Across the country, it takes an average of 480 days to get a judge’s ruling on a Social Security disability claim.
768,540 Americans –the figure as of year end –wait for a chance to plead their cases for benefits.
The slow pace of a few judges and an overwhelmed staff are key reasons that people seeking disability benefits here endure long waits for case resolution.
Social Security’s 1,177 administrative law judges hear appeals from applicants whose disability claims have been denied.
Judges usually hold hearings to consider the validity of claims, but they are also required to protect the Treasury and Social Security Disability Trust Fund against claims from people who aren’t disabled.
The Social Security agency has set performance goals that ask judges to clear 500 to 700 cases a year.
Last year, judges cleared an average of 474 cases, up from 421 in 2005.
Social Security’s inspector general recently found that low productivity of some judges and staffing levels added to the problems. Congress’ Government Accountability Office has also concluded that failures by the agency’s management have contributed to the backlog.
In addition, agency officials and some members of Congress are galled by the lack of accountability of the judges, who make up to $158,500 a year.
Disability appeals that involve mental health and substance abuse issues slow the process.
Delays can cause a tragic cycle: The longer a case sits, the more complicated it becomes, and those seeking benefits often grow sicker.
Social Security, backed by additional spending by Congress last year, hired more than 180 new judges to speed up claims across the country.