Hundreds gather at forum at LIU Post seeking answers on the state of Social Security 

A former top official at the Social Security Administration on Monday night told Long Islanders  he believes the elderly, people with disabilities and others are likely to experience major interruptions in benefits "in the near future" because of recent agency layoffs by the Trump administration. 

Martin O'Malley, the Biden administration's commissioner of the federal agency serving more than 70 million Americans, issued that warning before  some 500 people, mostly older adults, at  a congressional town hall at the Kransnoff Theater at the LIU Post Tilles Center in Brookville to hear a presentation on the state of the agency.

"All of this will ultimately cascade because they have now done away with 50% of the people in IT [information technology] at Social Security," O'Malley claimed. ... "I truly believe that it will result in some interruption in benefits for some period of time. And I believe that will happen probably in the very near future. Like next month or so, I think." 

The event was sponsored by Reps. Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove) and Laura Gillen (D-Rockville Centre) who say their constituents are concerned about wait times skyrocketing, checks being delayed and confusing policy changes after cuts to Social Security Administration offices were announced earlier this month. 

They and other Democrats have rallied against the  cuts, saying the reduced workforce would impact how the safety-net agency delivers services to seniors and people with disabilities who rely on it. The agency expects to cut 7,000 employees, reducing its workforce to 50,000 as a way to streamline government, according to recent reports. 

"We need people to understand what the hell is really going on here," Suozzi said about the informational sessions the Democratic House Members have held since the beginning of the Trump administration. "And a lot of people are really freaking out."

Earlier this month, the agency notified employees that it will "soon" implement a "restructuring" plan "that will include significant workforce reductions," according to a statement previously reported in Newsday.

Rep. Nick LaLota (R-Amityville) said in a statement that "in the past two months, not a single constituent has contacted us about a sudden loss of Social Security benefits or unusual difficulty reaching the agency." 

"The false assertion that Long Island's seniors can't access their benefits — especially from a colleague who claims to seek bipartisan cooperation — serves only a partisan agenda and needlessly alarms our seniors," LaLota, referring to Suozzi, continued in the statement. 

Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-Sayville) said in a statement that the agency has "remained consistently responsive."

"As elected officials, it's our duty to provide the public with information, support, and resources — not to fuel unnecessary panic," he said in a statement late Monday. "My office is in regular contact with the Social Security Administration, and they have remained consistently responsive to our casework outreach on behalf of constituents. If that changes, I'll be happy to work together to address it."   

A spokeswoman for Suozzi told Newsday that despite Garbarino's characterization, Suozzi urged attendees not to panic over fears of missed checks. 

At a recent breakfast hosted by the Long Island Association, LaLota and Garbarino disagreed with Suozzi and Gillen about federal cuts to key agencies impacted by the Department of Government Efficiency plans.

O'Malley, who also fielded questions from the audience, sought to dispel some of most "common myths" about the agency including that the cuts would reduce waste and abuse and that undocumented immigrants aren't paying into the system. He said they pay about $25 billion in Social Security taxes. 

Higher earners — those making more than $400,000 and $500,000 — should pay more into the Social Security system, he said. Taxpayers pay into the system on the first $170,000 of their income, he said. 

"The people who are feeling the pain are the American people, and they don't deserve it because they've paid into the system," said O'Malley, who served until 2024. He is a former governor of Maryland and former mayor of Baltimore.

Seniors account for 19% of the population in Nassau and 18% in Suffolk, according to a study released in February by the Center for an Urban Future. The study found an increase in the 65 and older population on Long Island and more are struggling with poverty, according to the study.

Gillen said the Social Security cuts, part of plans recommended by the Trump administration's initiative with billionaire Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency, represent the country "turning their backs" on seniors who "should be able to retire with dignity." 

At the close of the event, attendee Sherry Eckstein, 78, a registered Democrat from Huntington, said she is concerned about "delays and not getting checks at all." She said she believes "we have to fight back otherwise we will lose Social Security."

While she has retirement funds, she relies on the benefit both she and her husband receive to pay monthly bills. 

Jacquetta Odom, 83, a retired nurse who lives in Long Beach, said she believes "so many things have been taken away" and said it was helpful to have congressional aides on hand at the event to assist with questions. 

"It's very difficult sometimes to get through the red tape but to have people here you can get where you want to go," Odom said.

By Candice Ferrette

candice.ferrette@newsday.comcandiceferrette

Candice Ferrette covers Nassau County government and politics on Long Island. She has been a reporter at Newsday since 2011.