Social Security services limited, employees furloughed

Source: Valley Morning Star, Harlingen, TexasOct.mini storage 02--HARLINGEN -- If you're on Social Security or receive disability compensation, you can relax: You will get your government check, despite the federal shutdown.However, veterans might not be so lucky.The Harlingen Social Security Administration office is still open and will continue to help residents with their needs. But, they are limited on the services they can assist the public with.Employees in the office are furloughed, because of the government shutdown.Despite this upset, this will not interfere with people who get Social Security and disability benefits. The people who get these benefits will still get their money.Martin Olguin, supervisor of the Harlingen Social Security Administration office said, "Checks are still going to be issued as far as I know."Taped in the window is a flyer that tells the public about the limited service they offering as of Tuesday, the first day of the new fiscal year.Because of the shutdown they will only provide limited services. They will help you apply for benefits, assist in requesting an appeal and assist you in changing your address or direct deposit information. They will also accept reports of a death and verify citizenship status or deal with a notification of a change in your citizenship status, replace a lost or missing Social Security payment, issue a critical payment, change a representat迷你倉ve payee and process a change in your living arrangement or income.People who want to visit the office will only be helped with the services listed above. Any service that's not listed can still be attempted through the online Social Security database."People are being turned away because we can't give them the full scope of the services we usually do," Olguin said.The employees are on a furloughed status and can only help with the services they are authorized to provide.The office would like to stress the importance of doing everything online, he said.The online services remain open at .socialsecurity.gov.Veteran's benefits are another story.Valley veterans should be aware that all Department of Veterans Affairs clinics will run as usual. They are not affected by the shut down, due to the advanced appropriation they received.According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, payments of veteran's benefits claims processing and payments in the compensation, pension, education and vocational rehabilitation programs are anticipated to continue. However, in the event of a prolonged shutdown claims processing and payments in these programs would be suspended when available funding is exhausted.ksommer@valleystar.comCopyright: ___ (c)2013 Valley Morning Star (Harlingen, Texas) Visit Valley Morning Star (Harlingen, Texas) at .valleymorningstar.com Distributed by MCT Information Services文件倉