Social Security Disability Backlog

Karl Truman

Attorney
(866) 735-1102 Ext 315

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The average processing time for Social Security Disability claims during December 2008 was at 480 days, the same as November 2008. The total number of pending cases reached a record all-time high of 768,540. These numbers could increase. The SSA is beginning to experience an unexpected increase in applications as a direct result of the current economic downturn. SSA now estimates that more than 500,000 additional disability claims and several hundred thousand additional retirement, auxiliary and Mediare claims will be filed over the next two years. These workload increases are in addition to SSA's planned projections for higher workloads due to the aginf of the Baby Boomers. SSA's cost just to process these additional claims will amount to more than $960 million. If the recession is longer or deeper than projected, the number of claims could rise even more.

There is money in the economic stimulous package to help the SSA process claims. Time will tell if we will see a difference.

For more information about Social Security Disability benefits, go to the SSA website.

Karl Truman