The staffing and case backlog crisis at the Social Security Administration was the subject of a front page article in USA Today on Monday, July 30, 2007.  The article noted that SSA has over 745,000 cases pending with the average wait for a hearing at 17 months.  In Atlanta, Georgia, where I practice, the wait time exceeds 30 months (2 1/2 years) – and this is consistent with what I am seeing in my practice.

The backlog has doubled over the past six years and could reach 1 million cases by 2010.  For those of us involved in the Social Security system – private attorneys, claimants and SSA personnel, the delays in the disability decision making process are well known.  My clients frequently call to ask if there is anything I can do to speed up the process – sadly there is not much I can do.

Further, as I have reported previously in this blog, you can actually hurt your case if you try to work part time or undertake any activity that suggests that you can work.

[tags] social security delays, disability hearings, Michael Astrue [/tags]