SOCIAL SECURITY
News Release
Commissioner Astrue and Senator Bingaman Tour New National Hearing Center in Albuquerque
Additional Funding Allows Social Security
to Hire More Staff and Open Another Office in Albuquerque area
in 2010
Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, today joined
U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) for a tour of the agency's
new National Hearing Center (NHC) in Albuquerque, New Mexico. As
a result of significant funding increases for Social Security over
the past two years, the agency is able to open the NHC, as well
as hire approximately 80 people for positions throughout New Mexico
before the fiscal year ends in October. To further improve
service to New Mexicans, Commissioner Astrue and Senator Bingaman
also announced that Social Security plans to open an additional
field office in the Albuquerque area in 2010.
"With Senator Bingaman's leadership, Social Security
has received additional funding to hire and fill jobs in New Mexico
and throughout the nation, as well as invest in technologies that
improve service," Commissioner Astrue said. "This
funding is crucial to our efforts to handle the increased workloads
resulting from the economic downturn as well as the aging of the
baby boom generation. Our employees are making positive strides
toward driving down the hearing backlog and providing prompt service
to the public. With sustained support, I am confident we
can successfully address these challenges."
"Commissioner Astrue has been working very hard to address
the backlog of Social Security cases, and New Mexicans are already
seeing results," Senator Bingaman said. "I commend
the Commissioner for his efforts, and will work to ensure he has
the funding he needs to eliminate the backlog. With the
opening of the National Hearing Center in Albuquerque and the new
office in Rio Rancho next year, Social Security will be able to
better serve local residents and those waiting for disability decisions
around the country."
The Albuquerque NHC utilizes electronic video technology that
enables Administrative Law Judges to hold disability hearings remotely
throughout the country to reduce backlogs. Albuquerque initially
will hear disability cases for Kansas City and Portland, Oregon
-- two of the most backlogged offices in the U.S. Social
Security’s first NHC, located in Falls Church, Virginia,
opened in December 2007 and has contributed to improved processing
times in Atlanta, Georgia, Cleveland, Ohio and Flint, Michigan.
The agency is working with the General Services Administration on a
location for a new field office in the Rio Rancho/north Albuquerque
area to better serve the rapidly-growing population there. The
new office is scheduled to open to the public in early 2010.
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