June 14, 2012

NEW PUBLIC SERVICE HOURS FOR DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

Effective July 9, 2012, the new public service hours for the Nassau County Department of Social Services located at 60 Charles Lindbergh Boulevard in Uniondale will be Monday thru Friday, 8 am – 4 pm. There will no longer be any Thursday evening hours effective after that date as well.

DSS Commissioner John Imhof noted that, “After 14 months of reviewing the data, changes in the State’s face to face interview requirements, the increasing volume experienced at DSS during daytime hours and the declining utilization of direct evening services, a programmatic and financial decision has been made to discontinue Thursday evenings hours effective July 11, 2012.”

Imhof continued that “It’s essential we provide our constituents with the largest complement of staff available during those times when the vast majority of residents are available to utilize our services, which is during daytime hours.”

Out of 57 New York counties, only Clinton and Nassau counties have kept DSS evening hours for constituents. Based on studies conducted over the past 14 months, the Nassau County DSS evening hours have basically been transformed into a document drop-off center, taking essential staff away from the busier daytime activities when all the state technology systems are functional and available for input.

Residents can determine online whether they are eligible for pubic assistance benefits by visiting www.mybenefitsny.gov. In addition, anyone desiring further information on the change of hours is invited to contact DSS Customer Service at 227 7474, or to visit the DSS website at www.nassaucountyny.gov and go to “Departments,” then click on Social Services.