Government Shutdown Affecting Local Federal Offices, Parks

Callers to the  Toccoa Social Security office today or any regional SS office in Northeast Georgia will likely get a recording telling them those offices are on reduced hours and services.

For the first time in 17 years, the federal government has shut down as the House and Senate argue over implementing Obamacare.

And locally, a number of government offices will either be closed or on limited schedules.  At the Social Security office in Toccoa, offices will be open until 3p and will be able to provide most services, but will not be issuing  new or replacement Social Security cards.

They also will not be able to replace a Medicare Card or issue proof of income letters. However, you can go online to www.SocialSecurity.gov for a list of services that are still being provided.

Now the Veterans Administration is saying a number of services will  be impacted by the government shutdown.

The VA has produced a 2-page information sheet online called  the Veterans Field Guide to Government Shutdown, which summarizes all of the services that will be available and those that will be impacted by potential lapse in appropriations.

During the shutdown, All VA medical facilities and clinics will remain fully operational.  However, all VA call centers and hotlines will be closed.

Also, Veterans Benefits Regional Offices public contact services will not be available.  Additionally, no decisions on claims appeals or motions will be issued by the Board of Veterans Appeals

Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act requests will not be processed and the VA homepage will be updated intermittently.

In the event of a prolonged  shutdown, the VA will continue to review and update its plan in conjunction with the applicable legal requirements and circumstances.

For more on what the VA is limiting or suspending during the shutdown you can go online to www.va.gov.

Also closed are all 11 National Parks in Georgia as well as government-run historic sites  that are on the National Registry of Historic Places.  In our area, that would include Traveler’s Rest in Stephens County.