Public officials are demanding answers after the Poughkeepsie Social Security office closed on Jan. 30. The Social Security Administration (SSA) says the closure of the office will be temporary, and necessary to do renovations.

But according to Rep. Pat Ryan, the SSA has provided little communication about the timeline of the renovations and other unanswered questions. It's led him and other officials to worry the office may be permanently shuttered, like the Newburgh Social Security office was last year.

Poughkeepsie resident Ernest Robinson said if he needs to get help with his Social Security benefits, he would have to travel over an hour to the closest office in Middletown.

“You would have to take Metro-North all the way down to, I think, Croton-Harmon. Then switch over and come back up on the Amtrak line," Robinson said. "So it would be definitely difficult.”

The office is currently open for limited services now, but Ryan’s office says full services need to be available to Poughkeepsie residents.

In a statement, the SSA said, "The renovations will add additional interviewing booths allowing us to provide better service and additional privacy for our visitors. A temporary office with limited in-person services opened on February 18. People in need of full, in-person service may visit one of the following Social Security offices:

• 85 Crystal Run Road, Suite 100, Middletown

• One Park Place, 3rd floor, Peekskill

• 747 Warren St., Hudson