Attorneys representing claimants before the Social Security Administration have obvious reasons to be concerned with agency backlogs, but lawyers in at least one other specialty have their own concerns about the agency's backlogs. Here is a quote from the ImmigrateUSA.com website run by attorney David J. Hart (emphasis added):
Backlogs at the SSA are not only felt by employers, most applicants for new SSNs are required to wait months before a number is issued to them. While most employers are aware that regulations do not require workers to present a SSN card to be authorized to work, the delays in issuance of new SSN cards still presents huge problems to new immigrants who are required a SSN card to open bank accounts, obtain mortgages for new homes, and other paperwork required in the usual move from one country to another. Currently in some regions it may take weeks to obtain a new SSN while in others it may take up to four months.
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A lot of SSN backlogs are due to verification requirements.
For US-born citizens, SSA has to verify the birth certificate. Some states have agreed to do quick verifications with local SSA offices. Others require that SSA submit (and pay for - yay budget drain) requests by mail, which adds weeks to processing time.
For immigrants, all immigration documents have to be verified. If the electronic system doesn't work (and it often doesn't), it has to go through the mail, and DHS has given SSA roughly a 30-day turnaround time with mailed requests.
SSA's processing of these SSNs is largely contingent on how fast the response comes back from DHS or state vital records offices. Without timely verifications, SSA's hands are tied.
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