Disability advocates and other groups are suing the federal government over the Social Security Administration’s move to close its local offices during the pandemic. The suit represents five New Yorkers who utilize Supplemental Security Income, or S-S-I, which helps low-income older adults and people with disabilities. In March 2020, Social Security closed all of its offices, making it difficult for recipients to report any financial changes. The suit also challenges Social Security’s streamlined waiver process, which was supposed to wipe out financial penalties for overpayment early in the pandemic. Danielle Tarantolo, director of the Special Litigations Unit at New York Legal Assistance Group, says the waiver failed to address the pandemic-related S-S-I issues…
Representatives for New York’s S-S-I recipients say they hope the lawsuit leads to an improved waiver process. Social Security offices around the country remain closed to the public, except in emergency situations. The federal government has 60 days from filing to respond to the lawsuit.