Individuals throughout the country may find themselves waiting for much-needed Social Security disability benefits. In fact, disabled individuals wading through the disability application process may wait for a considerable period of time. The current discussion centers on the frustration that many disabled individuals experience when applying for Social Security disability (SSD) benefits.
Considering one man’s experience as an example reveals that the man applied for Social Security disability benefits and over a period of time greater than a year and a half his claim was denied twice. Nearly two years later, the man is awaiting a hearing date to appeal the denial of his claim to a judge. The problem for disabled applicants, however, is nationwide.
The length of time between a hearing request and a decision is 422 days. At the end of the 2014 fiscal year, 970,000 disability claims cases nationwide were pending. According to Social Security Administration (SSA) regional representative, staffing increases and an increase in the number of hearing offices improved efficiency so that the average time for processing in 2013 was 375 but that number has since climbed upward.
Because of the important nature of disability benefits for many disabled individuals to help support themselves and their families with, knowledge of the SSD application process, SSA requirements for disability, the evaluation process and what is considered when the SSA is determining disability are all important for disabled individuals to thoroughly understand. Guidance concerning how to most effectively navigate the process of applying for Social Security disability benefits and most successfully pursue Social Security Disability appeals may help individuals faced with a significant need for disability benefits and a cumbersome process.
Source: JRN.com, “Frustration over backlog of Social Security disability appeals,” Michael Lopardi, Dec. 9, 2014