Kodiak Gets 2-Way Video Link to Social Security Office

Jay Barrett/KMXT

The Social Security Administration will debut a new high-tech way for people in Kodiak to interact with representatives at an open house Tuesday.

Pretty much every kind of transaction with the Social Security Administration can be completed over the video link, except for applying for a new or replacement Social Security Card, which may require some paperwork sent via mail. The conversations will be in private, and over a secure internet link.

The new video system is in the Kodiak Job Service Center, which is at 309 Center Avenue. The ribbon-cutting and public demonstration will take place at 10 Tuesday morning.

Eileen McSherry, a spokeswoman for the Social Security Administration office in Seattle, explains.

— (Video 1 16 sec "We will have a demonstration … with Social Security.")

She said that for now, the two-way video conferencing will be a supplement to the regular monthly visits to Kodiak by a Social Security representative.

— (Video 2 38 sec "At this point it’s not … make sure this works for them.")

She said walk-in video appointments will be available on the second and fourth Tuesdays, with scheduled video appointments on the first and third Tuesdays. McSherry said only one other community in Alaska has a videoconferencing link:

— (Video 3 27 sec "Well right now we have … in Eastern Oregon.")