Schumer blasts long wait times and poor records at Rochester Social Security offices

Saying that the Rochester field office has one of the poorest records in the state, Sen. Charles Schumer on Monday called on the Social Security Administration to increase staffing to address long wait times and a backlog of cases.

Schumer said the Administration’s internal reporting showed that the Rochester office only answered about 41 percent calls from customers seeking help on the phone in January. Those that ventured into the office had to wait an average of 30.4 minutes to be seen by a screener and hours longer to meet with a claims representative to discuss their problem. Hundreds simply gave up and went home.

“Rochester seniors and those waiting for a Social Security hearing are sick and tired of sitting in waiting rooms or listening to hold music while they wait to speak with a Social Security specialist,” Schumer told a group of seniors who gathered at the Henrietta Senior Center for lunch Monday. “With baby boomers retiring and becoming eligible for Social Security benefits — 10,000 reaching the retirement age every day — it’s becoming more and more clear that field offices across upstate New York are unable to keep up with demand — and the Rochester field office, which has one of the poorest records in the state, is clearly no exception.”