The Social Security Administration (SSA) will delay the start of its telephone service in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands by one hour starting November 1, so residents will not be able to reach the agency before 9:00 AM. Atlantic time. The change was reported by Council 220 and Local 2608 of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the unions representing Social Security employees in both territories, which said the agency has not notified island residents of the modification.
Neither Puerto Rico nor the US Virgin Islands observe daylight saving time, so when other US jurisdictions set their clocks back, the islands are one hour ahead of Eastern Standard Time. Under the change, the agency will keep phone lines closed until 9:00 AM and will adjust the schedules of the employees who answer calls.
The two AFGE bodies demanded that the SSA restore telephone service starting at 8:00 AM and keep flexible schedules for employees in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.