SSA works to deliver benefits to hurricane victims

Federal agencies are working to ensure that victims of Hurricane Katrina continue to receive the benefits they rely upon, even if the storm has left them homeless.

The Social Security Administration will grant hurricane victims duplicate benefits if they don't receive original checks sent by the agency or if direct deposits fail to go through, said Dorothy Clark, an agency spokeswoman. Beneficiaries can go to SSA offices to receive emergency payments.

SSA also plans to send representatives to handle benefits inquiries at emergency centers set up by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. SSA's computer system is designed to prevent people who have already received and cashed checks from taking advantage of duplicate benefits, Clark said.

There is little way to know how many Social Security employees will be involved in the effort until FEMA finishes setting up the emergency centers, she said. Some SSA employees already work remotely using laptops and would be equipped to relocate to the nearest center.

SSA also is coordinating with the Postal Service, which is setting up temporary locations where people left homeless can pick up essential pieces of mail, including Social Security checks. Some temporary sites already have opened in Mississippi, Clark said.

She did not have an estimate of how many people would need to take advantage of these services, but said the number would be in the "thousands." SSA has public affairs specialists working to disseminate information in areas affected by the hurricane, she said.

The agency has provided similar services in the aftermath of previous hurricanes. But "with this being one of the largest disasters, this is one of the largest efforts we've put forth," Clark said.

SSA hasn't estimated how much the emergency efforts will cost. The main concern is to make sure that hurricane victims don't lose out on benefits, Clark said.

Information on local SSA offices is available at 1-800-772-1213. As of Thursday, 12 of the agency's offices in Louisiana and eight in Mississippi remained closed.

For information on temporary mail pickup locations, visit USPS' National Mail Service Update Page.