Maintain Access to Vital Social Security Services Act of 2026

Protect local Social Security offices

This bill would require the Social Security Administration to keep enough local field offices open and staffed. SSA would have to keep at least as many field office staff as it had on January 1, 2025. The Commissioner would have to give at least 180 days' public notice before closing, consolidating, ending a lease, or otherwise reducing in-person access. SSA would have to hold at least two public hearings in the service area 30–120 days after notice, accept written comments, and post a report at least 15 days before the action describing the decision and responses to unique comments. No covered action could take effect until the SSA Inspector General reviews any health-and-safety claims and until 30 days after the IG says the new procedures have been implemented; a limited 30-day exception applies for IG-reviewed health-and-safety actions. The Social Security Advisory Board would have to consider effects on people with disabilities and people with limited English proficiency when making recommendations. If enacted, these steps would aim to preserve local in-person access and reduce travel, wait times, and costs for Social Security claimants and recipients.