Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) -Claimants Awaiting Hearings Drops Below One Million

A recurring theme for my blog entries is the average processing time and number of claims waiting for hearings. Recently released statistics by the Social Security Administration (SSA) reveal that the number of Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) claims awaiting ALJ hearings continues to drop. As of February of 2018 there were 1,001,231 claims pending and as of mid-March the backlog dropped below 1,000,000. The decrease in the backlog is largely due to declining numbers of hearing requests, though ALJ productivity has increased slightly from 1.92 dispositions per ALJ per workday in fiscal year 2017 to 1.97 so far in fiscal year 2018. Additionally, there were 42 more active ALJs in the end of February than there were on average last fiscal year. However, as recently noted the average processing times for most hearing offices remain high.

If you need more information about a Social Security Disability/SSI, personal injury, EEOICPA, long or short-term disability, Railroad Retirement Board disability, or a workers compensation matter, please contact the Law Offices of Tony Farmer and John Dreiser for a free case evaluation. We can be reached at (865) 584-1211 or (800) 806-4611 or through our website.