(SitNews) Ketchikan, Alaska - The Social Security Administration (SSA) proposes to close the only Social Security Office serving the southern region of Southeast Alaska on September 30, 2012.

The Ketchikan branch shutdown is projected to save the federal government $100,000, but the Alaska Delegation is calling on the Social Security Administration to reevalute the closure.

Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Mark Begich (D-AK), as well as Representative Don Young (R-AK) called on the Social Security Administration on Friday to open thier books and explain the rationale and plan for the proposed closure of the office in Ketchikan.

In a letter the Delegation wrote: "We question whether the closure of the Ketchikan office is the most effective course of action or whether other measures may save similiar amounts without negatively impacting Alaskans. To that end, we urge you to consider all feasible alternatives to closing this office...."

The Delegation said that the Social Security Administration must consider all options to avoid negatively impacting Ketchikan and the surrounding communities such as maintaining the existing office, sharing an employee with another federal agency in shared federal space, sending a Social Security employee to Ketchikan for regular office hours in an existing federal building, and establishing a virtual Social Security capability in Ketchikan so that individuals can have a face-to-face conversation with Social Security employees when necessary.

Edited by Mary Kauffman, SitNews

Source of News: 

Office of U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski
www.murkowski.senate.gov

Office of U.S. Senator Mark Begich
www.begich.senate.gov

Office of Rep. Don Young
www.donyoung.house.gov

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Ketchikan, Alaska

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