(SitNews) Ketchikan, Alaska - The Social Security Administration announced today its plan to provide Ketchikan residents continued services following the recent announcement to close the Ketchikan office on September 30, 2012. The Ketchikan office has been the only Social Security Office serving the southern region of Southeast Alaska.

The Social Security Administration said today an agreement has been reached which will allow Ketchikan residents to receive Social Security services via a secure, state-of-the-art, high-tech video link from a convenient location in Ketchikan’s Job Center.

“This unique agreement and service is the result of a commitment by the Commissioner of Social Security, Michael J. Astrue, to the residents of Ketchikan,” said Regional Commissioner Stanley C. Friendship.

"Budget cuts are forcing Social Security to close our resident station in Ketchikan this fall.  But by using video technology, we can provide the residents of Ketchikan access to a broad array of Social Security services at more convenient times," said Friendship.

Friendship said, “I’d like to thank Senator Lisa Murkowski, Senator Mark Begich, Congressman Don Young, Mayor Lew Williams, and Borough Mayor Dave Kiffer, and especially Ketchikan’s Job Center Manager Noni Tostenrude for allowing us to use the Job Center for this video service project."

The Ketchikan branch shutdown is projected to save the federal government $100,000.

More information on when the video service will begin and the hours of operation will be announced soon.

Source of News: 

Social Security Admin.
http://www.socialsecurity.gov

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