Nassau social services cuts Thursday hours

Nassau County’s Department of Social Services will no longer offer Thursday evening hours, starting July 11.

The department, which is open Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., typically stayed open until 7:15 p.m. on Thursdays, as an option for clients unable to make it during the day, but the county recently announced it was cutting the hours.

Social Services Commissioner John Imhof said a 14-month review determined the number of evening visitors at the department’s offices at 60 Charles Lindbergh Blvd. in Uniondale was declining even as the volume during the day has increased.

With certain program applications such as food stamps no longer requiring face-to-face interviews between clients and social workers, Imhof said the evening hours were turning into a “document drop-off center, taking essential staff away from the busier daytime activities when all of the state technology systems are functional and available for input.”

Imhof added: “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 use our services, which is during daytime hours.”

Karen Garber, the department’s spokeswoman, said most clients who visited the center at night can still access services because they can now schedule phone interviews or send required forms via mail.

Anyone with questions can call the department’s customer service line at 516-227-7474, or go to the county website www.nassaucountyny.gov.