The Social Security Administration has reached an agreement with its three labor unions on a plan for its employees to return to their offices.
“This will be a significant step toward improving access to our services as we implement this plan,” Kilolo Kijakazi, the agency’s acting commissioner, said in a press release.
A separate press release from the American Federation of Government Employees says the plan is for Social Security's employees to go back to offices on March 30, "although this date is subject to changes in pandemic conditions and further negotiations with agency components."
An email that Kijakazi sent to Social Security's employees Friday says the agency hopes that offices can resume providing in-person service, without appointments, in early April and that it plans to "begin limited in-person hearings in March," and then expand such hearings in the spring and early summer.
According to the union press release, the agreement requires Social Security employees and members of the public to wear masks at Social Security offices, whether or not they've been vaccinated.
The agency closed its 1,200 field offices to the public in March 2020 due to the pandemic.
In May of last year, it rolled out a partial reopening in the form of "express interviews" to help people apply for original or replacement Social Security cards and submit the necessary proof of identity in person.
But as of late last month, the agency had said that it had no plans to reopen and that the majority of the public would have to continue to rely on Social Security's online services to apply for benefits and access critical information like estimates of future benefits.
This story has been updated to include information from the acting commissioner's email on Jan. 21.
Pew survey reveals slight majority consensus on tax rates, but views splinter based on political alignment and income levels.
While the Federal Reserve's decision to hold interest rates steady in March was widely expected, it's the reactions from financial professionals that provide a more nuanced picture of the central bank's approach.
The pioneering member of Canada's Maple Eight is stepping back from its go-it-alone private equity approach as a drought in deals and Trump's trade war prompt a rethink.
The firms' latest additions in Florida and Nevada come as a strategic change at UBS raises risk of advisor defections.
The new program offers opportunities and events structured for rookies, next-gen advisor leaders, and soon-to-exit veterans.
In an industry of broad solutions, firms like intelliflo prove 'you just need tools that play well together'
Blue Vault Alts Summit highlights the role of liquidity-focused funds in reshaping advisor strategies