Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer writes a letter to the Social Security Administration about its plans to close the Decorah Social Security Office

Posted: Sun, Oct 27, 2019 12:41 PM

Eastern Iowa Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer has sent a letter to the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration to push for answers on the future of the Decorah Social Security office.

The Social Security Administration has been exploring closing the Decorah field office and substituting videoconferencing instead, ending in-person meetings with trained staff in Decorah. Community members worried about the closure contacted Finkenauer and she has now written to the Social Security Administration to express her concerns.

Her letter said, "(I) urge you to consider ways to ensure that the in-person services provided at this field office remain available in Northeast Iowa." The Decorah office serves beneficiaries from Iowa, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, many of whom drive hours for an in-person meeting with trained staff, as opposed to handling claims or appeals online. Said Finkenauer in her letter, "Social Security is a promise to the American people and part of that means ensuring that these critical services remain available to those who need them."