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Why disability claims are taking so long

As of August, it takes an average of more than seven-and-a-half months for a disability claim to be processed — more than double what it took in 2016. If you’re denied and have to appeal, the process can take years. Then, once it’s been determined that you’re disabled, there’s a five-month waiting period before you begin receiving benefits. Social Security Administration Commissioner Martin O’Malley says that SSA’s actuary believes that in 2023, about 30,000 people died waiting for their initial disability determination.

“Probably the biggest fire-breathing dragon we confront right now is the growing numbers of people applying for disability determinations. Given the fact that Congress has reduced our staff to a 25-year low, there’s a huge backlog,” O’Malley told AARP.

From 2010 to 2024, SSA’s customer service budget fell 19% after inflation, while staffing fell 11%. Coupled with the fact that Social Security offices were shut down for more than two years during the pandemic, the agency’s workforce has lost a significant percentage of its workforce.

Meanwhile, the number of beneficiaries has grown by 25% since 2010.

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Potential solutions—and what you can do about it

The SSA is attempting to tackle its customer service issues by setting a goal to process initial disability claims within 215 days by the end of its 2025 fiscal year. It plans to do this by adding 400 more disability examiners, providing examiners with improved technology and encouraging more applicants to apply online so field office staff can focus on those who need more personalized help.

Although a more aggressive approach is likely needed, 2024 funding remains a problem. The SSA’s 2024 appropriation is only a 0.2% increase over 2023, which will only allow for the replacement of lost workers — not for growth. Additional funding for the IRS, through the Inflation Reduction Act, has demonstrated that more funding can have measurable positive effects on customer service.

In the meantime, the SSA announced in June that it’s simplifying the disability evaluation process in an attempt to reduce the time applicants wait for a decision. Applicants are now only required to provide detailed information on their past five years of work rather than 15, and work that started and stopped in less than 30 calendar days will no longer be considered. These changes should make it easier to fill out an application and reduce the time needed for examiners to review it.

If you need to apply for SSDI, there are a few things you can do to ensure you don’t experience any unnecessary delays. First, be as detailed as possible about your work history and medical condition. Second, be sure you have all the supporting documents you’ll need — and if the SSA asks for more details or paperwork, attend to their request as quickly as possible. If you’re experiencing an extreme delay and your condition is dire, you may want to consult a lawyer who specializes in these types of claims.

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Vawn Himmelsbach Freelance Contributor

Vawn Himmelsbach is a journalist who has been covering tech, business and travel for more than two decades. Her work has been published in a variety of publications, including The Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, National Post, CBC News, ITbusiness, CAA Magazine, Zoomer, BOLD Magazine and Travelweek, among others.

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