WP: Soc Security Disability Cases Pending, Pending . . . (up to 499 days)

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/28/AR2008022803625.html

By Stephen Barr
Friday, February 29, 2008; Page D04

Over the next decade, the Social Security Administration's workload will increase substantially. Retirement claims will jump by more than 40 percent and disability claims by nearly 10 percent.

The first wave of 80 million baby boomers has applied for Social Security, and boomers are likely to seek disability benefits in greater numbers than did previous generations.


What gets Social Security Commissioner Michael Astrue exercised: The average wait for a disability ruling is up to 499 days. (Danny Johnston - Associated Press)


At a House hearing yesterday, Social Security Commissioner Michael J. Astrue said the agency may have to reinvent itself -- making greater use of technology and streamlined procedures -- to keep up with the boomers as well as whittle down a disability case backlog.

"Productivity alone cannot fully offset the increase in our workloads," he testified.

Productivity, at least among the agency's administrative law judges, emerged as an issue at the hearing, held by Rep. David R. Obey (D-Wis.), chairman of the House Appropriations Committee and its labor, health and human services, education and related agencies subcommittee.

The testimony raised questions about whether Social Security's 140 offices that handle disability claims are appropriately staffed and whether administrative law judges who rule in disability cases could be more productive.

FULL story at link.

[Fovea]

1. The process has been

a life sapping charlie foxtrot for 3 years now.

[Faygo Kid]

2. This is how Bush destroys the social safety net. He doesn't fund the programs.

I read an analysis at work, as well, of the extraordinary number of Social Security Administration employees who will retire in the next few years. They are irreplaceable. The employees are swamped, and want out. Don't think for a moment this is not intentional by the ideologues in the Bush administration.

[Traveling_Home]

3. If you follow the story...

of the problems that the disability community has faced in dealing with the Social security Administration you would know that the problems are not a new phenomenon. If you are interested as a start go back and read GAO reports - go way back. The incompetence of the intransigent SSA bureaucracy knows no bounds.

SSA is a rogue agency - SSA disability side workers are, for the most part, SCUM SUCKING BOTTOM FEEDERS with no understanding or compassion. If you go in and apply for disability benefits they act like you are trying to steal it from their grandmother. Asa rule they have no background in disability, vocational rehabilitation, or independent living.

The whole agency is a barrier to disabled folk. Getting on benefits, getting off benefits, trying to work - doesn't mtter - SSA will screw it up, blame you, and charge you an overpayment for their error. The disabilty side should be pulled out of SSA and re-located.

Go to the disability forum if you woul like to read more of DUers problems.

No simple change in administration will ever have any effect on the evil of the SSA disability programs.

[MaryCeleste]

6. Indeed

the problems predate both Bushes and are part of the anti-government/anti-government employee attitude throughout this country. It transcends administrations and political parties

[Hydra]

4. Well...

It's been 17 months already, and we have to wait for Sept.(maybe) to get a hearing for my disabled relative.

I suspect most people die before they hear if they got it or not- most people won't help another person for that long who isn't drawing income.

[12string]

5. 499 days

would have been nice.they took 1620 for mine,