Meridianites needing to visit Social Security Administration offices will have to travel out of town as the local office is set to close as part of federal spending cuts. The cuts, made by the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, are part of a government-wide reduction in spending and workforce headed by billionaire Elon Musk.

 

Bill Broydrick of Broydrick & Associates, which represents the property owner, said the SSA informed them last week it will not renew its lease for the Meridian location and will close the office.

 

In an email, a spokesperson for the SSA said virtual services have reduced the need for in-person visits, and there is no longer a need for as many physical locations. The agency is working to review its needs and cut excess spending where possible, the spokesperson said.

 

“We are working with (General Services Administration) to review our leases and ensure they are used efficiently. Most of the leases we are not renewing are for small remote hearing sites that are co-located with other Federal space. As the majority of our hearings are held virtually, we no longer need as many in-person hearings locations. In fact, in FY24, 20% of these offices held no in-person hearings. Other offices are non-public facing, being consolidated into nearby locations, or we had planned to close. Social Security continuously monitors and evaluates the use of our office space to maximize efficiency for the American taxpayer.”

 

According to data posted on the DOGE website, terminating the lease will save $229,983 per year. Analysis of previous cuts by the department, however, have raised discrepancies between the reported savings and the value of terminated contracts and leases.

 

Broydrick said Meridian’s social security office is set to close in June. Also on the list of closures are SSA offices in Greenwood and Grenada, as well as property leased by the Natural Resources Conservation Service in Pearl and property leased by U.S. Marshals Service in Oxford.

 

With the closure, SSA offices in Philadelphia will be the closest location for Meridian residents.