated $55 billion since Trump’s inauguration. However, these savings come with trade-offs, including potential impairments to Social Security services that many Americans rely upon.

The White Plains hearing office serves as the sole SSA hearing facility for seven counties in the lower Hudson Valley: Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, Orange, Dutchess, Ulster, and Sullivan. According to a letter from Gillibrand to Acting SSA Commissioner Michelle King, its closure could force thousands of people waiting for SSA hearings to travel between 24 and 135 miles to access the nearest offices in New York City, Albany, New Jersey or Connecticut. This increased travel distance poses significant challenges, especially for individuals with disabilities, the elderly and people lacking reliable transportation.

Gillibrand’s letter also notes that approximately 2,000 cases are currently pending at the White Plains office, with individuals already waiting nearly eight months for a hearing. The closure could exacerbate these delays, further hindering access to essential services.

The senator also questions whether the decision to close the White Plains office is directly related to the administration’s directive for the GSA to terminate federal office leases nationwide. This connection raises concerns about the broader strategy of reducing government office spaces without fully considering the impact on public service delivery.

Mark Hinkle, press officer for the Social Security Administration, told Newsweek that the White Plains Office of Hearings Operations will close when its lease expires on May 31, 2025. He stated the General Services Administration informed the SSA that the landlord is not renewing the lease, and there are no plans to replace the office. Judges and staff will be reassigned to other local hearing offices, with most hearings to be conducted online via video and audio.

What People Are Saying

Adrien Lesser, a spokesperson for Gillibrand, told Newsweek: “There is only one administration in charge who can keep the hearing office open, and it’s their responsibility to do so. Beneficiaries and their representatives with hearings scheduled at this office should have already been contacted by the Social Security Administration with alternative options. If constituents affected by the closure need assistance, they should reach out to our office via the website or by emailing [email protected].”

Mark Hinkle, press officer for the Social Security Administration, told Newsweek: “SSA’s Office of Hearings Operations in White Plains, NY will close when its lease expires on May 31, 2025. The General Services Administration informed the agency that the landlord is not renewing the lease. There are no plans to replace the White Plains office.

Judges and staff will be reassigned to other local hearing offices and those hearing offices will process the pending case load, the vast majority of which are online video and audio hearings, as opposed to in-person. Please refer to our publications How to Attend Your Hearing and Your Right to an Administrative Law Judge Hearing and Appeals Council Review of Your Social Security Case for more information about Social Security hearings.

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand stated in a letter to the Social Security Administration: “As the only hearing office in the lower Hudson Valley region, its closure will negatively impact thousands of constituents who reside in these seven counties. If SSA does not open an alternative site, beneficiaries will be required to travel between 24 and 135 miles to be serviced by the closest offices in New York City, Albany, New Jersey, and Connecticut. Travel by private vehicle or public transportation to any of these alternative locations would pose greater hardship for constituents, while also significantly increasing the costs and time associated with travel.”

“To date, the White Plains office has approximately 2,000 cases pending, with individuals waiting almost eight months for a redetermination hearing. Access to SSA’s hearing offices is critical for those who were denied eligibility for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Initial denials occur fairly frequently in the disability determination process, with many individuals receiving an initial denial and ultimately receiving approval for benefits.”

What Happens Next

Senator Gillibrand has requested a response from the SSA by March 3, 2025, seeking clarification on the rationale behind the office closure and plans to mitigate its impact.