H.R. 1876 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the House, sent to the Committee on Ways and Means, Mar 5, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryProtects Social Security field offices from closure
This bill prevents the Social Security Administration from closing or consolidating local offices until at least January 2029. After that date, SSA would need to submit a detailed report to Congress explaining why it wants to close offices, and it can't reduce the total number of offices below what exists today. If SSA does close or consolidate offices later, it must give the public at least 120 days' notice, hold at least two public hearings, and let people challenge the decision.
How it affects you
If you use Social Security offices to handle benefits or other services, this bill helps ensure your local office stays open for the next few years. People who rely on in-person service—especially those who have trouble using online tools or live far from alternative offices—would keep access to their neighborhood Social Security office during this period.
Read the official summary (Introduced in House, Mar 5, 2025)
Keeping Our Field Offices Open Act
This bill temporarily prohibits the closure or consolidation of, or other limitation of access to, Social Security Administration (SSA) offices and stations, and sets forth procedural requirements for future changes to office and station availability.
Specifically, the bill prohibits through at least January 21, 2029, the closure or consolidation of, or other limitation of access to, SSA field offices, hearing offices, and resident stations. On or after that date, SSA must submit a report to Congress justifying its process for selecting stations and offices to be closed, consolidated, or limited. The prohibition is lifted 180 days after the submission of such report.
The bill also sets forth requirements that must be met before SSA may close, consolidate, or otherwise limit access to an office or station after the initial moratorium expires. At least 120 days before such a change takes effect, SSA must provide public notice to individuals in affected areas, including information on how lost access to SSA services will be replaced. SSA must also conduct at least two public hearings on each such change.
Further, SSA must provide a hearing to any individual who makes a timely showing that a determination to close, consolidate, or limit an office or station is arbitrary, capricious, or deficient in another specified manner.
Finally, a closure, consolidation, or limitation may not result in the total number of SSA offices or stations falling below the number of such offices or stations in operation on January 20, 2025.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionH. R. 1876
A BILL
Keeping Our Field Offices Open Act
Sponsor: Rep. John B. Larson (D-CT-1) · Introduced Mar 5, 2025 · Social Welfare · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Mar 5, 2025: “Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.”